Posted on 04/28/2011 5:55:29 AM PDT by ZGuy
We are all born into a world with our own Crosses, a tendency toward certain kinds of sins (errors) whether it be a genetic disposition toward anger or alcoholism, an abusive parent, or a physical disability etc. But human beings were also born to grow, not just physically and mentally, but also spiritually. We weren't meant to be branded, categorized and to stay the same -- we are meant for growth. People who were born without legs doesn't mean that they were never meant to walk. Someone born blind wasn't meant to stay blind and never see, they were meant to develop a different kind of sight. We are meant to grow and cast aside our disabilities and embrace what struggling with those disabilities teach us.
This is the error in this church's thinking -- embrace the sinner yes, but don't celebrate the sin or act like its natural! Would they do the same for a murderer or a thief? Celebrate "murdering" or "thieving"? No! Even though they must care for the souls of people who do those acts. Love the sinner, hate the sin that's holding these people hostage -- then you can help them free themselves. Celebrating the sin is just keeping them where they are, even if they want to grow past it!
I’m not going there on this thread. It’s unrelated. You can FReepmail me if you really want to pursue the discussion.
Your sect’s perversions have led you to gripe at this woman.
Shame! Shame! Shame!
I don’t see how to interpret “One does not have to INTEND to have that thought.or go looking for a woman to lust after” in any way other than “to be tempted is to sin”....
I was referring to this.....I'm not entirely clear where you picked up this whole "temptation≅sin" thing....
I still don't see where she said temptation = sin. I guess I'm not reading her posts the same way you are, or I'm missing something else.
Regarding homosexuality, there are countless numbers of former homosexuals. So they were able to not only renounce same sex sodomy acts, but also focusing on such acts in their minds, to one degree or another. It is a simple fact that when we “entertain” thoughts, they stick around. If such thoughts are like unwanted visitors, we show them the door. The mind is not always easy to tame, but we can change our thoughts to a large degree by what we focus on. And when we continually dwell on subject matter, we generally wind up acting on such thoughts.
If someone struggling with homosexual desires continues to watch or look at homosexual porn, go to homosexual bars, read books about the “gay” life and hangs out with those practicing it, he or she will have a very hard time not thinking about such things.
We can control our association, what we read, hear, watch, where we travel to or hang out at, and who we associate with. Imagine trying to diet while reading “foodie” magazines, poring over cookbooks, and loitering in the aisles of grocery stores, in front of bakeries (or whatever kind of food is the tempation) and hanging out in front of restaurants to smell the food smells; or going to “all you can eat” places with a bunch of friends and not eat a thing. The diet won’t work.
And someone truly repentent, who changes their behavior (and associations etc as described above) will find their desires changing as well. Doesn’t happen overnight, harder for some than others, but eventually such thoughts dwindle and become only past memories.
I have never had the problem with attraction to the same sex for which I am very thankful, but naturally other things have tempted me. And the above method is universally applicable.
Of course, begging God for forgiveness and strength and guidance is essential for those faithful to Him. But we have to do our part.
Are you finished? Actually I gave lay talks on Crusillo and Karios catholic retreats.. I lectured at mass and I taught Sunday school , played in the folk group, served on the liturgy committee, and served on several other committees ...no I was not a "Sunday Catholic." Educated in RCschools and colleges.. I have more than a passing knowledge of the false doctrines Catholicism..
Now I will give you a little protestant education.. both the Charismatic church and the nazarene church have the same Wesleyan roots and holds the same doctrines on salvation ,...
Presbyterians are Calvinists..
Good on you not being afraid to display ignorance
Jeremiah, I believe that a truly repentant man that comes to the cross can and will be saved.. and He will be healed.. that is the work of Christ
So how long do you have to look and “think “before it is a sin of Lust?? 20 seconds? twenty five seconds? a minute? What is your level of looking BEFORE it becomes a sin?
Can it be lust in say 5 seconds?
How long do you have to look and think before it is sin? 5 secs? 10 secs? a minute ? ... how long before it is sin?
Yes, in fact, Rnmomof7 did
equate
“a temptation to lust”
with
“actual lust.”
But her belief is NOT biblical.
Christ never said that.
So when does “temptation” turn to Lust? 5seconds of looking and thinking or 10 seconds ? 1 minute?? ...
If you don’t lust and are earnestly seeking to conquer any temptation to lust, then you might hafve to look for a long time.
One can be placed in such situations.
As a cadet who spent a summer in Germany under the tutelege of s young lieutenant, I once went out in the big city with him as my ride and guide. We spent some time enjoying the night life. He kept insisting that he was going to “get me laid”. He was bothered by my loyalty to my longtime girlfriend (now my wife) and my chastity. He ended up going to a brothel (they are legal in Germany), knowing that I was dependent on him for a ride and to even find my way out of that section of town and back to my barracks since I did not know any German. Of course since this was a shady part of town I went inside the building, but I waited in the hallway for him and all sorts of tarted up sluts tried to encourage me to spend some of my money on the sexual favors they were selling.
This seemed to last for an hour. I will never forget the temptation and my determined victory over it through and for God.
The lieutenant never harassed me about my loyalty to my girlfriend or my chastity again.
A confused person is someone who is:
lazy Catholic
then a
born-again Catholic
then a
Full Gospel Tabernacle sect
then a
Nazarene sect
then a
Calvinist sect
then a
Presbyterian sect
then a
what-ever-happens-to-tickle-the-ears-next-sect
I think Jesus was making a point here ... Women do not understand the strength of the sex drive God gave men .. We do not understand that a man may have sexual thoughts over what to us seems innocuous .
I have a very strong Christian friend who will not go to see that new “christian “ surfer because the movie has a lot of girls in skimpy swim suits.. he is a grandfather, not a kid.. yet he keeps himself from that “occasion of sin”
Most of us are not good at making a decision when a mental temptation turns into a sin .. when admiring your friends new car becomes covetous.. or when looking at a woman becomes covertness or lust..
Jesus was more pointed earlier in the chapter when he said we do not even have to think about killing our brother in order to be guilty of it.. all we need do is think he is a fool..
The dividing line between Temptation and mental sin is very thin ... much thinner than actually acting on our thoughts
To paraphrase your own attitude:
Who cares what you think?
The Word of God is clear.
It says what it says.
You have added a manmade doctrine to it,
which is worth spittle.
Examples?
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