Lust

[Liger14]

Ok,I can tell right from the getgo that most of you wont agree with this,but I wanted to throw my opinion out there.Oh,and I'm new here,sorry if this has been posted a lot.

Lust is not a sin.Why?Because lust is essentially just temptation,associated often with sexual immorality.Lust is to desire something strongly,which is just temptation.To be tempted itself is not a sin.It is only a sin when acted upon.

Wasnt Jesus tempted?The devil tried to lure him with many things in an attempt to get him to follow satan.Jesus was tempted,but without sin.Jesus was without sin.If he had taken everything,he would have sinned.But he did not act upon temptation.

Also,I am aware of how Jesus says that you commit adultery if you even look or think about any woman.But what's adultery?"Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a partner other than the lawful spouse."So,this occurs only if you're married.OK.Of course,this doesnt mean that you cannot commit sexual sin if unmarried,but it does mean a few things.

First,do you really think God meant you cant look at ANY woman at all?Don't you have temptation to look at your wife?Dont you become attracted to a girl BEFORE you marry her?Is a 14 year old sinning when he dreams about growing up and marrying a girl(probably a celebrity or something) and sex is a part of it?

My answer is no.Lust is considered a problem because it can lead to bad things.But it is only a sin if you act on it.That said,it may be best to TRY not to be tempted so you are not lead to do something bad,but being tempted in itself is not a sin.

That's just my two cents.Please feel free to share you're opinions.I'd love to hear what everyone thinks.

 

[Ben Borg Again]

I dont see the big deal about lust.
Why is it I am sexualy turned on when I see a pretty woman?
Well its my natural desire to mate with a healthy woman.
good looks, good skin, athletic, good teeth, good smile, young... all these things I find sexualy attractive, because my biology recognizes that breeding with this woman would most likely result in healthy offspring.
This is probably the reason why I am not attracted to overly obsese, unhealthy, woman with a bad attitude.
On a particual bilological level, I know my offspring may not be born healthy.
Just because I lust after a woman, its disrespectful? I dont think so... it should be a compliment to the woman.
a woman who oozes sex appeal, doesnt make her less of a human being.
this is how I see lust, I see nothing wrong with it.. Just ask all the strippers I have gotten to know lately LOL

 

[jezic]

i think i would have to disagree. I would define lust very different.

It involves an active choice by the person to think about some act or person in ways that are reserved for marriage, if even then. It does not respect the integrety and value of the person and is wrong.

 

[lawtonfogle]

Hmm.

No age, so I cannot tell why you put this. Having an age helps.

Also new to this.

Also no religion preference.


If you see something that you are not suspose to, but on no fault of your own (aka, eating at McDonalds, and someone streaks though, being chased by the 'fashion police'), you have not lusted by seeing them. But if you think about it afterwards is a sexual manner, then that is lust.

So, it is not the fact that you may see something, but thinking on it afterwards is lust. Also, thinking on it before you see it, say wishing someone came streaking though, is also lust.

Now for the adultery part. Adultery is when one married person has sex with someone else. So you are saying if you are not married then it is not adultery if you commit it in your heart. The problem with this is that it says pre-marrital sex is ok. No, it is not. The point is, you are married when you have sex. It is the joining of the flesh. Just as the baptism does not make you the Christain, but instead tells it to the world, so does the cerromony. So this being, you are commiting adutery even if you are not married by earth standards.

Am i saying it is ok for two people who want to get married to have sex. No, I am not. This leads into conviction. It is like hunting on Sunday (as long as it is not during church, which then is a direct violation of the ten commandments), if you think it is wrong to do, and do it, then you have sinned, but if you do not think it is wrong, and do it, then it is not. Some people do not cut grass on Sunday, but I see no problem with it. In this case I agree to disagree. Now if it was something, say lying, which is in direct violation of the ten commandments, then I would not agree to disagree.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

Ok,I can tell right from the getgo that most of you wont agree with this,but I wanted to throw my opinion out there.Oh,and I'm new here,sorry if this has been posted a lot.

Lust is not a sin.Why?Because lust is essentially just temptation,associated often with sexual immorality.Lust is to desire something strongly,which is just temptation.To be tempted itself is not a sin.It is only a sin when acted upon.

Wasnt Jesus tempted?The devil tried to lure him with many things in an attempt to get him to follow satan.Jesus was tempted,but without sin.Jesus was without sin.If he had taken everything,he would have sinned.But he did not act upon temptation.

Also,I am aware of how Jesus says that you commit adultery if you even look or think about any woman.But what's adultery?"Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a partner other than the lawful spouse."So,this occurs only if you're married.OK.Of course,this doesnt mean that you cannot commit sexual sin if unmarried,but it does mean a few things.

First,do you really think God meant you cant look at ANY woman at all?Don't you have temptation to look at your wife?Dont you become attracted to a girl BEFORE you marry her?Is a 14 year old sinning when he dreams about growing up and marrying a girl(probably a celebrity or something) and sex is a part of it?

My answer is no.Lust is considered a problem because it can lead to bad things.But it is only a sin if you act on it.That said,it may be best to TRY not to be tempted so you are not lead to do something bad,but being tempted in itself is not a sin.

That's just my two cents.Please feel free to share you're opinions.I'd love to hear what everyone thinks.

You appear to be confusing temptation with entertaining or acting on improper desires. Above, you also mix proper desires with improper in your example of desires for one's wife with desires out of wedlock. I would say that your over-generalization of lust as defined by the secular definition is not one reflected in the Bible and temptation is not the same as lust; thus, we have different words for each and they apply differently. And your declaration of lust is not a sin is a contradiction to Christian teaching.

 

[Ben Borg Again]

I still dont understand how it doesnt respect the integrety of the person.
I think a woman should feel good that she happens to be born with sex appeal and has the tendancy to make guys lustful.
It only shows this woman is desirable to the guys, because everybody wants healthy offspring.
Sure there are men jerks out there who see woman as objects to be disrespected, but I dont see how lust is responsible for a mans negative attitude regarding woman.

 

[lawtonfogle]

Ben Borg Again

what you say may make sense, if we were animals. But if we are animals, then why should I care what you say. If we are truely animals, then we are no more than bacteria, so why should I care if you live or die.

In the end, I am not an animal. If you want to call me one, fine, but I will not listen to such an insult.

 

[NothingButTheBlood]

James 1 (KJV)

12 ¶ Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 ¶ Do not err, my beloved brethren.

 

[Toboe]

Ben Borg Again

what you say may make sense, if we were animals. But if we are animals, then why should I care what you say. If we are truely animals, then we are no more than bacteria, so why should I care if you live or die.

In the end, I am not an animal. If you want to call me one, fine, but I will not listen to such an insult.

But the thing is we are animals, the only thing that separates us from other animals is that fact that we can reason better.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

But the thing is we are animals, the only thing that separates us from other animals is that fact that we can reason better.

And Who gave us this reasoning? Are you your own source of right and wrong? How about any ruler that can 'reason' genocide? Do they have reasoning?

No, call yourself a beast if you wish. My Father tells me that we are special in His sight and I for one will believe Him.

 

[Liger14]

"Now for the adultery part. Adultery is when one married person has sex with someone else. So you are saying if you are not married then it is not adultery if you commit it in your heart. The problem with this is that it says pre-marrital sex is ok. No, it is not. The point is, you are married when you have sex. It is the joining of the flesh. Just as the baptism does not make you the Christain, but instead tells it to the world, so does the cerromony. So this being, you are commiting adutery even if you are not married by earth standards"

I'm sorry I forgot to mention that.I am not sanctioning pre marital sex.The Bible does say that if you have sex with someone you have to marry them.

"You appear to be confusing temptation with entertaining or acting on improper desires. Above, you also mix proper desires with improper in your example of desires for one's wife with desires out of wedlock. I would say that your over-generalization of lust as defined by the secular definition is not one reflected in the Bible and temptation is not the same as lust; thus, we have different words for each and they apply differently. And your declaration of lust is not a sin is a contradiction to Christian teaching."

Centurion,what I meant when I said this was that temptation can LEAD to acting on desires and commiting sin.I'm also only illustrating the wedlock and the desire for ones wife to further my point.Are you saying you do not have desires for the girl you are GOING to marry BEFORE you are married?Do you just marry some random girl without desiring her?Are you saying you have no desire for any girl at all?Could you elaborate a little on that?

Also,lust in the bible is desiring something greatly,wanting very strongly.In the bible people often lust after each other sexually.David was not only lusting after Bathsheeba,he was tempted by her.She was not trying to tempt him,but naturally he was drawn.He acted on it,and sinned.Lust in essence is wanting,and in that way it is similar to temptation,being inticed toward something that can lead you astray.While temptation and lust may not seem the same thing,they are very,very similar and I believe they link in this case.

I'm just saying,when you are attracted to a girl and you and her are both unmarried and you think in your mind "she's pretty" and you look at her,not neccesarily fantasizing,but just looking and liking her,are you sinning?I dont think so,particularly if you have not had pre marital sex with her and you have not acted upon your desires.

Lust and temptation are thrown at us everyday.Being tempted and wanting something is normal.I am not saying you should go ahead and lust after everything and every girl and let it run wild,but I'm saying when you are tempted,when you find yourself drawn to a pretty girl,you are not sinning umless you or her are married or you act upon your desires sinfully.It's natural to be drawn to girls,God instilled that in us.It is how we control it that matters.

More opinions welcome!

 

[ChristianCenturion]

"Now for the adultery part. Adultery is when one married person has sex with someone else. So you are saying if you are not married then it is not adultery if you commit it in your heart. The problem with this is that it says pre-marrital sex is ok. No, it is not. The point is, you are married when you have sex. It is the joining of the flesh. Just as the baptism does not make you the Christain, but instead tells it to the world, so does the cerromony. So this being, you are commiting adutery even if you are not married by earth standards"

I'm sorry I forgot to mention that.I am not sanctioning pre marital sex.The Bible does say that if you have sex with someone you have to marry them.

See the definition of fornication.

"You appear to be confusing temptation with entertaining or acting on improper desires. Above, you also mix proper desires with improper in your example of desires for one's wife with desires out of wedlock. I would say that your over-generalization of lust as defined by the secular definition is not one reflected in the Bible and temptation is not the same as lust; thus, we have different words for each and they apply differently. And your declaration of lust is not a sin is a contradiction to Christian teaching."

Centurion,what I meant when I said this was that temptation can LEAD to acting on desires and commiting sin.I'm also only illustrating the wedlock and the desire for ones wife to further my point.Are you saying you do not have desires for the girl you are GOING to marry BEFORE you are married?Do you just marry some random girl without desiring her?Are you saying you have no desire for any girl at all?Could you elaborate a little on that?

I say that I am reflecting the same as Christian teaching in that there are proper and improper desires. It is in our youth that we should be striving to develop self-control - success and failure to do so is another matter, but that doesn't say that we are not to strive. You don't honestly think that we have a free pass to entertain any and all lust when we are young only to be married and then wonder why we still have those desires and habits we fed all those years before, do you? No, I did not say that we are desire free, simply that there are boundaries and to declare otherwise would be lawlessness and that is sin. Balance and God's declaration of what is righteous and wickedness is what I advocate.

Also,lust in the bible is desiring something greatly,wanting very strongly.In the bible people often lust after each other sexually.David was not only lusting after Bathsheeba,he was tempted by her.She was not trying to tempt him,but naturally he was drawn.He acted on it,and sinned.Lust in essence is wanting,and in that way it is similar to temptation,being inticed toward something that can lead you astray.While temptation and lust may not seem the same thing,they are very,very similar and I believe they link in this case.

Try a theological definition rather than continuing to rest in the secular.

http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionaries/dict_meaning.php?source=1&wid=T0002334

http://www.biblegateway.com/topical/topical_resource.php?source=1&tid=3109

I'm just saying,when you are attracted to a girl and you and her are both unmarried and you think in your mind "she's pretty" and you look at her,not neccesarily fantasizing,but just looking and liking her,are you sinning?I dont think so,particularly if you have not had pre marital sex with her and you have not acted upon your desires.

What you described there is not lust.

Lust and temptation are thrown at us everyday.Being tempted and wanting something is normal.I am not saying you should go ahead and lust after everything and every girl and let it run wild,but I'm saying when you are tempted,when you find yourself drawn to a pretty girl,you are not sinning umless you or her are married or you act upon your desires sinfully.It's natural to be drawn to girls,God instilled that in us.It is how we control it that matters.

More opinions welcome!

Nope, still not getting a free pass to lust and you continue to confuse lust and temptation as being the same.

 

[Toboe]

And Who gave us this reasoning?

To tell you the truth i really don't know. It could be mear chance that we ended up this way or it could some omniscient being who created us in its image, hell it could be aliens for all i know.

Are you your own source of right and wrong?

Well, yes and no.

How about any ruler that can 'reason' genocide? Do they have reasoning?

(Damn i could of picked a better word than reason, maybe Logic or sentience would have been better lol.) Yes.

No, call yourself a beast if you wish.

Whats bad about just stating a fact. We are sentience mammals.

My Father tells me that we are special in His sight and I for one will believe Him.

Good. IMHO believing is the essence of life.

 

[Liger14]

Alright Centurion,I respect your opinion and I understand your point of view.Im dont mean there is a free pass to lust.I'll start with this.first,I only just turned 14 and have just found God.Therefore,I guess I should just stop arguing with all you guys who know way more than I.I know fornificating is wrong.I only said that because early on in the Bible it says that if a man takes a virgin and neither are married,they had to get married and could never divorce.I thought that law applied everywhere.That's what I meant.

I am not saying we should lust freely,I'm just asking:I'm 14,I like this girl in school.Is it ok for me to like,her,to dream about her at night,or to want to be with her?That's all I want to know.

Oh yeah,and that definition place says that a lust is a sinful LONGING, an object of desire,which is what I have been saying.Temptation can be linked to lust.I'm not trying to say you can get a free pass to lust,and I agree with you that there are boundaries.But cant you see that there can be a link to temptation and lust?They both revolve around desire!Longing!They can be similar.

 

[NothingButTheBlood]

This is what lust did to David.

http://www.bartleby.com/108/10/11.html

 

[skinner]

"
I'm just saying,when you are attracted to a girl and you and her are both unmarried and you think in your mind "she's pretty" and you look at her,not neccesarily fantasizing,but just looking and liking her,are you sinning?I dont think so,particularly if you have not had pre marital sex with her and you have not acted upon your desires.

Lust and temptation are thrown at us everyday.Being tempted and wanting something is normal.I am not saying you should go ahead and lust after everything and every girl and let it run wild,but I'm saying when you are tempted,when you find yourself drawn to a pretty girl,you are not sinning umless you or her are married or you act upon your desires sinfully.It's natural to be drawn to girls,God instilled that in us.It is how we control it that matters.

More opinions welcome!

My opinion is that what you are describing above is not lust, until you"let it run wild" To admire a pretty girl is not lust, but having fantasys about sex with her is. It may seem like a fine line, but there is a big differerce there.

Admiring the beauty of God's creation, whatever it may be, is good. The moment that admiration turns to selfish thoughts of "mine, mine, I want that for me alone." it becomes wrong.
I hope this is clear.

Also, being a young man myself once, I can assure you that there will no doubt be times that you will lust. Confess it and move on. I'm not saying take it lightly, but don't continue to feel guilty over confessed sin. God isn't looking to disown you the first time you mess up. He's more than willing to forgive the moment you ask Him.

 

[ChristianCenturion]

Alright Centurion,I respect your opinion and I understand your point of view.Im dont mean there is a free pass to lust.I'll start with this.first,I only just turned 14 and have just found God.

No problem and honestly, I can't really tell age sometimes. Some older adults don't show any more maturity than children and some children show more maturity than most adults. I'm not an exception to this possibility, though I TRY to act at least my age. I don't take issue with you, but I may correct something that say "X" is a Christian teaching when I know "Y" is actually what is sound doctrine - that isn't to be taken personally, just a post stating difference and it is either correct or it isn't.

Therefore,I guess I should just stop arguing with all you guys who know way more than I.I know fornificating is wrong.I only said that because early on in the Bible it says that if a man takes a virgin and neither are married,they had to get married and could never divorce.I thought that law applied everywhere.That's what I meant.

As I understand it, it was a law to make a wicked action at least capable of sanctification. The same for today. If a couple have unwed sex, then that would be wrong. They should repent and it is still a viable option to continue to be in love and enjoy sex IF they have God sanctify them by entering into a covenent of marriage. This is not the only teaching that applies to fornication though.

I am not saying we should lust freely,I'm just asking:I'm 14,I like this girl in school.Is it ok for me to like,her,to dream about her at night,or to want to be with her?That's all I want to know.

Liking is not wrong. Dreaming - eh, that is less controllable, but can be influenced by our conscious thoughts and what we entertain while awake. "Be" with her? That is where I encourage you to learn what is proper and what is not. Desiring is one thing, to feed into fantasizing of "being" with her as in the Biblical sense may be natural of our carnal instincts, but it isn't a Christian trait to be ruled by our carnal instincts - it IS Christian to be self-controlled and strive to be pure. It is a difficult and sometimes long perseverance, but one that reaps priceless rewards by the grace of God.

Oh yeah,and that definition place says that a lust is a sinful LONGING, an object of desire,which is what I have been saying.Temptation can be linked to lust.I'm not trying to say you can get a free pass to lust,and I agree with you that there are boundaries.But cant you see that there can be a link to temptation and lust?They both revolve around desire!Longing!They can be similar.

Yes there is a link, but it is a one way street. Lust has the temptation, but temptation doesn't necessarily have to give birth to the lust - we may flee from it.

 

[Phred]

And Who gave us this reasoning? Are you your own source of right and wrong?

Yes, just as you are. Oh, you claim God has told you what is right and what is wrong, but you are the intellect that has decided to accept this inspiration. You've made a choice, whether you like it or not, you are your own source of right and wrong.

How about any ruler that can 'reason' genocide? Do they have reasoning?

Of course they do. And they've reasoned that what they're doing is the right thing to do. They may be basing their reasoning upon faulty facts, or perhaps beliefs instead of facts... but they don't do these things because they know they're wrong.

No, call yourself a beast if you wish. My Father tells me that we are special in His sight and I for one will believe Him.

That and two bucks will get you a cup of coffee.

 

[Doug45]

Liger14,

The word translated as 'tempt' in James 1 refers to a test. It is an opportunity to 'strongly desire' righteousness or 'lust' after our own sinful desires. The word translated as lust in James 1 is interestingly translated as lust (negative) and desire (posative) among the verses of the NT.

Jesus used the word in Jn 8:44 about the Pharisees describing them to be have the lusts of their father the devil. He used the same word to describe the desires of prophets and righteous men to see the wonders of His ministry and salvation in Mt 13:17. In Luke 22:15 He describes Himself as greatly desiring to share communion with His disciples by using the same word.

Lust/intense desire by itself is amoral. Its morality is determined by whether the object desired is in itself illicit. Therefore if I, as a man intensely desire a woman it is righteous if it be my wife and unrighteous and therefore lust if it be another woman.

You have so many years ahead of you to learn about women. Your focus should be upon learning to know Jesus. Let your intense desire be directed toward Him and you will not go wrong. 'Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.'

God is good all the time, Good God; bad devil

Doug

 

[BarbB]

But the thing is we are animals, the only thing that separates us from other animals is that fact that we can reason better.

You might be an animal, but I am not - well, except scientifically speaking, that is.

Also, Jesus wasn't too happy about lust and I want to think what he thinks!