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brian
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Chicago South Burbs, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 892 |
| First Name: | brian | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | methodist, evangelical, anglican, catholic |
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Posted: Fri Mar 9th, 2007 03:57 am |
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Lust. I think I am doing ok in regards to this issue, but Jesus seemed to warn pretty strongly against it so I figure I do well to try to determine precisely what it is and where it begins to work on getting rid of all traces of it to the best of my ability moved by grace. I know the major things I would consider lustful. immoral sexual behavior. pornography. masturbation. staring at someone wishing you could personally possess them. fantasizing.
I have experienced good victory in these more serious areas the last few years. But are there more subtle forms of lust? what exactly is lust and what is its very beginning where it should be seen and cut off? How does one really know the difference between temptation and lust? Are there ways we lust and do not realize it? At what point is it grave matter?
Any thoughts.
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2410 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Mar 9th, 2007 10:03 am |
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In religious usage, lust is often defined as “having an inordinate desire.” Notice that it is not limited to sexual matters, although this is the usual connotation in ordinary speech. The older word for lust is “luxury,” in the sense of sensualism.
Personally, in my present condition as an older man, I tend to interpret lust in the broader sense as a sinful desire to gratify the senses, more or less equivalent to an attachment. Not all indulgence is sinful. For example, sexual relations within marriage are not only legitimate but mandated by the nature of marriage. On the other hand, one can overindulge or otherwise misuse this vocation; then it becomes sinful.
Not all desires are temptations; some are inspirations of the Holy Spirit, brought to us by divine grace. The point at which any desire moves from being a temptation to being a sin is when consent is given to an inordinate or disordered expression of the desire.
Finally, I recommend this link, which explains some additional ramifications of the sin or vice of lust in a fully spiritual sense.
David
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Ali
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| Joined: | Sat Jan 6th, 2007 |
| Location: | Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 667 |
| First Name: | Ali | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | JW, finally fully Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Mar 9th, 2007 10:30 am |
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When I first read your post the word idolotry popped into my head. Very few people have actual idols in theire homes they worship, but we turn other things (money, TV, famous rock stars  ) into our idols, and that takes away from our worship to God.
To me lust is similar. And it just doesn't relate to sex. To me lust means "having a strong desire for". Heck, I have a strong desire to own the new U2 (see avatar) CD/DVD, but I don't have the money for it at the moment. I could work extra for it, but that time could better be spent with God. So to me, lust is anything takes my efforts and time away from what I could be giving back to God.
I'll just wait and hopefully someone will gift me with it, lol. After all, Mother's Day is coming up. LOL
Ali
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CajunRick
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Posted: Fri Mar 9th, 2007 11:10 am |
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David gave you the "official" stuff. From a sexual standpoint, in my opinion, it becomes lust when it dehumanizes the object of our affection.
I can admire an attractive woman as what to me is the apex of God's creation, especially if she has made the effort to maintain a healthy appearance through exercise, etc. I can appreciate her personality, her intelligence, her sense of humor, etc., and none of that is lustful. But when I begin to think of her as a sexual object, I am "harming" her by no longer considering her a person but rather the object of my desires. That's sin.
Some women pander to those desires and they can be hard to resist, but even taking them up on their offer is sinful. Is it "gravely" sinful? That depends on extent and circumstances. Fleeting thoughts are unavoidable. That's the way God made us. Harboring those thoughts and dwelling on them is another matter entirely.
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Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Mar 12th, 2007 12:12 pm |
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cajunrick wrote: Fleeting thoughts are unavoidable. That's the way God made us. Harboring those thoughts and dwelling on them is another matter entirely.
Somebody said you can't keep a bird from flying overhead but you can keep it from nesting in your hair!
____________________
Annie
Ora et labora
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