The frequent complaint of boredom in the midst of a society with seemingly endless options for entertainment and amusement seems peculiar.  In spite of the beauty and diversity of God’s creation, and in spite of the tragic brokenness surrounding us, many whom we meet are bored with their existence.

In Patricia Spacks’ fascinating book. Boredom: A Literary History of a State of Mind, she finds the word was first used in the English language in the 18th century. Before the 18th century, the word sloth or acedia, one of the seven deadly sins, was used to describe the state of boredom.  The difference?  Boredom says the problem is outside of me; the world outside of me fails to interest me.  Sloth, on the other hand, says the problem is within me; I have a spiritual problem.  Why is my heart not moved by the True, the Good, and the Beautiful that surrounds me?

Join the conversation as we explore the causes, consequences and cure for boredom.

Kenny Benge preached a sermon entitled “Experiencing the Eternal Kind of Life Now” based on John 17:6-18 for the Sixth Sunday of Easter on May 12, 2012. Eternal life is something that begins now, it involves no less than experiencing personal transformation and the redemption of everyday life. But we must enact counter-measures to overcome one of its chief enemies, the deadly sin of sloth, whose effect on our soul is to deaden it, rendering it difficult to respond to God. We need to cultivate habits of receptivity and obedience to God.