·

Should Christians Use the KonMari Method?

This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

This past week I decided to tune in to the show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix. I’d been hearing everyone talk about it and since I love homemaking, organizing, and keeping a tidy house, I was pretty curious about the show! Today I want to share my thoughts about the show and about whether Christians should use the KonMari method in their homes.

Should Christians Use the KonMari Method + How to Declutter for Good @ AVirtuousWoman.org

I purchased the book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo a couple years ago and was very excited to read it. But, I only ended up reading about half of it and never really implemented anything from the book. I believe at the time life got crazy and I set the book down never to pick it up again until this week.

I have watched the first two episodes of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo so far and first I wanted to share my thoughts on Marie Kondo. She’s a ball of sunshine. She walks into the scene and her smile is contagious. She really does seem to exude joy.

Delightful is how I would describe her and it’s easy to see why people are drawn to her and to her method of organizing and tidying up.

In her book, decluttering your space really boils down to two principles:

  1. Keep only those things that spark joy.
  2. Give everything you keep a permanent place in your home.

Should Christians Practice the KonMari Method?

When Marie Kondo walks into a house on her television show, she tells the owners that she wants to greet the house. And then she proceeds to kneel down on the floor, close her eyes, place her hands on the floor and it looks to me like she’s meditating perhaps. Perhaps she’s praying. I’m not really sure.

However, as Christians we need to be discerning. Treating objects like they have feelings is not a practice that Christians should participate in. Animism is a religious belief that objects possess a distinct spiritual essence. According to Wikipedia, “Potentially, animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork and perhaps even words—as animated and alive.”

Later, as the home owners go through their things deciding what sparks joy. If it doesn’t spark joy it should be discarded. Now, let me be clear. There is nothing wrong with finding joy in your belongings. You should love the things you have.

The potential problem I see with this, from a Christian standpoint, is that she says by touching an item we will feel a spark of joy and if we don’t we need to let it go. On the surface, this seems harmless. However, as she believes that all objects have a feelings, are animated and alive, having their own energy, we need to realize that when she says “sparks” she’s talking about energy. So, just be aware and be careful.

When an owner decides an object needs to be tossed Marie Kondo instructs the owner to thank the object she is parting with before putting it into the donation box.

Why is this a problem? 

It’s a good thing to be thankful and to practice gratitude! The problem comes when we are thanking objects, or creation, rather than our Creator.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” Revelation 4:11

“All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” John 1:3

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Ephesians 5:20

It’s important to remember that Marie Kondo comes from a different culture and a different religious background. In her book, she says:

I once worked as a Shinto shrine maiden for five years. I have loved shrines since I was in grade school and would often drop by our community shrine to pay my respects to the local deity.

Later in the book she talks about how you can set up a shrine or altar in your own home as well as charms and talismans. Obviously, as Christians we should not have shrines in our homes or carry around charms and talismans.

I bring this up because it’s so easy for us to fall prey to false beliefs if we aren’t paying attention. We must test all things by the Word of God.

In her book, Marie Kondo seems to place great importance on things. On page 202, she says, “I can think of no greater happiness in life than to be surrounded only by the things I love. How about you? All you need to do is to get rid of anything that doesn’t touch your heart. There is no simpler way to contentment. What else could it be called but the “magic of tidying up?””

And while there is certainly nothing wrong with being surrounded by nice things, things that make us feel good, ultimately, things are just things. The Bible says:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Our earthly treasures are only temporary. We cannot take things – houses, money, nice cars, or trendy clothes to heaven with us. In fact, we will never find true happiness in things. True joy come from God.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Blessing Your Home

Instead of greeting your house and thanking your things for serving a purpose, you can thank God for your home, pray and ask Him to bless your home and all who enter. Ask Him to give you a heart of gratitude and contentment.

You could pray Psalm 122:6-8 over your home which says:

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.”
For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”

Or pray 2 Samuel 7:28-29 which says:

“And now, O Lord GOD, You are God! Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with Your blessing the house of Your servant will be blessed forever.”

Should Christians Use the KonMari Method @ AVirtuousWoman.org

Organizing Your Space with Marie Kondo

So, now that I’ve talked about a few of my concerns, let’s talk about what I do love about the KonMari Method. I love how she teaches us to be more aware of what we own. Her method of decluttering is very simple.

If an item sparks joy, keep it. Everything else needs to go. 

Of course, this is simple in theory. It’s a lot harder and even emotionally painful to go through everything you own and make hard decisions.

She divides the home into five sections:

  1. Clothing
  2. Books
  3. Papers
  4. Komono – Miscellaneous
  5. Sentimental Items

She says to go through the items in your home in the correct order: clothing, books, papers, komono or miscellaneous items, and sentimental items.

Keep those things that spark joy when you pick them up. You begin by placing everything from one category into a pile or piles to sort. So, for instance, remove all of your clothing from your closet and drawers and put them on your bed. Pick up each item and only keep those things you really love or find useful – those items that spark joy. Once you have finished sorting one category you can move on to the next.

Discard everything that does not spark joy. Items that don’t fit, are broken, stained, unusable, or have have long since served their purpose should either be thrown away, donated, or sold.

How to Declutter for Good

I spent some time this weekend decluttering all my clothes that don’t spark joy as Marie Kondo instructs. 

I’ve found over the years that decluttering is something I find myself doing on a regular basis. It’s rather unfortunate. However, over the last couple years as I have slowly gone through my house purging stuff we no longer use, want, or need that I am more selective when I do go shopping. I don’t buy things just because they are cheap or a good deal. I’m very careful about the clothing I purchase. I make sure every piece of clothing I bring home is something that makes me feel pretty when I put it on. If it’s just so-so I don’t buy it.

I love how Marie Kondo encourages us to be thoughtful in our purchases. I also love how she encourages us to care for our belongings well, giving each item value. She reminds us that when we bring things into our home that we should be mindful instead of careless.

When I read her book a couple years ago this is probably one of the biggest take aways that I had – to be thoughtful in my purchases and only buy things that really made me feel good. If something doesn’t fit just right, it doesn’t come home with me!

Today as I cleaned out my closet and drawers for the first time in a couple years, I realized that I was hanging on to clothes that were too big for me. I’ve lost weight over the last couple of years and I still had clothing that was two or three sizes to big for me.

In the back of my mind I thought I would save them in case I gained weight again. A better mindset is to believe I will continue to be active, stay physically fit, and eat healthy so that I don’t put on weight my body doesn’t need.

Those clothes that were too big for me? Didn’t spark joy. 

The decluttering process, according to Marie Kondo, is something you can do once and never have to do again. Is this really possible?

On her website she lists six rules for decluttering: 

  1. Commit yourself to tidying up.
  2. Imagine your ideal lifestyle.
  3. Finish discarding first.
  4. Tidy by category, not location.
  5. Follow the right order.
  6. Ask yourself if it sparks joy.

In her book Marie says, “I can tell you from experience that you will never get your house in order if you only clean up half heartedly…

“If you can’t feel relaxed in a clean and tidy room, try confronting your feeling of anxiety. It may shed light on what is really bothering you. When your room is clean and uncluttered, you have no choice but to examine your inner state… From the moment you start tidying, you will be compelled to reset your life. As a result your life will change. That’s why the task of putting your house in order should be done quickly.” (p. 19)

We hold on to stuff for lots of different reasons. 

As I hold onto shame, I also hold onto stuff – stuff that tells me I’m not worthy of more than a cluttered, messy life.

As I hold onto regrets, I also hold onto stuff – stuff that tells me I routinely make bad choices – like that pair of jeans that just doesn’t fit right.

As I hold onto bitterness, I also hold onto stuff – stuff that keeps my bedroom from being a sanctuary for my marriage.

As I hold onto bad habits, I also hold onto stuff – stuff that tells me I’ll never be more than my present reality.

I am convinced that having less stuff will mean more joy. I am convinced that simplifying my life will mean less stress. I am convinced that getting rid of the clutter in my heart will lead to less clutter in my house.

Change isn’t easy, but it is possible. And with God ALL things are possible.

related: What are you holding on to?

The Problem with Clutter and Storage Containers

People spend so much money buying containers to store their stuff. In fact, here in America, people rent storage units just so they can store stuff they aren’t currently using!

Marie Kondo makes a profound statement in her book:

“Putting things away creates the illusion that the clutter problem has been solved. But sooner or later, all the storage units are full, the room once again overflows with things, and some new and “easy” storage method becomes necessary, creating a negative spiral…

We need to resist storing our belongings until we have finished identifying what we really want and need to keep…When we disperse storage of a particular item throughout the house and tidy one place at a time, we can never grasp the overall volume and therefore can never finish. To escape this negative spiral, tidy by category, not by space.” (pp. 23-25)

My personal goal as we are currently renovating our house and I’ve been forced to move everything from closets, bookshelves, and rooms is to have space with nothing in it. I want to have visual space when I open a closet or cupboard. I don’t want to see stuff overflowing on shelves.

Marie Kondo says that decluttering should be a special event. Something you set aside time to do all at once. And you don’t stop until you are done – even if it takes a few months. The result she claims is that you never have to do it again.

Because It’s already Tidy

She says, “I never tidy my room. Why? Because it is already tidy. The only tidying I do is once or sometimes twice a year and for a total of about one hour each time… I feel happy and content. I have time to experience bliss in my quiet space, where even the air feels fresh and clean; time to sit and sip herbal tea while I reflect on my day.”

I have to say that the idea of never having to put away clutter and stuff ever again is very appealing which is probably why millions of copies of her book have been sold!

The Importance of Discarding

Discarding is really the first step in decluttering your home for good. Go through each category of your belongings in order and discard everything you don’t absolutely love or need.

If you want to clean less, you need to own less stuff to clean. 

It’s really that simple. 

Sometimes I wonder how many hours of my life have been wasted putting things away. Moving things to another place. Cleaning things that hold no real value to me. Do you really need 12 plates, 10 pots, 20 glasses? Only you know the answer to that question. But the more you own, the more you have to clean, dust, and polish.

3 Steps to Decluttering

1. Choose the category you want to declutter. Again here is the correct order to declutter according to Marie Kondo:

  1. Clothing
  2. Books
  3. Papers
  4. Komono – Miscellaneous
  5. Sentimental Items

2. Marie Kondo says ask yourself one question: Does this item spark joy?

What does she mean by spark joy? In this article, found in Parade Magazine, Marie says, “The best way to identify what does or doesn’t bring you joy is to compare. In the beginning, unless your feelings are very black-and-white, it’s hard to decide if something brings joy when you look at it by itself. When you compare it with a bunch of other things, however, your feelings become clear. This is why it’s so important to sort only one category at a time, starting with clothing.”

related: Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Such great advice! By following this method of discarding, you will find it easier to only keep those things you really love.

When I declutter, I usually ask myself a few other questions, but I’m sure Marie would disagree:

  • Is this item still useful?
  • Do I really need this item?
  • Is this item adding to the quality of my life?
  • Do I love this item?
  • Is this item of sentimental value? Why?
  • Could someone use this item more than me?
  • Could I use something else in it’s place?
  • Do I have more of this item than I really need?
  • Is it broken?

related: How to Deal with Clutter

3. Make a decision. Quickly. Don’t overthink. Just make a decision. Only keep those things that truly bring you joy, are necessary to the function of your household, or are very special to you.

If everything is special to you, then it may be time to figure out why you are emotionally attached to so many things. It’s time to say yes to those things that really matter and let go of things that are really keeping you in bondage.

Remember, change doesn’t happen over night. This process may be painful at times. It may be hard. It may bring you to your knees. That’s okay! Making hard changes is – hard! But in the end, not only will we find respite from the world in our homes, we will also find respite for our weary hearts!

Everything in It’s Place

Once you have discarded all of your unnecessary items, it’s time to assign each item you own a special place in your home. If you have more books that fit on your shelves for instance, you may need to purge even more.

When you use an item, put it back in its special place as soon as you are done using it.

Don’t set it down, put it away.

She says, “The reason every item must have a designated place is because the existence of an item without a home multiplies the chances that your space will become cluttered again… One of the main reasons for rebound is the failure to designate a spot for each item.” (p. 132)

Rebounding… is what she calls falling back into the clutter habit. When every item in your home don’t have a designated place to live clutter returns.

Piles of clutter represent unmade decisions or an act of procrastination. When you set the mail down on the kitchen counter and it piles up, it’s an unmade a decision. When you toss your clothes over the back of the chair next to your bed you are procrastinating putting the clothes into the laundry hamper.

Breaking the clutter habit requires the self discipline to put things away as soon as you are done using them. Self discipline is also needed to make decisions immediately instead of putting off the decision making process.

How to Fold Your Clothes the KonMari Way

Marie Kondo has a special folding method that I think I’m going to really love. I tried it today and love the way my drawers look! Keeping your drawers tidy is part of the KonMari Method. It’s important that you keep only what you need and what you have room to keep. Drawers overflowing and crammed with too many things is not part of the KonMari Method!

She also encourages the use of dividers inside your drawers and on your shelves. I find this to be very practical advice!

I cleaned out my closet today and my chest of drawers. I gave this folding and filing technique a try today as I cleaned out my drawers and I have to say, being able to see all of my garments without digging through a stack is so much easier and pleasant to look at!

Keeping it in Perspective

Again, remember that as Christians, our treasures are not found on this earth. Instead, we have a heavenly home waiting for us and we don’t need to spend time fretting over clutter.

“And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!” Matthew 6:28-30

Changing Your Habits

  • Only buy things you really need. And when you need something new, make sure it’s something you love.
  • Discard things that have served their purpose but are no longer loved on a regular basis. If you are doing the laundry and realize a piece of clothing is no longer suitable or enjoyable to wear, go ahead and put it into a donation box right away.
  • Make a habit of going through your clothes each season and discard those things you haven’t worn.
  • When you make a purchase, designate a place for that new item when you get home. Don’t set it down and think about it later. Do it right away.

Being Disciplined at Home

A few months ago I realized that it’s not clutter that is the real problem. It’s self discipline. We have too much clutter because we don’t have self discipline when we shop. We have too much clutter because we don’t have the self discipline we need to put it away instead of setting it down.

Self discipline is the key to maintaining a home that is {mostly} tidy all the time.

When Marie Kondo says she never tidies her house because it’s already tidy, I know that she has the self discipline to put her things away. She doesn’t toss her clothes over the back of a chair when she undresses. She puts them away. She doesn’t leave her purse cluttered for weeks at a time, she cleans out her purse at the end of every day.

If you often feel discouraged and overwhelmed by homemaking, then you probably lack self-discipline in some areas of your life.

Having self discipline basically means that you do what you know needs to be done even when you don’t feel like it. You may be disciplined in some areas of your life and need some improvement in others. The good news is that it is possible to cultivate a heart of discipline.

The Disciplined Homemaker | 30 Day Challenge @ AVirtuousWoman.org

The fact is, messiness is really just a way of life for a lot of us. We have bad habits. Bad habits that pile up like paper clutter and shoes on the mudroom floor. Or laundry. Laundry piles up way to fast!

Establishing good habits is the key to overcoming messiness. And good habits begin with self-discipline. I believe you can train yourself to be self-disciplined at home.

The Disciplined Homemaker is a six week course that helps you cultivate self discipline at home. I’d love to have you join me – the course opens again on January 28, 2019!

Learn more about The Disciplined Homemaker here. 

Subscribe to my mailing list using the form below and get updates about when The Disciplined Homemaker course opens for enrollment!

Do you think you’ll give tidying up with Marie Kondo a try? I’d love to hear your thoughts about the KonMari Method in the comments! Let me know what you think!

Similar Posts

38 Comments

  1. Well said Melissa! Jesus' wisdom is shining through this blog. You are carrying out Gods Titus 2:3-5. Satan has so many misleading lies that is carrying our young, and sadly enough, older as well, women to follow worldly unbiblical lives. All along with just a sprinkle of "I am doing good"....the problem with that statement,as always, is the word "I" . Jesus said in John 15: 5 "...for without Me ye can do nothing." If we give our lives and our homemaking to Him , as you have always done, He gives us the wisdom and strength and tools to keep it. He created it...He created us...He blessed us with the talents and abilities...if we apply His Word our homes will be clean and in order, just as His creation is, and He somehow fills it with His love for all that walk in can experience that love and it brings HIM honor and glory and we are blessed. I've experienced this, so undeserved, a few years back my Son's girlfriend told her parents that our home was 'a house of love' ...a place you walk into and just feel loved and cared for, it's all around you.. I certainly didn't do that...to God be the glory. Keep following Jesus! You're making a real difference
  2. I read her book a few years ago and had the same conclusions as you did. I have been wanting to discuss all of this with like-minded friends- thanks for starting the dialogue!! ❤️
    1. Thanks for visiting with me today! It's something that concerned me considering how much attention she has gotten in recent weeks. She's a lovely lady - she practically sparkles joy. But we must be discerning and it can be easy to see the charm and promise and miss the spiritual significance if we aren't careful.
  3. Thank you for taking time on this. I read this book a couple years ago and l had mixed feelings about it. You explain things so well! As I have been trying to get rid of stuff, I keep asking, “Is this for me or someone else?” I realize I might be hoarding someone else’s blessing by keeping an item God has designated for another person. I like to think He wants me to participate in this blessing. It makes it easier for me to let go of treasured items knowing He has a use for them. It also allows me to keep only the items He has for me right now and forces me to trust Him to provide what I will need later. I still am tempted to be anxious about things I would otherwise cling to, but I am so thankful that He is taking me though this process. By the way, I LOVE storing shirts upright in the drawers! It’s so much easier to find things and doesn’t get messy from the digging process in try’s nag to find the “right one.” I will confess, I do still ball my socks. (Shh...don’t tell!)
      1. as a Muslim I wanted yo thank you for this! we have very similar perspectives on the dangers of perceiving power or authority outside of God or placing permanent value on temporary creation. I'd been hesitant to look into this method due to what I perceived as animus leanings and you've helped tremendously by summarizing while skipping the religiously dangerous bits! God bless you and accept your good efforts.
  4. I am saddened by your post today. When I allow the carelessness with which you have interpreted Marie Kondo's "religion", assigned meaning to her actions and thrown in animism for good measure, something that apparently you determined she ascribes to, I am left wondering if you write every post with as little education and research as you have this one. You also make your own interpretation of her actions such as getting on her knees and greeting the home. You even warn that an item "sparking joy" is something to be spiritually careful of. Here's where I think you have missed the boat entirely. You're splitting hairs because you don't care for the terminology she uses. You are taking each word at a very surface, elementary level and warning that it isn't Christian-like. Her point in having a person hold an object is simply this, you are giving it your full attention in order to correctly make the determination if you still feel some excitement over it, or you feel good wearing it, or it makes you smile when you pass by it and have happy memories of it, or you appreciate the usefullness of it, etc. All these could be said to "spark joy". It doesn't mean you think "it" has a spirit or "it" is something to worship. Everything she teaches boils down to this: You have spent money buying an object. Therefore, take care of it and appreciate it or be grateful for the time you did spend enjoying having it and give it to someone who can now use and enjoy it. All of this critiquing and arbitrarily assigning your meaning and making assumptions about what "spark joy" means in her culture - is far too elementary and simplistic and it concerns me that in your posts you determine you are educated enough to determine what another person's meaning for words is, or worse, to assume they are exactly the same as yours. Then you go on to add to her list of questions you should ask yourself as you determine what to keep and what to get rid of. In the Konmari method of organization, there actually are reasons her list of questions is exactly as is. It seems to me, rather than critiquing her, particularly since you insist on believing you know what she thinks, believes and means by each word she uses, and then adding on to her method - you'd be better served to write a post chalk full of your ideas and method of organizing. I will end by saying we live in a world and at a time when implying we should be careful and proceed with caution because someone is from a different culture and therefore, was raised with different spiritual beliefs simply because of geography, flies in the face of accepting all God's children, not just the ones who believe exactly like you. Do you admire Martha Stewart? Someday, educate yourself on her religious beliefs. I fear it would blow your mind.
    1. Hi Elizabeth! I appreciate your comment. I actually did quite a bit of reading before writing this article and if you do a google search of Marie Kondo and animism, you'll find many references. She worked in a Shinto Shrine for five years. She talks about it in her book. I expressed the parts of the method that I liked as well and I did not disrespect Marie Kondo in anyway. But as Christians, it is very easy for us to follow along with an idea and not really consider the spiritual implications. This is not disrespecting other cultures or beliefs. There is nothing wrong with finding joy in your things. There is something wrong with thanking an object that has no feelings. I added some of my own thoughts about questions you can ask yourself. If you don't want to ask yourself those question, by all means don't. And as far as Martha Stewart, I have no opinion. I don't follow her. I like some of her products but I don't hold her to any particular esteem. And if Martha Stewart's religious beliefs or teachings were to go against the Bible, I would want to be discerning toward her teachings as well. I think that Marie Kondo is lovely. She sparkles and radiates joy. But as a Christian who believes in the Word of God alone, I will always test everything against the Scriptures. There is nothing wrong with showing gratitude. In fact we SHOULD show gratitude! But we are to show gratitude toward the Creator not to objects. Thanks for visiting with me and sharing your thoughts. :)
  5. Excellent! Well written and following biblical guidelines. I had the same concerns when I read the book. And came to pretty much the same conclusions that you did. I thank God for all the things He has provided for me and when I get rid of them I pray that they are able to be used by someone else who needs that item.
  6. The major take- away I had from reading one of her books was to thank an item for its value and usefulness- maybe sounds "corny" or not important- but for me it helped and at 73 I can use all the prodding I can get.! Thank you always for your helpful, guidance intelligent comments. Blessings on you and your family.
  7. Melissa, what a fabulous article. I couldn't put it down! I agree with everything you shared. I read another excellent article last week that said neat people are always in a mild state of cleaning and I find this to be the case for me. Anything that's out of place is tidied and put away as I see it, benches are wiped, a basket of washing is put in the machine, a cushion is straightened. It saves me a lot of time and leaves my mind free of the clutter. Thanks too for reminding us about the Biblical perspective.
    1. Thank you, Leah! Yes, like Marie Kondo says, "I never tidy my house. Why? Because it's already tidy!" It takes a lot of care, thought, and self discipline, but the end result is that you spend much less time cleaning because things are already tidy!
  8. My older girls share a room and don’t have a lot of storage. The Kon Marie folding method made a big difference in their drawers. They not only can see without disrupting the drawer each time they are looking for an item of clothing, they can put more articles in the drawers without it being cramed in.
  9. Melissa, I 100 percent agree with your interpretation and caution about the Kon Marie Method. Watching 2 episodes did help inspire me to declutter, which is awesome. However, I quickly saw that she was practicing animism and I do not want to have anything to do with that. We should stay away from idolizing objects. It only seems harmless on the surface...
  10. Great article and thank you for “bucking the trend” enough to look critically at it. It is wonderful that it is opening our thoughts to how we relate to our stuff. I don’t like the sparking joy mantra. Personally I’m in a place where I am trying to distance my joy from the things I own. I was once so attached to things so I need to find usefulness and if a thing can create joy from its use (joy with family and God) not because it costs a fortune or has a beautiful design etc. Object admiration is for me too worldly. I loved what you said about clinging onto things because they remind us of our shame regrets etc this is so true and actually stopped me short while reading. You gave me a big wake up there.
  11. Ms Hayes, Considering you wish to be condescending and judgemental, two behaviors which are not Christ-like, you may want to read up on Ms Kondo's own information given of her religion. And that's what it is..religion...the only way to worship our one true God is to have a relationship with Jesus Christ...all else is religion. Ms Kondo tells us in depth how she was brought up in exactly the beliefs that Melissa was speaking of. And Melissa's blog is a Christian based blog on which she gives Christian women wishing to follow Christ, which is what a Christian is, advise, encouragement, and at times like this post words of caution. Melissa is fulfilling her God given calling from Titus 2:3-5. So to make the remarks that you made on her blog was really terribly unnecessary and uncalled for dear. If you wish to follow Ms Kondo...by all means...do. As for those of us who choose to read Melissa's blog and follow her self discipline Godly Homemaking skills....we do not need someone that does not follow Jesus Christ telling us how to. Have a nice day.
  12. Thanks for you article. I was searching the internet as it disturbed me how much Marie Kondo was into animism yet I find her cleaning methods very useful. I do not want to dishonour God by using someone's method which is not honouring Him. When I was watching some of the YouTubes I noticed that she caresses her garments as if they were living beings which of course they are not. I think it is an important line in the sand to draw. It is not at all being white, elitist or whatever some people have tried to imply, it has nothing to do with race, nationality or creed. Its just being discerning and honoring God. After I realised her Shinto elements I thought I better get rid of her book as even though her methods are useful they do not benefit our beliefs. She is basically worshiping animistic spirits however subtle it may be. Can we take the baby and throw away the bathwater? I believe we can say thank-you Marie for showing us these methods however now I have seen the underlying beliefs I need to part ways. I was so enthusiastic about her methods however now I see more clearly I will need to go my own way in tidying up my mess. Blessings!
  13. I had reservations about her methods for a while. Where does the spark joy madness stop? We start blacking out or ripping out parts of God's word because it doesn't spark joy? Her folding methods are great, but I personally choose to stay away from her book
  14. I have had the same issues with Marie Kondo's method but found a way that works for me. I have moved from a four bed room apartment with a small plot of land. To a small 1 bed room apartment. And I used to have so many things in my old apartment that I couldn't keep anything neat or tidy. I have followed flylady for many years. And found Marie Kondo' on youtube. Needless to say I have decluttered a lot of the things I had. And I don't buy anything new. At all. But the holistic view of Marie Kondo worried me. And it made me sort of cringe, watching youtubers that claim they are christians. Go through her program and teach others. A very non christian belief. . I also believe that the folding methond are ok. But you should do what works for you and use common sense. I don't need to fold the exact same way as Marie to be an organized keeper at home. And I don't certainly don't greet my home, nor do I thank the things that I am organizing. Instead I thank God for everything he has done for me. And for giving me so many things to be grateful for. By taking good care of the things God has given me. I honour HIM and not the things them selves. I am taking the good things Marie Kondo is sharing with the world. But I also make it my own and make it work for me and how I view things. Does it make sense? I hope it does!
  15. So would I be correct in summarizing your critique to be this: The method is fine but wherever it calls for thanking objects or creations, we simply remember God created all things and thank Him instead. Don't greet the house, Thank God for having one. Don't Thank the object, or at least don't just thank the object as a being, but as a tool given by the Creator. I did this with clothes and thanking them did help me say goodbye to things i've been holding on to. I found thanking the object to help but I most certainly didn't see it as alive. I Certainly was thankful to God first and foremost but I feel like if we are making sure to thank God than tacking on a little thank you to the clothes(non-spiritually) was harmless.
  16. Thank you for this very enlightening article and response to the Marie Kondo method. As a believer I agree with your assessment and implementation of her process. One area of difficulty I am personally having is that as an older woman, recently having lost my mother and taking possession of her possessions, and also being the mother of three children, and three grandchildren, I feel as if I am tasked with being The Keeper of the History. When we were a military family, we were forced to keep things to a minimum because we had to move often and were only allowed so many pounds to move. Dan, our parents had all the stuff and we didn't need to worry about it. But now we have it all. What do we do? Our children don't seem to be very interested in a lot of it, or they too are trying to practice downsizing and decluttering, don't have space for it, because my husband says they are more generation they love looking at stuff when they come oh, it just that you mentioned in your article we right now have free storage units with things that belong to our children and my mom, How do we recounted and not dishonor our heritage? I just retired after teaching for 38 years. By the fourth day, I was chucking whole notebook that were at least 20 years old, without even looking at them, and it felt good! We are at the tail end of that boomer generation and while we donate often, it seems as if denigrating something that someone else worked really hard for, if you don't keep it. Sorry so long...lots of thinking here...
  17. Have to say what a blessing it is to find your blog. Your words and scriptural references are warming my heart. I thank you for the time you put into this.
  18. thank you for sharing I just read her book same conclusions here as you wrote want to really try hard to declutter this year. my clutter mess is keeping me in chaos I want peace I happened on your blog looking for a Christian alternative to Marie kondo I've tried so many ideas.... and haven't been successful

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *