Does thought literally equal act?

[Nurbz]

I had this question pop in my head as a result of another thread; does thought equal act in God's eyes?

On the subject of lust in the other thread, the bible mentions that if you look upon someone in lust, you've had sex with them in your heart. If it means that lust literally translates into the act of physical sex:

-doesn't it make virginity meaningless? we've all had raging hormones (or still have ), in our younger years, we can't help but have sexual thoughts. If this is the case, then we've all lost our virginity before we've had physical sex with anyone, and therefore physical abstainence would meaningless.

-If it is adultery, than married couples can biblicly get a divorce at any time if they look at another person lustfully, right?

-the bible mentions if you have sex with someone, you are married in God's eyes, so would that mean you've legitimately married someone without consent just by thought?

On the subject of anger, does a bad thought in a moment of anger mean you've murdered or assaulted someone?

 

[Giver]

I had this question pop in my head as a result of another thread; does thought equal act in God's eyes?

On the subject of lust in the other thread, the bible mentions that if you look upon someone in lust, you've had sex with them in your heart. If it means that lust literally translates into the act of physical sex:

-doesn't it make virginity meaningless? we've all had raging hormones (or still have ), in our younger years, we can't help but have sexual thoughts. If this is the case, then we've all lost our virginity before we've had physical sex with anyone, and therefore physical abstainence would meaningless.

-If it is adultery, than married couples can biblicly get a divorce at any time if they look at another person lustfully, right?

-the bible mentions if you have sex with someone, you are married in God's eyes, so would that mean you've legitimately married someone without consent just by thought?

On the subject of anger, does a bad thought in a moment of anger mean you've murdered or assaulted someone?

I believe you answered your own question. Satan can and will give a person many evil thoughts. It is when a person entertains those thoughts that it becomes a sin. One needs to agree with the evil thought.

For me when Satan does his thing, I just picture Jesus on the cross. The thoughts go a way.

 

[RedPhoenix]

I had this question pop in my head as a result of another thread; does thought equal act in God's eyes?

On the subject of lust in the other thread, the bible mentions that if you look upon someone in lust, you've had sex with them in your heart. If it means that lust literally translates into the act of physical sex:

-doesn't it make virginity meaningless? we've all had raging hormones (or still have ), in our younger years, we can't help but have sexual thoughts. If this is the case, then we've all lost our virginity before we've had physical sex with anyone, and therefore physical abstainence would meaningless.

-If it is adultery, than married couples can biblicly get a divorce at any time if they look at another person lustfully, right?

-the bible mentions if you have sex with someone, you are married in God's eyes, so would that mean you've legitimately married someone without consent just by thought?

On the subject of anger, does a bad thought in a moment of anger mean you've murdered or assaulted someone?

As Giver said, when you entertain those thoughts is when it becomes a sin. So, let's say a some gorgeous person walks by, and a thought enters your mind. Well, do you dismiss the thought and continue what you're doing? or do you start to think about that thought a little more? when we think about it a little more is when we sin. all of these thoughts are whispers from the devil in order that we may sin and draw ourselves away from God.

also, in terms of what you said "we can't help but have sexual thoughts" that's not true. the thoughts come from the devil, and we need to fight against them. so let's say your watching a movie, and there's a sex scene (as so many movies seem to have nowadays unfortunately), and you start to think about sex. fast forward the movie, stop your thoughts, and pray.

and in terms of marriage, you aren't lusting after your partner because you love your partner, and want to do their highest good. lust is strictly for the self. the subject of marriage is a little more complicated.

hope this helps.

 

[JerryChristian]

I had this question pop in my head as a result of another thread; does thought equal act in God's eyes?

On the subject of lust in the other thread, the bible mentions that if you look upon someone in lust, you've had sex with them in your heart. If it means that lust literally translates into the act of physical sex:

-doesn't it make virginity meaningless? we've all had raging hormones (or still have ), in our younger years, we can't help but have sexual thoughts. If this is the case, then we've all lost our virginity before we've had physical sex with anyone, and therefore physical abstainence would meaningless.

-If it is adultery, than married couples can biblicly get a divorce at any time if they look at another person lustfully, right?

-the bible mentions if you have sex with someone, you are married in God's eyes, so would that mean you've legitimately married someone without consent just by thought?

On the subject of anger, does a bad thought in a moment of anger mean you've murdered or assaulted someone?

It gets confusing because by todays standards we do not know what lust means! Lust is much more than an impure thought. It is when you actively pursue your lustful interest. IT is Satan's job to give you bad thoughts, just as the Holy Spirit gives you good thoughts. The problem comes about when you act on those thoughts.

We have three basic kinds of thought. We have bad thoughts, brought on by the enemy of our soul and our evil nature. We have good thoughts brought on by the Holy Spirit and our Godly nature, and then we have neutral thoughts. Neutral thoughts are thoughts like, Wow, that was a really good pitch, when you look at a ball game.

Our thoughts are often not our own. They come from outsides sources trying to prompt our behavior.

Even Jesus got angry. Remember how He threw out the moneychangers from the temple. He utilized a whip to do so. There are alo types of anger. Evil natured anger, and Godly anger, which we refer to as righteous indignation. That's what you feel when you see someone openly commiting a sinful act, and it angers you. Now, you can turn that to ungodly anger immediately depending on your response.

So we are to bring every thought into captivity. That means we are to try and control our thoughts and not to dwell on ungodly thoughts. If we dwell on thoughts too long our will breaks down and we could act on those thoughts.

Here is a suggestion. I wear a large rubber band and whenever I have a bad thought I snap the rubber band. It reminds me that this thought is not Godly and helps me to snap out of the bad thought. Thus taking control of that thought. It helps to insure that I am not dwelling on bad or impure thoughts.

Bad thoughts can happen anytime anywhere, and no one is exempt. Let me tell you, I have come out of an intense Bible study, and before I could walk into another room and sit down a lustful thought entered my mind. I've had those thoughts while in church. It happens. Don't beat yourself up over them take control of them and beat them up. Whenever, I get those horrible thoughts I just rebuke Satan and tell him that I know the thought is from him and I refuse to act on it. That does one other thing. The Bible tells us to "submit to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you." By doing what I described I am refusing to submit to Satan, I am resisting him, declaring that I will not act on the thought because I am submitted to God.

I hope this helps.

 

[JerryChristian]

I believe you answered your own question. Satan can and will give a person many evil thoughts. It is when a person entertains those thoughts that it becomes a sin. One needs to agree with the evil thought.

For me when Satan does his thing, I just picture Jesus on the cross. The thoughts go a way.

This is good solid advice!

 

[Catherineanne]

I had this question pop in my head as a result of another thread; does thought equal act in God's eyes?

No. Christ's words on this matter are what is known as Rabbinic hyperbole.

Our own legal system makes a clear distinction between actual acts carried out and acts simply thought about. It is not possible for man to be more just than God, so God must do likewise.

In relation to our own hearts, it makes sense to rid ourselves of unpleasant thoughts as well as behaviours, but they are certainly not the same.

 

[holyrokker]

Sin stems from what a person has purposed in the heart. It is not just a matter of thought and action.

As for the question of adultery: There is a difference between temptaion and sin. Sin involves a decision.

to "look upon a woman with lust" is to have your heart set upon the desire. To do so means to affirm the desire, and commit ones imagination to it.

 

[e. barrett]

No. Christ's words on this matter are what is known as Rabbinic hyperbole.

I agree. I think Jesus was addressing the fact that we can go around looking the part of a believer, but on the inside we are just as corrupt and guilty as the adulterer or murderer.

Jesus had a habit of upping the ante by showing that no matter what you did the Law would never be enough to atone for your sins. It was only through the ultimate sacrifice (Jesus' death) would we have a way "out" so to speak.

Just because you don't act, doesn't mean you are free from sin.

 

[hailhismercy]

Just because you don't act, doesn't mean you are free from sin.

I think this is a great quote and sums up my thoughts on this topic completely. I feel that its our thoughts - not just our actions - that can be considered sins. Just because a sexual predator never touched a child doesn't mean they shouldn't be considered one if they have other things in their possession that can get them in trouble. And just because a married man never actually goes further than thinking about sexual acts with another woman doesn't mean he hasn't committed an act of lust in the eyes of God, ya know?

 

[iamjcs]

If you keep your mind in the gutter too much, you begin to stink.

If you keep your mind on God enough, you begin to smell sweet as honey.

Guard your mind & turn your thoughts over to God.

 

[Nobody1]

I had this question pop in my head as a result of another thread; does thought equal act in God's eyes?

On the subject of lust in the other thread, the bible mentions that if you look upon someone in lust, you've had sex with them in your heart. If it means that lust literally translates into the act of physical sex:

-doesn't it make virginity meaningless? we've all had raging hormones (or still have ), in our younger years, we can't help but have sexual thoughts. If this is the case, then we've all lost our virginity before we've had physical sex with anyone, and therefore physical abstainence would meaningless.

-If it is adultery, than married couples can biblicly get a divorce at any time if they look at another person lustfully, right?

-the bible mentions if you have sex with someone, you are married in God's eyes, so would that mean you've legitimately married someone without consent just by thought?

On the subject of anger, does a bad thought in a moment of anger mean you've murdered or assaulted someone?

It equals act, but if you merely lust after a woman you have not married her. If you sleep with her, then you have married her. The lusting is part of that bondage process. But, why did Jesus not go further into this? Surely, hate is murder, and so on...

The point is that if your heart is full of these things you need to forgive anyone for anything you have against them and ask God for forgiveness of your sins.

Then, be sure as well that you have the Holy Spirit, which will control your raging lusts.

All sins are forgiven you, if you have forgiven others.

 

[ozell]

I had this question pop in my head as a result of another thread; does thought equal act in God's eyes?

On the subject of lust in the other thread, the bible mentions that if you look upon someone in lust, you've had sex with them in your heart. If it means that lust literally translates into the act of physical sex:

-doesn't it make virginity meaningless? we've all had raging hormones (or still have ), in our younger years, we can't help but have sexual thoughts. If this is the case, then we've all lost our virginity before we've had physical sex with anyone, and therefore physical abstainence would meaningless.

-If it is adultery, than married couples can biblicly get a divorce at any time if they look at another person lustfully, right?

-the bible mentions if you have sex with someone, you are married in God's eyes, so would that mean you've legitimately married someone without consent just by thought?

On the subject of anger, does a bad thought in a moment of anger mean you've murdered or assaulted someone?

yes!!!

this is why we have to pray always.

Lk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

2Thes 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

1Thes 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

we do have wicked/sinful thoughts.

 

[2ww]

Rom 14:22 tells us "'Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth".


We should not dwell on evil thoughts. But neither should we condemn ourselves for having these pop into mind. Entertaining these and nurturing these thoughts is the problem


Thus there is a very big difference between thoughts and actions.


While we are battling thoughts of hate or lust, God is on our side, for us, rooting for us and helping us fight these - not condemning us.


And I believe some zealous Christian folk put themselves through needless guilt because they are more zealous than God Himself. God made women cute. There is not a part of a woman that cannot be considered "sexy" from her hair down to her toes. But to beat oneself up for noticing that some random woman IS beautiful - like some Christians do - I think is needless masochism.


To lust after a woman, or to hate someone to the point of wanting to kill them means far more than just having the thought. It goes further than that. It means getting a gun, or asking for her number. It means taking an actual step towards fulfilling that wrong thought.


We only sin when we nurture those evil thoughts and make plans to accomplish these in reality.


If Lucifer had had the thought that he wanted to be like he Most High and not acted on that thought, but dismissed it from his mind, we would not have a Satan today.

 

[Ghettoflame]

I had this question pop in my head as a result of another thread; does thought equal act in God's eyes?

On the subject of lust in the other thread, the bible mentions that if you look upon someone in lust, you've had sex with them in your heart. If it means that lust literally translates into the act of physical sex:

-doesn't it make virginity meaningless? we've all had raging hormones (or still have ), in our younger years, we can't help but have sexual thoughts. If this is the case, then we've all lost our virginity before we've had physical sex with anyone, and therefore physical abstinence would meaningless.

-If it is adultery, than married couples can biblically get a divorce at any time if they look at another person lustfully, right?

-the bible mentions if you have sex with someone, you are married in God's eyes, so would that mean you've legitimately married someone without consent just by thought?

On the subject of anger, does a bad thought in a moment of anger mean you've murdered or assaulted someone?

Over-thinking it, dog. I'm very complex but I know when something's being over-thought.

You see, it's really simple: we know the difference between random thoughts and meditation. See, sin starts in the heart. Before you do something, it has to be inside of you.

We're humans. We can do better and yet we fail so hard. It's clear to me now because I know that Christ died for me because he knew that I was going to screw up. If I was okay then what would the point be then?

Marriages aren't perfect but they should be consistent. If you really love your spouse, you will not divorce over something as small as a moment of lust. There are few instances when divorce is necessary, such as abuse, adultery, manipulation, etc.

A desire to kill someone is inexcusably bad. If it's impulsive, get some professional help. Of course, rage and begrudging don't line up with murder itself, but it can actually be a path. I would know, I lived in the streets and I have tried to injure or kill my enemies in fights.

The basis of the scriptures are very, very simple. The point is, smaller sins and conditions of being are prerequisites for bigger ones.