Speaker: Vince Klassen
If we learned anything from Homer Simpson’s religious neighbor Ned Flanders is — if you enjoy it, it’s probably bad. Be that beer, donuts, sex, you name it. If Homer Simpson liked it, Ned didn’t approve. Through this lens, self-control is that thing that stops you from doing things that you enjoy. It’s what stops Ned from drinking that cold beer on a hot day or eating that last delicious donut.
But if this series has taught us anything, it’s that joy and peace and generosity and love are all measures of our spiritual practice — not self-denial.
So maybe our focus on self-control to avoid things we enjoy is not looking at self-control in the best way. Maybe there is a way to see self-control that builds a better life and a better world, and doesn’t just make self-denying Ned Flanders type people frantically trying to stop themselves from doing things that they enjoy?
Join us this week as we explore self-control in light of all the Fruits of the Spiritual Life and wrap up this series.