When we hear the expression "spiritual formation," we immediately think of meditating on Scripture, praying, journaling, and other spiritual practices. If, however, the goal of spiritual formation is that one's "whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:23), then an essential aspect of spiritual formation is to overcome sins of the body. If we consider the seven deadly sins—pride, lust, envy, gluttony, anger, sloth, and covetousness—three are directly connected to our bodies: lust, gluttony, and sloth.[1]

Overcoming Lust
God created human beings as male and female and told them to "be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth" (Gen 1:28). This universal command means that the majority of human beings will be married. Sexual intercourse is to be enjoyed within the bounds of this covenant and is designed for several purposes, including pleasure, procreation, and unity.

Tragically, the fall into sin wreaks havoc with sexuality, but Scripture helps us overcome temptation and failure in this area. For example, Paul denounces sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:12-20), placing it into a category by itself by explaining that "every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body" (v. 18). This heinous sin wrenches away one's body—which "is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body" (v. 13)—from its rightful membership—with Christ and, if married, with one's spouse—and unites it with the body of someone other than one's spouse. The result is that "the two become one flesh" (v. 16), which is a tragic disorientation of the body. In no uncertain terms, Paul warns against sexual immorality, reminding Christians "that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit" and urging them to "glory God in your body" (v. 20).

The apostle echoes this alert in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, urging married people to engage in sexual activity in a God-honoring and spouse-respecting manner (vv. 4-5). Tragically, Christian men were committing adultery with the wives of other Christians, so Paul also warns the church "that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter" (v. 6). The close relationships that church members enjoy with one another should never be allowed to cross these lines of morality.

The apostle also issues instructions (1 Cor. 7:1-9) to ascetically minded Christians, telling them they cannot pursue holiness before God by refusing to engage in sexual intercourse if they are married. Paul concedes—not commands (v. 6)—that regular sexual activity may be interrupted for a time if the two mutually agree, if there is a good purpose, and if they reengage after the period is complete. This abstinence, however, does not make them more holy but can instead lead to disastrous results if not treated properly (v. 5).

In this discussion of marriage, Paul also addresses singleness (vv. 7-9). This state, like that of marriage, is a gift of God. Paul's preference is that "the unmarried and the widows … remain single," as he is, for celibacy offers many advantages (1 Cor. 7:25-40), including avoidance of worldly troubles, freedom from anxieties, and undivided devotion to the Lord. The advantages of singleness are many, yet only those to whom this gift is given should remain single. Those with the gift of celibacy are not asexual beings who lack sexual desire, but they are able to control those urges by channeling them in God-honoring ways. Lacking such self-control, people should pursue getting married so they are not overwhelmed by sexual desire and thus fall into immorality.

We are all aware of the many troubles Christians encounter in this area: rampant immorality, adultery, homosexuality, sexual abuse of children and women, "sexting," pornography, "friends with benefits," and other problems. Lust, with its many expressions, is a deadly sin. Cognizant of these many challenges, we should never lose sight of the fact that sexual intercourse between married couples is a gift from God that should be celebrated and enjoyed. And the specter of pitfalls in this area should never be allowed to chill the commands to love one another (e.g., John 13:34) and to relate to one another as family (e.g., 1 Tim. 5:1-2).

What can we do to avoid lust, to express God-given sexual desires in God-honoring ways, and to overcome the rampant, tragic sins in this area?

• Develop a vision of Jesus and his many saving benefits that so enthralls that lustful enticements fade in comparison.
• Engage in sexual activity in an appropriate manner (pleasures enjoyed by husband and wife have the mutual consent of both and are not considered shameful or disgustful, or entered into unwillingly, by either one).
• Teach adolescents about the wonders of sexual desire and intercourse while explaining the biblically prescribed boundaries not as killjoys but as protections and preparations for sexual flourishing.
• Encourage repentance and confession when sexual failures occur.
• Act graciously and ruthlessly to rescue those who have fallen into persistent sexual sin (accountability for internet usage, counseling, redemption groups dealing with sexual additions, and the like).
• Practice church discipline for those who are unrepentant of their sexual sins.

Overcoming Gluttony
It would be embarrassing to ask when you last heard a sermon on eating and exercise. Physical fitness fostered by proper eating and exercising is an important component of our earthly Christian pilgrimage. Indeed, life in the body demands physical fitness and wrestling to overcome our second deadly sin: gluttony.

"Gluttony is the immoderate consumption of food arising from the unchecked appetite for something more than, or other than, what the Lord has provided and is therefore judged a sin by God.[2]" Indeed, Paul's comment about enemies of the Cross—"their god is their belly" (Phil. 3:19)—underscores that this sin is not only about over-consumption of food, but also about the idolatry at the heart of it. Gluttony is often associated with drunkenness: "Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; for the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags" (Prov. 23:20-21). So, drunkenness is to the over-consumption of alcohol as gluttony is to the over-consumption of food. Biblical portrayals of gluttonous people and their tragic end include Esau (Gen. 25:29-34, with Heb. 12:16-17), the sons of Eli (1 Sam. 2:12-17), and the people of Israel (Num. 11). Gluttony is a deadly sin.

Our physical nature requires that we intentionally manage our bodies. As Paul notes, "I discipline my body and keep it under control" (1 Cor. 9:27). And, "[T]rain yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Tim. 4:7-8). Using the metaphor of an athlete, Paul focuses on training in godliness, from which we derive our emphasis on spiritual disciplines. He says that while physical discipline does not hold promise for the life to come, it has value for our earthly existence. Bodily discipline requires at least the following:

• good nutrition (healthy foods and avoiding excess calories)
• regular exercise
• proper rest and sleep
• avoiding body-harming substances (excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, illegal drugs)

Gluttony is a serious problem for believers. It is not only evidenced by excessive weight: one may be pencil thin and yet gluttonous. Christians who cannot pass a fast food place without pulling into the drive-through, even though their nutritional needs are more than satisfied, commit the sin of gluttony. While we may boast about the immense quantities of greasy food at church potlucks and joke about deacon Bob serving up his third heaping plate of it, gluttony is not a laughing matter.

So how can we avoid gluttony?

• Develop self-control through the power of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), which means that proper eating and exercise are not ends in themselves, but a means to flourish for the sake of the Lord and his purposes in this world.
• Eat at meal times and avoid snacking when one's appetite rages for satisfaction.
• Eat with moderation, not hastily or impatiently, with the goal of providing the necessary nourishment for one's physical wellness.
• Be thankful for God's provision (1 Tim. 4:4-5), with keen awareness of the unsatisfied nutritional needs of others throughout the world (Gal. 2:10).
• Seek help from and be accountable to others when gluttony is beyond your ability to bring under control.

Overcoming Sloth
Created in the divine image, all human beings have been charged with, and equipped to carry out, the mandate to exercise dominion over the rest of the created order (Gen. 1:28). That is, to build civilization by employing their God-given abilities and skills to work in areas such as education, medicine, construction, government, business, and the arts to promote human flourishing. With this as the divine design for human beings, failure to engage in work is the third deadly sin: sloth.

Sloth is psychological indifference and physical weariness toward the work that God has provided for one to accomplish.[3] Occasionally, sloth is due to Christians so emphasizing God's providential care for them and his promise to meet all their needs that they neglect the important element of their human responsibility to use their God-given abilities to engage in civilization building.

Such sloth results in the lack of resources for living: "How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man" (Prov. 6:9-11). Paul denounced idleness for Christians: "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies" (2 Thess. 3:10-11). Furthermore, Christians are expected both to provide for their families and to give sacrificially to the church and to the poor (e.g., 2 Cor. 8-9); failure to do so means that one "has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Tim. 5:8). Sloth is a deadly sin.

So how can we avoid sloth?

• Acknowledge God's explicit will for human beings to work to build civilization as the divine purpose for humanity.
• Affirm that God has equipped you to do some kind of work.
• If one's slothfulness is particularly tied to poor personal management skills, work in a field that is highly structured so that your schedule is established by someone else and not left up to you.
• Identify the source of one's psychological indifference toward work—e.g., poor example of slothful parent(s), belittling criticism that makes you feel incapable of achievement—and seek the help of others to overcome it.
• Ensure that one's physical weariness is not due to some medical problem, lack of proper nutrition, exercise, and/or rest, all of which are correctible—with the possible exception of some medical problems.
• Seek personal accountability from a trusted friend(s).
• Embrace the joy of obeying God through working hard so as to provide for one's own needs, the needs of one's family, and the needs of the church and the poor.

So, make it your goal to pursue a different kind of spiritual formation—one that buffets the body to enhance the soul.

Gregg Allison is Professor of Christian Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

1 Some of the following is adapted from Gregg R. Allison, "Toward a Theology of Human Embodiment," Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, 13/2 (Summer, 2009): 4-17. Used with permission.

2 Jeff Olson, Th.M. thesis, Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon.

3 Adapted from Solomon Schimmel, The Seven Deadly Sins: Jewish, Christian, and Classical Reflections on Human Psychology(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997), 193.

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