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Are impure thoughts only sins if you act on them?

Catholicism

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royboy said:
If a priest looks at a choir boy in church and has impure thoughts, is it only a sin if he acts on it?

Yes, but the act need only be an act of the will such as accepting the thoughts, and dwelling on them et cetera. If he indulges in the thoughts then it is a sin, but if the thoughts are no more then things in the imagination passing before his eyes it is not a sin.
 
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royboy said:
If a priest looks at a choir boy in church and has impure thoughts, is it only a sin if he acts on it?

Nope. I know for a fact because the Lord has dealt w/ me about mere thoughts I have. Thinking sinful is still sin...The bible says:

Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

So thinking futile, wicked thoughts aren't the things in the verse...and they are sin and don't please God.
 
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Sometimes said:
Impure thoughts generally occur naturally and without choice.

Decide for yourself.

That's false. People willfully imagine filthy images and fantascize and etc...willfully...even if it happens to just pop up...you choose to keep thinking on it.
 
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z3ro said:
From what I understand about the christian faith in general, yes, thoughts are sins. I just can't fathom the mind who agrees with a justice system that equates hating someone with murder.

Well, what good comes from hating someone? What good does it do to yourself if you hate another? What good comes to your family and loved ones by you hate?
 
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Lilly of the Valley said:
That's false. People willfully imagine filthy images and fantascize and etc...willfully...even if it happens to just pop up...you choose to keep thinking on it.
To quote Sometimes:

Decide for yourself.
 
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flicka

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Thoughts can and do pop into your head without much effort on your part. Thoughts of doing something illegal, hurting someone, 'what if' kind of thinking, sexual thoughts, etc. If it's true that mere thoughts were sinful then I would expect to see alot of Christan's with mental problems...I can just imagine someone driving themself insane with thoughts of their own thoughts! It wouldn't suprise me if some people do this though, focusing on ones self seems to be a byproduct of many religious beliefs.
 
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YOu have control of what you just think about...even if a thought pops in your head you choose to KEEP thinking on it. Now there is the option of casting down vain imaginations. Also, we are to monitor our thoughts, if we serve God...that doesn't drive you crazy because it's not that hard to think pure if you keep what you see and etc...pure...which is somewhat expected of those that serve God by God.


2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

So obviously...it isn't impossible...or God wouldn't encourage us to do that.
 
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If you have all kinds of horrible thoughts but can function healthily in the real world and never act on them, so what? What harm does it do anyone? None. So I see no reason to worry about so-called "impure" thoughts. I see far more "impure" actions that need attention in the real world, thanks.
 
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Lilly of the Valley said:
Well, they are very important to God, hence I actually care.


Lilly, please don't think about taking an automatic rifle, going into a crowded mall, and shooting scores of people.

This is why "thought crimes" are stupid. The mind is random and sometimes you can't not think of something.
 
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pantsman52 said:
Lilly, please don't think about taking an automatic rifle, going into a crowded mall, and shooting scores of people.

This is why "thought crimes" are stupid. The mind is random and sometimes you can't not think of something.

God says differently and as I said several times...you can 'keep' on thinking it and then you can stop and cast the thoughts down....it's that simple.
 
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royboy said:
If a priest looks at a choir boy in church and has impure thoughts, is it only a sin if he acts on it?
1) It is sin if he acts on it
2) Temptation is not sin. To be tempted, there must be thought. Therefore, thoughts are not sin.
3) BUT!! If the thought is not delt with, the priest would be sinning for harboring those thoughts rather than kicking them out.

As C H Spurgeon put it, you can't stop birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them making a nest in your hair.
 
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flicka

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Lilly of the Valley said:
Well, they are very important to God, hence I actually care.
I don't think so. See, this would mean YOU have power over God. The power to make him happy or sad. Like I said before, some parts of religion, certain beliefs like this, really are nothing more than an extreme focus on self, to increase your sense of importance and control. It really is an ego thing. I mean how important must you be if your very thoughts can make God feel bad?
 
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flicka said:
I don't think so. See, this would mean YOU have power over God. The power to make him happy or sad. Like I said before, some parts of religion, certain beliefs like this, really are nothing more than an extreme focus on self, to increase your sense of importance and control. It really is an ego thing. I mean how important must you be if your very thoughts can make God feel bad?
:doh:

You're forgetting the idea that God is a God of love.

That's like saying a child has power or authority over his parents because his attitude can make his parents happy or sad.
 
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