The Pursuit of Simplicity pt. 3

The Arguments and Counterpoints of Epicurean ism

As we continue this discourse on the pursuit of simplicity and the different schools of thought behind it, I decided to break down one of the arguments of Epicurean philosophies. We talked about in the first part of the series about how what we desire, along with how we think affects our way of operating. And while that is important to remember, it also begs us to talk about one of his arguments to solidify our points.

There are two points that I feel need to be brought up for the continuance of this discussion. The first one that I will bring up for dissection through discussion is 1 of 7 points on Epicures list of Key Ideas & Concepts. It is as follows: "The universe operates by natural laws without divine intervention" (philosophiesoflife.com) While the group of people with the world - view have cultivated it into something completely different, they don't take into consideration the fact that God created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh

Genesis 1:1:"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." This verse emphasizes the divine act of creation, marking the start of the universe as understood in Judeo-Christian theology.

Context of Creation

• Genesis 1:1 sets the stage for the entire creation narrative, which continues to describe the formation of light, land, and living beings over the subsequent verses.

• The chapter illustrates God's power and intention in creating an ordered world from chaos, as seen in verses that follow.

So with that being laid out for you and I to read and believe, it goes without saying that even though there is a lot to glean from Epicureanism, we cannot accept his entire philosophy as absolute truth .

The pursuit of simplicity doesn't always have to be considered for material things, but philosophical as well as spiritual. You just have to remember that you must bring the worldly views against God's Word and put Him as the Cornerstone

The second point that I feel is worth bringing up is friendship, with the larger point being that discernment is just as vital in our spiritual lives as it is in our everyday relationships.

There are so-called friends in this world who can lead us astray. While this can be a difficult subject to discuss, the very word friendship should bring to mind someone we believe we can trust. This might be the person we turn to with our time, our struggles, and our difficulties, believing they will stand beside us when we need them most. But what happens when that trust is misplaced, and the very person we that thought would help us, actually becomes a source of harmful influence instead?

All too often, the same individual we welcome into our lives can become a source of pain, poor examples, and decisions that pull us away from what we know to be right.

We must recognize that, as human beings, we naturally desire companionship. However, we must also remember the point I made about the uses and dangers of fire in the first installment of this series, The Pursuit of Simplicity:

“Fire is a good example.

Fire can keep you warm. It can cook your food. It can provide light. But fire can also burn you.”

The same principle applies to the relationships we build and the influences we allow into our lives. Just as fire must be handled with care, friendship requires discernment. We must look beyond the comfort of companionship and consider the direction in which that relationship is leading us, both in our daily lives and in our walk with God.

Bringing that same individual back into the spotlight, and with what you just read, ponder about if they bring you sustenance or pain.

The big point about this topic of discernment about friendship is just as vital in the realm of spiritual discernment as well, as there are so many so called friends inn this world that will lead you astray.

: Proverbs 13:20 

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed

Think on these things and bring God's Word into it. Ask God into your life and you will never be without His great love and salvation. Only Jesus Christ died for your sins, and promised you eternal salvation, simply by accepting Jesus Christ into your heart and asking Him to forgive you. That is a forgiveness that is powerful beyond measure, cleaning you up beyond clean from your sins, simply by trusting and believing that He is Jesus Christ and that He died for you

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John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.