Another Lust Thread-My Specific Problem

[ToBeInChrist]

So with our disconnect we may not be able to discuss this further. I really do appreciate the tone of your posts. Some don't do it as civil as you have.

Well I also appreciate your tone towards me as we discussed this.

You challenged me to review my reasons, my interpretations, my integration of the full counsel of Scripture, and perhaps as a result I can articulate what I see in Scripture better, and do a better job of encouraging others to walk the straight and narrow path. I challenged you to beware lest you take salvation from sin lightly, take too casual a stance toward sin, wallow in fleshly bondage or lust, or steer others away from holiness. We each have some more food for thought and prayer.

Re: thinking vs. doing

If I covet something and imagine stealing it, or find myself admiring the skill of some thief in some fictional work, I may be glad that I did not steal anything, but in my heart I am nurturing the attitude of a thief. So if I did not steal anything, nonetheless I coveted or in my heart was a thief. Well good I did not rob anyone. I don't deny that it is good when one does not take action to steal, but I assert that we ought to guard our heart.

 

[dayhiker]

If I covet something and imagine stealing it, or find myself admiring the skill of some thief in some fictional work, I may be glad that I did not steal anything, but in my heart I am nurturing the attitude of a thief. So if I did not steal anything, nonetheless I coveted or in my heart was a thief. Well good I did not rob anyone. I don't deny that it is good when one does not take action to steal, but I assert that we ought to guard our heart.

That's exactly how I see Mat.5:28 ... The context is adultery ,,, to take another man's wife. Jesus says we are to look at a woman and covet another her for then we have commited adultery in our heart. Paul uses the Greek word there when he speeks of the command to not covet.

 

[The Outlier]

Its not wrong to desire. Its wrong to purposefully meditate on that desire when the time is not right for that desire to be fulfilled. Thoughts will always go through your head- thats not a sin. However they are more likely to go through you head if you are around pornography or the types of atmosphere where unhindered sexuality is present. I'm not saying you are because I don't know you, but am just warning you of what may come. As much as it sound prudish, try to stay away from places that cause you to lust- even from movies with nudity. While its not a sin to watch a movie with nudity in it, there are not one but actually two sins a person can commit when watching nudity in a movie. The first is obviously lust, but the second is discontentment. Its that "What can't I have that" mentality. Married men can commit both sins as well. They may not lust after the woman but they can still compare her to his or her spouse and start to want whats on the other sied of the fence rather than what they have. Maybe what they have is singleness.

The most unhappy Christian single is one who thinks that they can be around anything and watch anything without getting phased. I'm not talking about whats right and wrong necessarily but what's prudent. Its not wrong to go to the pool (actually its fun). But if every time you go to the pool you stumble with either lust or discontentment, you might as well not go to the pool. Its about what works for you and what you can do to avoid sin. Not everyone is the same. If Satan can't make you sin with fornication or adultery he will do it with lust. If he can't do it with lust than he will make you sin by making you miserable so you start to complain to God that what you have is not really that good, and that there is sin and can lead to worse sin. Thats how men like Charlie Sheen screw up their lives with drugs because his two girlfriends weren't good enough for him, its how the man married to Sandra Bullock got addicted to sex to the point that she wasn't good enough for him anymore. You can't assume that if you just had sex your live would be devoid of all its problems.

A wise man once said- the grass on the other side of the fence may look greener, but it hasn't been mowed yet. Lust may be bad, but discontentment is just as dangerous. The difference between happiness and contentment is that happiness is a feeling that you can't control, while contentment is a choice to make do with what you have and to thank God for it. You can't always be happy, but you can always be content.

These are things that I learned from my own struggle with lust years ago.

 

[rrfenn]

We forget that we are saved by grace and not by ourselves. Living a sinless life is not possible, but asking for forgiveness every time you realize you have sinned is very important.

The more you sin you more you should go to the cross for cleansing and forgiveness without fail. Let the Lord take care of the score. Remember Christ loves you and died for you. I have been a christian for 46 years now and that is how I keep my peace with God.

 

[dayhiker]

good point. So an Amen from me.