At Christ Community UMC, where I am Senior Pastor, I have been preaching a series of sermons this Summer on the Seven Deadly Sins and the Christian Cure. It is kind of a light hearted Summer series (grin). The 7 Deadly Sins: Pride, Anger, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Avarice and Sloth were identified in the early days of Christianity as attitudes and foci that keep us from enjoying healthy fellowship with God. Pride was the first sin and is rebellion against God -- Milton's Paradise Lost attributes to Lucifer the quote "better to reign in hell than serve in heaven" -- and is the best description of the sin of Pride.
Anger is often at the root of rage and violence and since human beings appear to be incurably violent creatures getting at the root cause might be a good idea. Envy is what the 10th commandment (thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's anything) is about but seems to be a driving force in American culture (be unhappy with what you have and spend money on something you don't really need because it might just make you happy). Keeping up with the Jones -- envy. Gluttony is conspicuous consumption. Mae West said "too much of a good thing is wonderful" and and another writer wrote "anything worth doing is worth doing to excess!" As a society we seem to be really good at Gluttony.
Lust permeates our society. Sex sells and it drives our lust filled behaviors and attitudes. Avarice or Greed is summed up in the famous quote from the movie Wall Street "Greed is Good!" and Sloth -- curiously sloth is not about laziness in the sense of choosing not to do anything. Sloth (the Latin is acedia) is closer to inaction because of despair.
The Christian cure for any and all? Walk humbly with God.
More later,
Dr. BJ
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