Sloth: Additional Insights & Resources
- Mark Allen
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Why is Sloth/Acedia listed near the top of the Seven Deadly Sins?
At its core, it is a sorrowful aversion to the love of God, our final end and ultimate joy.
What are some different ways that Acedia manifests itself and how do we push back against each one?
1) Allergy to Real Work
Intentional sabbath; active rest; worship; Lent is more than “giving up stuff” or ceasing; it invites us to a truth-telling/recalibration. Look to the incarnated Christ who was a carpenter for most of his life. When we approach our work faithfully, we approach Him. Distinguish real work from busy-ness (frenetic activity).
2) Boredom with the Good
Affirm the truth, goodness and beauty of God’s creation, including the (often difficult) ways in which he has chosen to sanctify you (Gen 1:31). Ask God to renew your hope; to show you his glory—in his creation but also in Himself!
3) False “Freedom” (Autonomy)
Create/accept healthy boundaries; surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit.
4) Hatred of “What Is” (Reality)Courage, patience and diligence in the face of difficulty and fatigue. Learn to “stay put,” even if that’s all you can do. Practice contentment as opposed to complacency.
5) Aversion to the Action of Love
Respond to the love of God. Stoke memories of your First Love.
In General:
Start small: Jesus asks Peter to take his boat out a little; and then he takes him deeper, one step after another (Luke 5:3).
Other Aspects of Acedia to Ponder and Pray about during Lent
Lent is a somber, penitential season in the church calendar. The sin of Sloth/Acedia is, likewise, a somber, sorrowful posture. If we’re not careful, we could get things twisted here. When we confront our sin, like Peter, we might be tempted to tell Christ “Depart from me!”—creating a miserable distance between us and God who is drawing us with the gravity of divine love. What can we do to keep things straight—to address our Sloth during our Lenten journey with seriousness, without diminishing our joy? How do we approach both Lent and Sloth with Courage, Diligence, Perseverance and Love?
Acedia as Fear
In addition to Love, why is the virtue of Courage often prescribed as the other antidote to Acedia/Sloth? Because acedia is also a fear. A fear of losing our autonomy. A fear of taking our focus off ourselves. A fear of letting go of this strangely comforting gloom that is even “precious” to us. But remember that Courage is not the absence of fear! It is, rather, doing the right thing despite fear! Remember that Jesus’ response to Peter as acedia tried to creep in and create a miserable distance was “Do not fear!” (Luke 5:10)
Our Liturgy as an Antidote to Acedia
There are several parts throughout our weekly liturgy that push back against our tendency toward Sloth/Acedia:
We sing: “Heaven and earth are full of your glory!”
We affirm: “It is right to give him thanks and praise!”
We pray: "And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord."
How can we make the most of these liturgical elements each week in our fight against Sloth? And how can we avoid being slothful in the very practice of these liturgical elements? (i.e., just going through the motions)
Revelation 3:14-22
The church in Laodicea was known for its lukewarmness, which is another way of thinking about sloth/acedia.
Lenten Devotion for The Lord of the Rings Fans (Nerds):
Consider Gollum and Frodo’s obsession with the one ring as a vivid picture of sloth. Even though the ring is making them waste away, transforming them into miserable creatures that don't want to be helped by those who love them, it is nonetheless treated as their “precious.” In the film version of The Return of the King, we are shown a flashback to Smeagol’s transformation into Gollum. During this part of the film, Gollum says:“They cursed us…They cursed us and drove us away. And we wept, Precious, we wept to be so alone. And we forgot the taste of bread, the sound of trees, the softness of the wind… We even forgot our own name. (choking cough) Gollum! Gollum! It's mine! My own. It came to me. My Precious…”
In this scene Gollum:
—stops celebrating/feasting (forgets the taste of bread); gag reflex at good foods
—stops affirming the goodness and beauty of creation
—creates a miserable distance between himself and other (even creation); withdraws into self
—forgets his name; who he was, his identity
FURTHER READING ON SLOTH/ACEDIA:
Acedia and Its Discontents by RJ Snell
Great survey of the topic of acedia and its many forms.
The Noon Day Devil by Jean-Charles Nault
Excellent study in the historical development of how Acedia made the list of Seven Deadly Sins from the perspective of early Desert Fathers like Evagrius to Medieval theologian-philosphers like Thomas Aquinas.
Glittering Vices by Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung
Helpful overview of all 7 deadly sins, but DeYoung has made a name for herself writing and speaking about Sloth/Acedia in particular.
Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper
An absolute classic that discusses the difference between intentional sabbath (active resting) and simply not doing anything. Pieper also helps distinguish between work and busy-ness.
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