The Seven Deadly Sins

[DemBones DemBones]

by William E. Rushman

Before even beginning a discussion of these Seven Deadly Sins, also known as "capital sins," it may be useful to discuss a few differences among Christians on this subject. Some people feel it is better to take a more positive approach to faith and not dwell on sin. Others believe all sin is equally repugnant to God, and so any classification of sins is wrong. Still others just want to forget the whole thing since they are saved and God loves them and really doesn't care about all this "stuff."

Inscribed in ancient times at the Oracle at Delphi: "Know thyself." Self-knowledge follows closely behind the knowledge of God, and self-knowledge for anyone means knowledge of sin. "My own heart shows me the way of the ungodly." Scripture says we are all sinners, and we don't mind as long as the sins are nameless and faceless. When we name a sin found in ourselves (by Grace) it is as though we are confronted in the back alleys of our souls with furtive saboteurs and muggers who seek to prevent our union with God. The sudden self-revelation of a serious fault is one thing: the discovery of a deadly sin which we hate very much in others is worse. It is like finding out a spouse is unfaithful, or worse, that we have been blindly unfaithful to the Spouse of our soul.

The following pages on the deadly sins may lead to horrible discoveries. Bear in mind:

Friends will almost never volunteer this information.

If they do, we will not accept it.

God forgives anything, even repeatedly, so do not be afraid.


A combination of good spiritual reading (nothing too recent), nearly constant prayer, and reflection on the repetitive patterns of life works well for naming our sins. Remarks made in job performance reviews and conversations with people who dislike us are especially revealing. Our enemies usually lack the false charity to deny our sins. No wonder we are called to love them.

The human capacity for self-delusion is nearly limitless. We have all seen people claim great spirituality but do evil things and then ignore or rationalize them. Somehow we think we are immune to this phenomenon.

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I will be posting more excerpts from this site during the remaining days of Lent. This particular page is at:

http://www.whitestonejournal.com/seven/index.html

The home page explains the site name, and I found it very interesting. Tons of stuff at this site, plus tons of links, many to sites I've never seen before. Haven't seen any mention of politics so far

[DemBones DemBones]

1. I especially liked this:

"Our enemies usually lack the false charity to deny our sins. No wonder we are called to love them."

And isn't this the naked truth?

"The human capacity for self-delusion is nearly limitless. We have all seen people claim great spirituality but do evil things and then ignore or rationalize them. Somehow we think we are immune to this phenomenon."

Very good reading, especially for Lent.

[Hans Delbrook]

4. That is powerful

I'm always amazed at people's capacity for not only deluding other but themselves. To me it is more grotesque than simply lying.

It's capacity, that, for the most part, I lack. My therapist was always amazed at my lack of denial. She said it sped me through therapy in half the time. Of course it means I have no where to "hide" when I sin (which is frequent) but I guess that's a good thing. Though, I have to admit, many times I envy other people peace of mind.

[DemBones DemBones]

2. Thomas Merton's Prayer Against the Seven Deadly Sins

"If I find Him, I will find myself."

Thomas Merton, "New Seeds of Contemplation," 1961

Thomas Merton, Trappist Monk, 20th Century

The following prayer is from his book, "New Seeds of Contemplation." It is widely available. For Merton, the word illusion could be substituted freely for sin. This makes sense in many ways: we often lament our past sins and say, "How could I have not seen how horrible this was?" or "What was I thinking of?" Here is a prayer from his book:


Prayer Against the Seven Deadly Sins


Let me use all things for one sole reason: to find my joy in giving You glory.

Therefore, keep me, above all things, from sin. Keep me from the death of deadly sin which puts hell in my soul. Keep me from the murder of lust that blinds and poisons my heart. Keep me from the sins that eat a man's flesh with irresistible fire until he is devoured. Keep me from loving money in which is hatred, from avarice and ambition that suffocate my life. Keep me from the dead works of vanity and the thankless labor in which artists destroy themselves for pride and money and reputation, and saints are smothered under the avalanche of their own importunate zeal. Staunch in me the rank wound of covetousness and the hungers that exhaust my nature with their bleeding. Stamp out the serpent envy that stings love with poison and kills all joy.

Untie my hands and deliver my heart from sloth. Set me free from the laziness that goes about disguised as activity when activity is not required of me, and from the cowardice that does what is not demanded, in order to escape sacrifice.

But give me the strength that waits upon You in silence and peace. Give me humility in which alone is rest, and deliver me from pride which is the heaviest of burdens. And possess my whole heart and soul with the simplicity of love. Occupy my whole life with the one thought and the one desire of love, that I may love not for the sake of merit, not for the sake of perfection, not for the sake of virtue, not for the sake of sanctity, but for You alone.


Thomas Merton, 1961, Gethsemani. Imprimatur Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York






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[DemBones DemBones]

3. A kick to put this up near the "Pride" thread I just posted. nt