Shadows

Anger is a prevalent issue in today's society, often manifesting in road rage and global unrest. As followers of Jesus, we must resist the sin of anger and strive to live as He would, recognizing that anger can be both a healthy emotion and a hellish habit. Jesus equates anger with murder in Matthew 5:21-26, emphasizing the seriousness of harboring anger towards others. However, distinguishing between healthy anger and a hellish habit is crucial. Healthy anger aligns with God's anger, which is slow, rooted in love, and directed towards injustice and oppression.

Greed, often misunderstood as a vice exclusive to the wealthy, is an insatiable desire for more that can affect anyone, regardless of their financial status. It is a pervasive force in our culture, celebrated and encouraged, yet it leads us away from the contentment and sufficiency found in Christ. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to Timothy, warns against the dangers of greed, urging believers to pursue godliness with contentment, which he describes as "great gain." This contentment is not about accumulating wealth but about recognizing that life with God makes us rich in ways that transcend material possessions.

Envy is a subtle but powerful force that fuels comparison, competition, and resentment. It shows up in everyday moments—scrolling through social media, hearing someone else’s good news, or watching a neighbor succeed. Left unchecked, it can damage relationships, divide communities, and blind us to the goodness in our own lives. But Scripture offers a different way. As 1 Corinthians 13 says, love does not envy. Love makes space for celebration, connection, and peace. In love, there is freedom from comparison and joy in being exactly who God created us to be.

Pride is a subtle vice that shifts our focus from God to ourselves. It is not about thinking too much of oneself but rather thinking of oneself too much. In a culture that often glorifies self-promotion and attention-seeking, pride can easily become a barrier between us and God. This self-focused pride can lead us to place ourselves at the center of our universe, imagining that we are the source of our own lives. However, true fulfillment comes from making God the center of our lives and seeking His will above our own.

Lust, when left unchecked, deforms our view of others, our sexual appetites, our sense of commitment, and our sense of self. It reduces others to objects and distorts our understanding of relationships. However, God’s call to holiness is not about achieving perfect purity but about setting our lives apart for Him. Holiness is about reordering our lives and loves towards God and His kingdom.

Gluttony is not merely about food but about seeking to fill a spiritual void with temporary pleasures. This misplaced dependency challenges us to examine what truly satisfies our souls. The practice of fasting helps combat gluttony by exposing our attachments, increasing our hunger for God, and creating space for Him in our lives. During Lent, we are invited to embrace fasting—not as deprivation, but as a pathway to spiritual growth and deeper dependence on God.

Sloth, often misunderstood as mere laziness, is a deeper spiritual indifference that can lead us away from God. It is described as a "noonday demon," a temptation that strikes in the midst of our daily routines, causing procrastination and avoidance of what is good. Recognizing and naming this shadow is the first step in overcoming it, as it allows us to confront the underlying thoughts that lead us astray. By acknowledging acedia, we can begin to address the spiritual lethargy that hinders our relationship with God.