Jesus taught that one who lusts after a woman has already committed adultery in his heart. If it is true that having lustful desires is on par with acting out lustful desires, then if one has "wrong" desires, would it not befit one to go ahead and indulge in "wrong" acts? Does God make an objective distinction between thinking and doing wrong acts?
2007-01-12 07:00:18 · 8 answers · asked by sokrates 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Lady,
Would you not agree that every human being living on this earth has impurity residing in his/her heart? Are we not all sinful?
2007-01-12 07:40:25 · update #1
I remember speaking with someone years ago about this and he said that is why we have the commandments, "Thou shalt not....."
It's natural for a person to be tempted and think about committing an indecent act for we are in the flesh but to abstain from evil is the key. Pray to God to help you with the problem and ask His forgiveness if you harbor and dwell on the thought.
2007-01-12 07:15:08 · answer #1 · answered by paulsamuel33 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
every sinful act begins in the mind. For example- David and Bathsheba in the Bible. David saw Bathsheba on top of the roof bathing- he had 2 choices- one turn and look away and not yield to the temptation or go and find her and sleep with her. He chose to sleep with her- there were consequences to that sin. David should have not yielded to that temptation. Wrongful thinking can lead to wrongful acts- however also it says in the new testament, that everyone is tempted. It is not a sin to be tempted , but it is a sin to yield to that temptation. In in your mind you have lustful thoughts that becomes sin for you, because the thoughts usually lead to the act- that does not make it right to act however.
2007-01-12 17:19:04 · answer #2 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thinking what is wrong is bad and doing what is wrong is bad. If
you think what is wrong, that shows that there is impurity in your heart and such thoughts will feed that impurity, and that is why that is sin. Thinking also tends to lead to doing, so you should carefully guard your thoughts. Doing what is wrong, however, is worse not necessarily in that it is more sinful, but it does have worse consequences. Commiting adultery in your heart, although wrong, will not cause as much pain or damage as doing so in actions. So, if you do something wrong in your heart, do not proceed to do so in actions.
2007-01-12 15:18:05 · answer #3 · answered by Lady of the Garden 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To God, thinking of a wrong act is just as bad as doing it. God demands pure hearts, so we learn via "long suffering" so to speak.
2007-01-12 15:09:07 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From a Buddhist perspective even thought creates karma so while it may not be the same as commiting the act wicked thoughts have a consequence.
2007-01-12 15:04:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's nothing more than the Bible-writers inserting passages to give them justification to control thought.
2007-01-12 15:03:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Very Orwellian that, its a thought-crime.
2007-01-12 15:03:10 · answer #7 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does that mean if you think about killing your neighbor, you should go to jail immediately?
2007-01-12 15:03:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋