Course: Spiritual Life of the Leader

Lecture 13: The Eight Deadly Sins: Question and Answer

Is there a sin that's not deadly? To what extent can you worry about something before it becomes a sin? What does it take to overcome gluttony? The minute you make an exception for yourself, you either presume on the grace of God or break a known law of God. Admit what you are feeling and submit it to God to have faith in him in the situation, then do your part.

I. Is there a sin that’s Not Deadly?

It is important to integrate these things into our hearts. How many messages have you heard that you have integrated into your heart? Sometimes questions in regards to these things can help.

What is the popular thought to this? There are little white lies and small sins. The minute you make an exception for yourself, that is when you are going to either fall off into stupid presumption or where you presume upon the grace of God; so, is that anything but a deadly sin? They are all deadly.

II. To What Extent Can You Worry about Something before it Becomes a Sin?

I’m worried about that. You have talked enough about this for me to say that this isn’t my problem, but everyday worries are.

Well, what is worry? One of my friends defines worry like this: it is praying to yourself. In Philippians 4:4: rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. Why? The Lord is near, close by. He is right beside us. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus.

How often does a concern pop up in your mind? Sometimes there are large worries going on in the background. Some of them are dark and huge terrible storm clouds; fearing what is coming and brewing. I see from the best of our traditions in regards to anxiety and worry is that we want to take every thought captive for Christ. Now, if the Word identifies my worry as something that is not in accordance with God’s will, then I have got to summit that. So, for me, it begins by me saying, okay Lord, I have got a worry here, I have a concern. For example, in flying different places, I have experienced some violent turbulences; some of the worst being over the northern Atlantic. Even on this trip we hit a little bit of chop and some of those past memories returned and a bit of anxiety returned. But the Lord spoke to me and said stop it; that is not what you are called to do or who you are called to be. I admit it, Lord Jesus this is anxiety which isn’t of you. So, please God deliver me from it. Then what does the remainder of the Word say? The peace of God which transcends and goes beyond all understanding will guard you and protect your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. So, no anxiety, no fear, and no anger and no adulterous thoughts, no gluttonous thoughts; so, you have to admit it and sometimes I have to confess it. Now, temptation is not a sin; all of us are tempted. If I have an evil thought in my mind, I bring it to Christ and ask forgiveness. It also may be something that I need to nail on the Cross, something really bad in my own mind. Lord, please nail it on the Cross. This has got to die; the sin nature has got to die. It is not of you.

III. Overcoming Gluttony:

That is not straight out of Scripture. We need to make those distinctions. That is the wisdom of early tradition but that is a little lower rung that Scripture. This is what the early church observed; if you can’t overcome gluttony, then it is going to make it a whole lot more difficult to work your way down, especially with adultery.