Is it a sin to have lust?
 

Is it a sin to have lust?

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

Define "lust".

I believe "lust" is essentially coveting what isn't yours for the taking.

Thus the notion of "adultery" being in the heart of a man who looks upon a woman with the desire to have her. The implication is that either he is married or she is married. The union would be unlawful and adulterous. Now... desiring one who is for the taking is a different story. Notice how the lovers in the Song of Solomon fantasized about each other prior to their wedding. In fact, the Shulamite gets so worked up, she breaks into an erotic dance before our countrymen. lol

Now, lust is typically addressed as a sexual matter. And it's the most commonly experienced perhaps. I think any normal person can say that they've experienced "lust". And many can testify that they've acted on it and it's fruits weren't always as sweet as they had imagined. But lust isn't always sexual. One can lust for money and power too. That's why I generally define it as an intense coveting of something that isn't one's to take.

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

I was thinking of the meaning as it is used in the Bible. (Which may be more than one, I suppose.) I was browsing the uses of the term at biblegateway.com, and most of the time, it's qualified. Lusts of the flesh, evil lusts, etc. But I think the most basic meaning is "desire", isn't it? In context, a forbidden or evil object of that desire is implied, as you said in your post.

But is the desire itself a sin? Is it a sin to want to sin?

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

And in terms of the basic definition, it's not a sin to have desire (lust) for non-sinful things, is it?

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

Lust is a common fallen human attribute, how we handle it may be a sin, sin is the harvest of lust. So, I believe lust embraced and harbored is sin.

I believe lust is a step beyond temptation. Lust is not profitable, no matter how appealing. Lust is akin to coveting.

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

To clarify a bit, what do you consider "nonsinful things"

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

Who, me?? Almost everything! :lol

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

I lust for my wife at times. Hopfully all husbands do.

I lust after a new Camaro. I won't fulfill it though because I have a family and a mortgage to pay right now. LOL.

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

See? Nonsinful things! (Right? :))

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

Sometimes people who have all the necessities in life to sustain them are not content with what they have. Some people already have more than they need and want more. Lusting. It's more about the attitude of one's heart towards what God has given to you.

And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
(Numbers 11:4)

As God was bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt, the way of life was disrupted and the normal cycles of food production was temporarily disrupted likewise. God fed them with manna. It most likely contained every nutrient the body ever needs and had a fresh oil taste. Good grief! They had food that all they had to do was to go out in the morning, pick it up and eat it any way they wanted to fix it. The children of Israel knew that they were in transit to a land of "milk and honey", yet they complained about what they did not have. From what Moses said about them, I can gather he thought of them as like little whiney babies crying out a tantrum.

So if you believe God in His wisdom was giving you everything you need to sustain life and if you married the spouse you believe God gave to you and you started looking at another with lust in your heart after her/him, then yes you commit sin. If you are complaining about what God has given to you as a blessing, it stems from not giving God the thanks that He so rightly deserves.
Anytime God blesses a person and they complain about it, wanting more or something else, then that is lust.

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

No lust is not sin, when I was married and my x had chocolate she knew I wanted it and would hide it from me. I would find it and eat it and was happy.
it tasted good and was worth sleeping on the coutch.
A man who lust others chocolate wrote this. :laffatu

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

I'm doing a little "lusting" at the moment thinking about Famous Dave's in a few short hours. :)

OK, actually it is more like drooling........

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

Well, it's true, stolen chocolate is the best. :lol

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

I think if you look at it as pleasure or delight then it is not sin itself. The specific sin would be like "Lust of the Flesh".

Lust
Originally meant any longing desire, however innocent, De 12:15 14:26. But, in tacit acknowledgment of the depravity of man's passions, general usage soon attached the idea of guilt to the word; and now it usually denotes carnal, lascivious desire. In Galatians 5:17, we see that the aspirations of the heart renewed by the Holy Spirit, oppose and will subdue the native evil desires, 1 1 Corinthians 15:57; but in the unrenewed heart these reign uncontrolled, lead to greater and greater outwards sin, and secure eternal death, James 1:14,15.

Remember, when forming doctrine it is never wise to use the English word. There are 5 Hebrew and 5 Greek words that are interpreted as "Lust". So essentially 5 different meanings.

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

I believe lust is one of the most serious sins, as it is one of the hardest to control. I recently spoke with a friend of mine, and quoted Matthew 5:28. I was trying to explain how I felt about that scripture, but I was quickly cut off with the response "I can't control my mind so that's not a sin". It amazes me how quickly people are to push the word aside for their own pleasures.

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

It is sin to FULFILL lusts.

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

All of us WANT TO SIN. That is what temptation is. It is not sin to be tempted so it is not sin to want to sin. It is sin to fulfill that want and that lust, though.

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

:thumbsup :thumbsup

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

I'm going to throw something out here. It's touchy. Not sure what to make of it. I've read various interpretations of this text. Share your thoughts on this perspective. Here goes...

Technically your friend might be on to something according to Lewis Smede (theologian). Jesus said,

Matthew 5:28
28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

It can be argued that Jesus isn't talking about normal physical attraction or even sexual thoughts and/or fantasy. But rather, Jesus might be saying that if a man purposefully looks upon a woman only with the actual intent to use her to gratify his physical needs, he's committed adultery in his heart.

For example, if a single young man looks at a woman in a coffee shop, admires her beauty and purposefully considers talking to her to "hook up" later, he's committed adultery before he says, "Hello." However, if a single young man looks at a woman in a coffee shop, admires her beauty, and considers how pleasant it would be if she were his to have, he hasn't committed adultery in his heart. The issue is motive of the heart.

Few would say that an adolescent who is just discovering intimate feelings and emotions and/or has "fantasies" is committing adultery. Few would say that an engaged couple wherein one of them fantasizes about, thinks about, and longs for their wedding night is committing adultery. Few would argue that if a young man finds a woman physically attractive, has thoughts towards her, and asks her on a date, that he's committed adultery in his heart.

Sexual attraction, desire, and interest nearly always starts when two meet... that's before marriage. So it's arguable that Jesus isn't saying we should be asexual beings... but rather we should not go out for the purpose of seeking and finding one to sin with.

Also, the last observation is that Jesus says it is adultery in the heart... not in actual deed. Therefore Jesus may not be addressing a sin committed... but rather Jesus might be addressing the nature of a sinful heart that is inclined towards sin.

Sadly, many young men (and women) live their lives feeling condemned over normal and healthy sexual thoughts and interests because of how this verse is traditionally interpreted.

Your friend is right... he might feel sexually attracted to various women or has had sexual thoughts about an attractive woman. But that is how God designed him. His healthy. He cannot help that entirely. He's a man. However, if in his heart he is seeking women out and actually desiring to act on the temptation... he has an adulterous heart.

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

I respect that view, and I will most DEFINITELY pray about, think about, and talk to my pastor about that. The thing is I believe in spiritual warfare, and I believe in a spirit of perversion. (Makes right seem wrong, and wrong seem right) And if I give that spirit one fraction of a space to work, it will grow. I know how my own mind works, and if I do give that fraction, it will grow. However brother, your words have made me consider that scripture out of the one way that I tend to look at things, and I appreciate that.

Re: Is it a sin to have lust?
 

I HOPE NOT!!!!!

And why do all of the post just address the men lusting. Don't any of you women ever look at us men and........ oh, no! I guess I better not go there! :happydance

Been Thinkin