Here we have the fourth post in a long series. If you really want to know what this post is about, check out THE SEARCH FOR THE MOST VIRTUOUS VERSATILE BLOGGER — PART 1. Otherwise, just read on and enjoy.
SLOTH, IN PARTICULAR ACEDIA
Sloth is one is one of the seven deadly sins. Most of us equate sloth with laziness. Since laziness is not much discussed on political blogs, at first I puzzled how to proceed with this topic. So I went back and studied the definition more carefully. Here is what the Catholic Encyclopedia had to say.
One of the seven capital sins. In general it means disinclination to labour or exertion. As a capital or deadly vice St. Thomas (II-II:35) calls it sadness in the face of some spiritual good which one has to achieve (Tristitia de bono spirituali). Father Rickaby aptly translates its Latin equivalent acedia (Gr. akedia) by saying that it means the don’t-care feeling. A manapprehends the practice of virtue to be beset with difficulties and chafes under the restraints imposed by the service of God. The narrow way stretches wearilybefore him and his soul grows sluggish and torpid at the thought of the painful life journey. The idea of rightliving inspires not joy but disgust, because of itslaboriousness. This is the notion commonly obtaining, and in this sense sloth is not a specific vice according to the teaching of St. Thomas, but rather a circumstance of all vices. Ordinarily it will not have themalice of mortal sin unless, of course, we conceive it to be so utter that because of it one is willing to bid defiance to some serious obligation. St. Thomascompletes his definition of sloth by saying that it is torpor in the presence of spiritual good which is Divinegood. In other words, a man is then formally distressed at the prospect of what he must do for God to bring about or keep intact his friendship with God. In this sense sloth is directly opposed to charity. It is then a mortal sin unless the act be lacking in entire advertence or full consent of the will. The trouble attached to maintenance of the inhabiting of God bycharity arouses tedium in such a person. He violates, therefore, expressly the first and the greatest of thecommandments: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength.” (Mark 12:30). (from here)
When political bloggers speak of sloth, we usually speak of apathy as it relates to politics or being lazy instead of doing useful work. To some extent, the Bible promotes such an interpretation.
Proverbs 15:19 American Standard Version (ASV)
The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; But the path of the upright is made a highway.
We rarely speak of sloth as the refusal to love and serve God. Nonetheless, with that realization, I knew which blog I needed acknowledge for its service in combating Sloth.
An Aside
With the acceptance of the Versatile Blogger award, I took on the task revealing seven things about myself. Here are a couple.
- I have been guilty of the sin of wrath. As a child, I had a particularly bad temper. Thus, I earned well-deserved spankings as blessings from my father.
- There are many ways to give in to the sin of sloth. Procrastination is my favorite.
Salt and Light Blog
I have never met Dave Jeffers, but some how the Internet brought us together. Via email with a small group of other like-minded souls, we discussed and debated God and politics. We observed the deterioration in our nation’s character and wondered what to do. I was still an agnostic then, but Dave was already a strong Christian. Even then he let our Lord use his voice to warn against our nation’s slide into decadence. Eventually, if far less capably, I followed his example.
Dave has actually written some posts that directly relate to sloth.
- Desiring The Gains Of The Diligent - here Dave chastises the lazy for their laziness. That includes taking to task those Christian pastors who encourage sloth.
Pastors who encourage the entitlement mentality as compassion are simply perpetrating the liberal lie of social justice. No where in the Bible will you find the admonishment of the church to support the slothful, much less encouraging government to take from the diligent and give it to the slothful.
- Is It Easier To Doubt Or Harder To Believe? – with this post Dave explains why it is easier to doubt. In fact, it is a challenge to believe.
Let me answer the question that is the subject of today’s devotional. For too many spiritually-slothful Christians it is far easier to doubt than it is to believe. Why is that? Because doubting doesn’t require you to move. Man you can doubt no matter where you are or what you’re doing.
But to believe?
Man, that takes movement! You gotta get off your comfty Christian couch or come off your spiritually-satisfying sidelines and get involved.
So what is Salt and Light Blog about? In his blog and with his life, Dave shares his love for God, his family, and his country. If you want to be pulled off your comfy couch and challenged to work for God, then Salt and Light Blog is a good place to go for inspiration.
Next week we will discuss pride.
