lust ......?

Question

I just seen someone ask if they have a crush or is it lust
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aq2.rgh2m8_98pFwJavLBL1FLxV.?qid=20070512154451AAoDKUd

is there a difference ?
dont we have to start somewhere in a relationship
we surely dont just go from like to love
how does a Christian begin a relationship without some lust ?
genuine curiousity thank you

Answer 1

lust is a sexual desire.... when your thoughts are about being sexually intimate with a person

you can be interested in being with someone without it being sexual.... the desire to have a relationship without it being physical is a great place to start... someone that is 'cute' or 'attractive' to you isnt the same as someone who makes you have 'sexual' thoughts about them....

physical or mental attraction isnt the same as lustful thoughts

Answer 2

I think Job 31:11-12 (NLT) sums up lust quite nicely, "For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. It is a devastating fire that destroys to hell. It would wipe out everything I own." Just think about the definition of lust: 1) Intense or unrestrained sexual craving, or 2) An overwhelming desire or craving (Source: The American Heritage Dictionary).
Lust is a focus on pleasing oneself, and often leads to unwholesome actions to fulfill one's desires with no regard to the consequences. Lust is about possession and greed. The Christian faith is about selflessness, and is marked by holy living (Romans 6:19, 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 30, 6:19-20; Ephesians 1:4, 4:24; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, 5:23; 2 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16). The goal of each person who has put his/her faith in Jesus Christ is to become more and more like Him each day. This means putting off the old way of life, of which sin was in control, and conforming one's thoughts and actions to the standard put forth in Scripture. Lust is in opposition to this ideal.

Answer 3

I'll give you [a] logical explanation, I hope I can help. We know that there is a harmony, that's what we are given to see in the story with Adam & Eve in the garden of eden before they sinned, the problem with the term lust or lustful intention is that it falls into the catagorey of a lower level aspect of cohibition like that of animals, in other words we that are created in the image of God and keep the harmony the term then was given and Adam knew his wife, this is how G-d [respectfully] discrbed it even after they were cast out of the garden. They were still in harmony with God for this very reason because they were the only 2 human beings on earth and who were created by G-d for the very purpose of multiplying and filling the earth and ofcourse they were not just limited by that man has many other purposes. What would be the harmony today, being married before the eyes of G-d and man anything other then the steps taken and aposition to this concept constitutes lust or lustfull intentions, but if you are asking what about what makes them come together or find attraction for each other, the harmonial and respectful term would be the desireing of each other.

PS. I like the answer [Kait] gives below.

Answer 4

There is a difference. One delivers punishment and the other does not. Lust is of human origin, not blessed by God, so why should we obey it? If we do, at length there will be a price for the transgression. No one escapes from spiritual law but the human mind hates God and rejects the notion that His condemnation of sin is even a possibility, so then it is OK to go our own way. We all will learn this to be a hard fact, either through suffering or from (spiritual) understanding.
It is very possible to go from like and end up in love. If we get ourselves out of the way, then we have let ourselves be subject to God, and His will, and that is exactly where we will all find what it is that we need.
Once we understand, then we realize power, and are able to protect ourselves from the yoke of lust and other things. That is not to say it is going to be smooth sailing every day on earth, for that is not the nature of the human life on the earth. There are many hard lessons to learn. But the sooner we get started, the better off we are.

Answer 5

No, it's not lust. Humans are made to be attracted to the opposite sex, and beauty, be it human, animals, nature, anything that attracts us, and is appealing to look at. Lust is going to the next level and imagining all kinda sexual scenarios with this guy.
You're a girl, he's a guy, that's a NORMAL attraction, and eventually that type of attraction will lead you to your mate, marriage, family and what not. As you get older God even recognized that there would be sexual urges and what not and suggested marriage as a way to deal with those in an appropriate manner. I believe LUST is a conscience decision to CONTINUE thinking SEXUALLY about someone, and taking it to all kinda mental levels, when there is no appropriate way to remedy it, and ultimately you will become very frustrated, not just an attraction to another person.
Rest assured you're VERY normal. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

I've often wondered about things like this. Maybe the idea is that, with pure lust, you merely project the idea of a sexual situation onto someone without their knowledge, whereas with a crush, you project the idea of something that is either simpler or more complicated onto them without their knowledge - either an "innocent" desire to be close to them, or a full-blown relationship.

I think the idea is that you're allowed to have sexual thoughts about someone if you back it up with a desire to marry them and live happily ever after - it's a licence to crush, essentially - because this could conceivably lead to love, marriage, kids and all the rest of it. If you JUST have sexual thoughts about someone, without this legitimising picket-fencery, it's evidently the work of the Devil. (It's like the difference between prophets and mediums, y'know?)

But I am certainly willing to be enlightened on this issue, as I'm not a Christian, and so my observations come from an entirely external point of view.

Answer 7

I am christian.
We are all flesh and blood. God created our bodies to have urges otherwise men would never get out from under the hood of the car to allow us to have children.
The natural longing for someone of the opposite sex is quite normal, and God does not call it a sin. Lust is when you cannot think or do anything that is required of you because your mind and body are overwhelmingly obsessed with sexual ideals.
Thats why Paul tells us that if you burn in the britches, get married, and put it to rest.
"crush" is just a cute way to say there was a reaction of extreme favor for someone else.
A crush does not have to mean sexual -
often little boys have a "crush" on their teacher, just because she is pretty and nice to them.
When I met my husband, we didn't even say anything to each other except "hi", and yet an entire room full of people could "feel" the chemical reaction between the two of us.
Call it lust or whatever ya want, but we got married, for sure!

Answer 8

I agree with Darryl. I think it depends on the age of the person and how they act on it.

I agree we have to start somewhere :)
When I met my husband, I can honestly say there was not a crush or lust. Simply interest. We conversed, developed a friendship, began to date and fell in love.
I've experienced both lust and infatuation. both are potent feelings and the trick would be (in my opinion) to train our children to know what the difference is so that they are aware.


blessings :)

Answer 9

Pangel,
I truly love my brothers, sisters, church friends, and former fellow workers but I do not LUST after them. A crush in my mind is like a school child's feeling for another person or persons. They may not have SEX in mind then but if they do it is considered LUST. I think that you are absolutely a wonderful person. I really care about you. I could even have a crush on you but I would never LUST after you because I am very happily married and would never betray her for any reason in this world. I am a Christian who reads, studies, and obeys GOD's WORD as closely as I can each and every day and I pray that I always will. Have a wonderful evening and a fabulous LORD's DAY!
Thank you,
Eds, Your Christian Friend


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Answer 10

Looking at the persons good qualities and if they are a sincere Christian, would they be a good parent (if you want children). Using one intelligence is higher than lust. Lust generally doesn't last or crushes because they are on the bodily platform. Hope this helps. Hope you find a good Christian (they are hard to come by. My husband is one of those special souls.

Answer 11

This is true even the best of people have troubles with different things and lust is at the top in the bible text it is said that it's best to remain true and worship god but if you could not control you desires than to marry - which is the next honorable thing - find a mate that matches up with yourself IE. values, life expectations, desires, hopes, if lucky religious beliefs.