Lust: Is it possible to control all your thoughts?

[ghendricks63]

Simple... Yeshua who is in you has already overcome the world of temptation.. Let Him reign within you.. and the victory that is His is yours too.

Well in large part I agree with you. But the issue we are discussing is whether sexual thought is lust and/or whether or not it represents a temptation for which we need to overcome any more than a hunger pain.

 

[visionary]

Everything has a time and a place.. ignore the hunger pangs... when there is no food... ignore the sexual appetite when there is nothing but self to feed upon.. it would be like eating your own fingers because there is nothing else to eat... not good.

 

[Zebra1552]

Everything has a time and a place.. ignore the hunger pangs... when there is no food... ignore the sexual appetite when there is nothing but self to feed upon.. it would be like eating your own fingers because there is nothing else to eat... not good.

Do you know what happens when the body goes without food for long enough? It starts breaking itself down to survive. So the fingers thing? The body already does that for us. Ignoring a normal drive just because some Christians think the Bible demands it isn't healthy. Or intelligent. I'd rather use my knowledge of the Bible to serve God as best I can than rely on what other people think it says.

 

[ghendricks63]

Do you know what happens when the body goes without food for long enough? It starts breaking itself down to survive. So the fingers thing? The body already does that for us. Ignoring a normal drive just because some Christians think the Bible demands it isn't healthy. Or intelligent. I'd rather use my knowledge of the Bible to serve God as best I can than rely on what other people think it says.

Exactly!!

I truly do not understand the need to call things sin which God does not.

 

[visionary]

Matthew 5:27-30. Yeshua speaks against having lustful thoughts and then says, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.”

Can you imagine Yeshua who lived on earth for over 30 years as a virgin... masturbating... So go forth in His strength as do as He did..

 

[Zebra1552]

Matthew 5:27-30. Yeshua speaks against having lustful thoughts and then says, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.”

What is lust? Can you even define it, or are you just assuming that your definition is correct?

Can you imagine Yeshua who lived on earth for over 30 years as a virgin... masturbating... So go forth in His strength as do as He did..

He also died on the cross for the sins of mankind. Should we do that too? Royally ticked off the political and religious leaders. Should we do that too? Just because Jesus did or did not do something doesn't mean we should follow Him literally in everything He did.

 

[ghendricks63]

Matthew 5:27-30. Yeshua speaks against having lustful thoughts and then says, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.”

Can you imagine Yeshua who lived on earth for over 30 years as a virgin... masturbating... So go forth in His strength as do as He did..

Well yes of course I can. Why would you presume that if I believe it is not sinful that I would think it shameful if Jesus did it? You seem to really not understand the concept of it not being sinful.

 

[visionary]

Back to conviction on the matter... Been there and done that.. so when the Lord convicts you ...will you argue with Him or submit?

 

[Zebra1552]

Back to conviction on the matter... Been there and done that.. so when the Lord convicts you ...will you argue with Him or submit?

God does not convict everyone of the same thing on gray areas of the Bible. Why should you expect Him to?

 

[ghendricks63]

Back to conviction on the matter... Been there and done that.. so when the Lord convicts you ...will you argue with Him or submit?

So you wish to make this a personal issue? Seems like you are fishing for a character flaw to attack.

I respond and submit to God's conviction all the time...but that has nothing to do with my view. Let me ask you a question. Why would God convict me of something He does not call sinful?

 

[visionary]

God does not convict everyone of the same thing on gray areas of the Bible. Why should you expect Him to?

God has a standard He has for everyone... and He will convict everyone of those ones.

 

[Zebra1552]

God has a standard He has for everyone... and He will convict everyone of those ones.

That does not answer my question. If you are here for discussion, then discuss. That's kind of what this forum is for.

 

[ghendricks63]

God has a standard He has for everyone... and He will convict everyone of those ones.

Have you read the section of the thread where the difference between lust and sexual thought was covered in some detail? If not I would recommend you go back and read it.

You really seem to be having a difficult time grasping what we are saying.

 

[ghendricks63]

God has a standard He has for everyone... and He will convict everyone of those ones.

BTW - If the standard is the same for everyone then why is there so much in the NT, especially by Paul, that clearly indicates what is sin for one is not sin for another. In fact this is a perfect example of the question he asked in 1 Cor 10..."For why should my freedom be judged by another’s conscience?"

 

[visionary]

That is like saying, you have to been on the same level or at the same place on the path of righteousness.. which is not true.. so that is why Paul can say, my freedom is not to be judged by another's conscience... God is a good shepherd.. and He goes at a speed we can each handle..

 

[Zebra1552]

Obviously you aren't interested in a two-way discourse.

 

[ghendricks63]

That is like saying, you have to been on the same level or at the same place on the path of righteousness.. which is not true.. so that is why Paul can say, my freedom is not to be judged by another's conscience... God is a good shepherd.. and He goes at a speed we can each handle..

I have no clue what you think I am saying but you clearly do not have my point correct.

Of course we are at a different level...I think that is exactly my point. Scripture also reveals to us that the more mature believer will have much greater freedom than the one whose faith is weaker. You seem to be implying that more we mature the greater our restrictions. The opposite is very much the case.

 

[brightmorningstar]

I respond and submit to God's conviction all the time...but that has nothing to do with my view. Let me ask you a question. Why would God convict me of something He does not call sinful?

Who said He doesnt call it sinful? Even if one person thinks the scripture says something is sinful and another says it isnt, who would be right?

God does not convict everyone of the same thing on gray areas of the Bible.

Who said? The Bible says each will have to give acount for all they have said and done. Who thinks there are grey areas regrding sin.

 

[ghendricks63]

Who said He doesnt call it sinful? Even if one person thinks the scripture says something is sinful and another says it isnt, who would be right?

Who said? The Bible says each will have to give acount for all they have said and done. Who thinks there are grey areas regrding sin. [/color][/size][/font]

For starters the bible does not declare masturbation or sexual thought sinful...quite the contrary in fact. And Paul makes it clear that even where there is freedom, if someone thinks it is wrong but does it anyway...than it is sin for him. Sad to be a slave to a church hysteria created false conscience when there is so much freedom...but I praise God I do not live in such bondage.

And I find it hard to believe you are questioning the presence of grey areas regarding sin...LOL

 

[brightmorningstar]

ghendricks63,

For starters the bible does not declare masturbation or sexual thought sinful...quite the contrary in fact.

I would say it does. Matthew 19 describes adultery ‘moichos’ as sexual activity with another person outside marriage, and fornication ‘pornos’ as breaking the marriage union. Thus when Jesus says even when one looks at another woman lustfully one has committed adultery in one’s heart, which therefore must mean lust in a sexual capacity. As sexual activity is uniquely for faithful man/woman union then all sexual thoughts for anyone other than ones husband wife look to be sinful.
I agree its not that clear cut, but certainly not contrary.

And Paul makes it clear that even where there is freedom, if someone thinks it is wrong but does it anyway...than it is sin for him.

Paul? If you mean the epistles Paul wrote? That’s in the Bible too.