Comments on: SE7EN: Sloth

By: Joe Thorn

Joe Thorn — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 14:37:25 +0000

Gordon,

I, with you, appreciate the distinction between God’s will of precept, and God’s will of decree – as the best systematic theologians have articulated. But some of what you seem to be saying confuses the term sloth.

Sloth is never, anything but sin. I defined it this way: “Sloth is a form of laziness; a way of living characterized by wastefulness and fruitlessness.” I also explained that sloth “is the intentional neglect of the duties God calls us to do.” It cannot be a form of spiritual waiting – a very important thing God calls us to do. In fact, one is slothful when busying themselves so much they have no time to be still and wait.

We cannot know God’s will of decree 1) unless he has revealed it in Scripture (the second coming of jesus, etc) or 2) until after the fact. Here I am speaking of the neglect of the “prescribed” duties found in Scripture. To use your analogy; the stealing is a sin. God does not call us to be slothful about stealing, but to repent of the sloth connected to stealing. Think of it this way. Stealing is the fruit of sloth. One is not willing to work, so he/she steals. Their disregard for God’s prescribed duties (work) is the problem here.

How can I know if I am in/out of God’s will? Sola Scriptura.

I wont have time to engage much, since my family is in the middle of moving.

By: Gordon Woods

Gordon Woods — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 13:35:49 +0000

An insightful post, nevertheless it does raise the question of “waiting on God.” There have been times when I was slothful and the results were costly. But there have been other times that I have been “slothful” and the requirement for action disappeared or a better solution appeared. So, how can one discern from Scripture to which category any circumstance belongs? I say “from Scripture” for we certainly cannot trust our heart. You write “But sloth and presumption are wrong. In the end sloth makes the will of God subservient to our own, as we fit his ways in where the are most convenient to us” If I am correct in assuming that you’re not speaking of God’s preceptive will (Anyone who’s a thief obviously should not be slothful in ceasing to be a thief.) or His will which can be deduce from his preceptive will by good and necessary consequences, then you must be speaking of his decretive will. That being the case, how does one objectively discern what is God’s will for their future action (considering that if the event is not in the past, all we can speak of is the future since the present is but a vapor)?

I hope you will consider this a serious and practical inquiry. Right now, what started first in the SBC, but has now spread across denominations and internationally, there is a program which teaches that believers who are in the center of God’s will (whatever that cliché means) will receive new special revelation from God (what God has decreed for the future). In addition, Wayne Grudem in his Systematic Theology teaches that believers can discern new special revelation. In the first case, whose responsible would deny my assertion, but when they insist that they know God has told them to take certain specific action (which canot be confirmed from Scripture), what is that but prophecy and special revelation? I don’t deny that believers can have a sense that God would have them act in a specific way regarding specific circumstances, but who can claim certainty of such a sense? In Grudem’s case he disallows that the new revelation of which he speaks is equal to Scripture, but what is the net effect if we act on it with the confidence that it is of God?

I hope this is not viewed as a disgression from the subject of slothfulness, because, as you point out, it is a serious sin (but then again is all sin serious). But rather it will lead to how one can objectively discern between when they are being slothful and when using godly wisdom in not taking action. Of course, all written from a perspective of secondary causes. In the end, since God controls our every thought and action, whatever we do is in accordance with his decretive will.

By: Chris W

Chris W — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 12:36:20 +0000

Ironically, I saw the subject line the other day, and decided to read the post later. I am painfully aware of what is piling up on my “to-do list” and these aren’t just household chores. I have spiritual “to-do’s” as well, and this post addresses the problem exactly. I’ve not been laying around doing nothing, I’ve just been distracting myself with other things. Thanks for the kick.

By: Sled Dog

Sled Dog — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 16:50:27 +0000

Great post, Joe. I appreciate you challenging us in the areas in which we are so weak and susceptible. Here in the US we are so conditioned to think that everything should be so easy, and we are so focused upon our leisure.

Glad I stumbled across your website!

By: pete

pete — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 15:20:28 +0000

hmm…got clipped off there. Anyway, I wanted to say that I loved that line…but don’t you realize that that is the exact point to exercise your headship over your wife? :)

(sigh) This is probably my biggest battle. I confuse wise productivity with busyness which I then use to justify my laziness. Interesting timing on this post. I’ve been getting worked over in the same area as I prepare for this Sunday’s sermon on Eph 5.14-21.

Good stuff, bro. I continue to appreciate your thoughtfulness as well as your willingness to be transparent to all. Keep up the good fight.