4 SLOTH ACEDIA Philippians 3 1 16 p

Busy Lives Demands of work, study, family, friends, … “Sloth” – archaic, “Acedia” –

1. Spiritual Apathy An apathy to doing what is right and good Common symptom

1. Spiritual Apathy … Acedia – lose interest in pursuing this identity The cure

2. Spiritual Sorrow St Thomas Aquinas “ sorrow for spiritual good” John Cassian “tedium

2. Spiritual Sorrow Evagrius highlights the character of Acedia: Being bored, worn down, tired

3. Threat to Life & Salvation Christian life requires us to persevere for the

3. Threat to Life & Salvation Sin of “Acedia” – threat to whole life

– Living it – DISCERNMENT Important starting place – be sure of our call

– Living it – What does it look like to follow God? How do

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4. SLOTH / ACEDIA Philippians 3: 1 -16 p. 1086

Busy Lives Demands of work, study, family, friends, … “Sloth” – archaic, “Acedia” – more archaic Not accurately contemporized as “Laziness” Feels rare in harassed, active, busy world Concept bible does not speak about

1. Spiritual Apathy An apathy to doing what is right and good Common symptom today – extreme busyness Lose our commitment to doing good A coldness of heart toward the Christian way The example of father/husband Relationships take time and commitment

1. Spiritual Apathy … Acedia – lose interest in pursuing this identity The cure is diligence (Eph 4: 22 -24) Acedia is not cured by activity It is doing the right things out of faithfulness

2. Spiritual Sorrow St Thomas Aquinas “ sorrow for spiritual good” John Cassian “tedium or anxiety of heart … sadness” E. g. the Rich Young Ruler (mark 10: 17 -22) “He went away sorrowful” • He was not willing to go that far • Feeling God is asking too much

2. Spiritual Sorrow Evagrius highlights the character of Acedia: Being bored, worn down, tired of where our live are Makes day seem long, dislike lives & circumstances Leads to misuse of scripture – half-truths justifying our attitudes and beliefs

3. Threat to Life & Salvation Christian life requires us to persevere for the long haul Paul (Phil 3: 14) – “I press on” Writer of Hebrews (12: 1) – “run with endurance” Jesus (Matt 7: 13) – “narrow … hard … leads to life” Amazing salvation of God – we must lay

3. Threat to Life & Salvation Sin of “Acedia” – threat to whole life in God “Not Lord, … do the will of my father” (Mt 7: 21) “Friends … if you do what I command” (Jn 15: 14) “… does the will of God … my brother” (Mk 3: 35) Faith is more than acknowledging information

– Living it – DISCERNMENT Important starting place – be sure of our call The chores, grind is where God wants us to be Call is not only for those in the church / mission Not necessarily other than what we’re

– Living it – What does it look like to follow God? How do you behave? How to rightly spend time & money? Where should you put your attention? Right proportions of family, rest, serving, … What to stop, give up, sacrifice? Discern how to live the New Life – Pursue it with diligence and determination