Are there people out there who still adhere to Matthew 5:28?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lady_Bug
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

Lady_Bug

Guest
Hi guys,

I am referring to the passage where it says:
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Click to expand...
Too many people nowadays have no qualms about this statement. I do know that it is involuntary for us to notice someone who is attractive and all that and some of the physical reactions we experience are also involuntary. Heck, I am a completely straight female and if I see a female with a great body I would be inclined to look myself. So in some sense I understand what it is like for the men out there to have struggles (even though I’m not struggling with same-sex attraction).

The thing is that people simply say with regard to men “looking” at women and women “looking” at men, “So what? Everyone does this.” But doesn’t anyone try to stop and think about what Matthew 5:28 means anymore? I’m basically talking about a marriage setting right now by the way.

Sorry if this sounds like a naive question or anything. I had a disagreement with someone about this today and it has been bothering my mind ever since. It has been bothering me simply because it is frustrating when my values conflict so much with someone else’s on the spot…
 
Unfortunately, there is much truth in what you say. The media bombards us with sensuality and sexualizes everything through advertising. It is little wonder that men often look upon women as sexual objects.

That having been said, there are many of us that do everything we can to set up hedges and fences against taking on this perspective. Clearly, Jesus makes unambiguous statements about lust. Making a sexual object out of another human being is unacceptable and it is an affront against God’s plan for men and women in marriage.
 
Yeah,

I’m not saying that I’m so immune from all this lol.

But I’m just saying that the statement Jesus makes is a very serious one and it’s next to impossible to sugarcoat it because its meaning is pretty clear. It’s such a hard statement to follow.
 
I can only speak from my own perspective - I make every effort to avoid tv shows, movies, magazines etc that could be seen as incitements to lust, and pray mightily if inappropriate thoughts come up. I’m sure I’m not the only one, it’s just that people tend not to talk about it much, for obvious reasons.
 
I would have to agree with Lily. While that passage in the Bible is quite clear: it’s a tough one, I think especially for men, to follow because sexuality is ALL OVER THE PLACE! Wait…maybe I’m wrong…it’s not just tough for men…women give in too. I suppose we have to keep our minds centered on Christ at ALL TIMES! That’s the only way we can even BEGIN to be Christ-like. JMHO.
 
Lady_Bug said:
Hi guys,

I am referring to the passage where it says:

Too many people nowadays have no qualms about this statement. I do know that it is involuntary for us to notice someone who is attractive and all that and some of the physical reactions we experience are also involuntary. Heck, I am a completely straight female and if I see a female with a great body I would be inclined to look myself. So in some sense I understand what it is like for the men out there to have struggles (even though I’m not struggling with same-sex attraction).

The thing is that people simply say with regard to men “looking” at women and women “looking” at men, “So what? Everyone does this.” But doesn’t anyone try to stop and think about what Matthew 5:28 means anymore? I’m basically talking about a marriage setting right now by the way.

Sorry if this sounds like a naive question or anything. I had a disagreement with someone about this today and it has been bothering my mind ever since. It has been bothering me simply because it is frustrating when my values conflict so much with someone else’s on the spot…
Click to expand...
Looking at someone and saying he or she is good looking is not lustful.
How on earth would people get married if they couldn’t look at each other in the first place.
 
Heh, I’ve been guilty of looking at women like that in Church, I hate to admit it but I wont make it a double whammy sin and lie about it, too.

I think there is a huge difference between thinking, “They are attractive.” and having ‘other’ thoughts.
 
Richard,
Wow! Good for you! You’re awesome. Wish we could find more like you!😉
 
thistle said:
Looking at someone and saying he or she is good looking is not lustful.
How on earth would people get married if they couldn’t look at each other in the first place.
Click to expand...
I did say somewhere in my OP that I’m talking about a marriage setting. 🙂
 
Lady_Bug said:
I did say somewhere in my OP that I’m talking about a marriage setting. 🙂
Click to expand...
There is nothing so insulting for a wife, than a husband who is “looking” at other women. There used to be a song “Standing on a corner, watching all the girls go by” and the saying that being married doesn’t mean a guy can’t look. I would propose that there is looking or noticing and looking and basically mentally undressing someone. If we never “noticed” one another, who would get married or for that matter even have children once they were married? There is a line between noticing and lusting and I think it is very difficult draw it sharply using words, but most of us with a conscience know where it is. I hope that we are beyond the Victorian stage where wives, in the presence of their husbands, only undressed in the dark; at least proper wives.
 
What difference does it make if a wife undresses in the dark? Who cares? Isn’t that between the husband and wife? Some women are modest. I see nothing Victorian about that. I do agree that wives do not like husbands ogling other women. That’s pretty stupid of them. They can look all they want - just don’t dare think of them naked. If they do, well, don’t tell me about it!
 
Answering to the original question, I try as hard as I can to follow that passage. But I am yet to meet another person who acts the same way I do. Not even my catholic friends seen to give it importance.
 
Good for you, Chicken! Wish more men were like you!!! God bless!🙂
 
Yea, I do.

I think thoughts will enter our head all the time, but it’s not very difficult to stop the thoughts the moment they enter. When you continue with it is when you start lusting.

That being said, I’m sure lots of people do it, and for some it’s harder to stop than for others.
 
rwoehmke said:
There is a line between noticing and lusting and I think it is very difficult draw it sharply using words,
Click to expand...
I know it’s very hard to define, but the closest I have ever heard is this: When you notice the first time, it’s not a sin. When you turn to look again…then you are sinning. I know it’s not hard and fast, but it is a good rule of thumb for most people. Because the second look tends to be when you are “checking them out.”
 
No, the inability to distinguish though from action from Christianity has always bothered me. There is a difference between the two, but they do go hand in hand since action can not happen without motivation and intent.

Here’s why.

Because if you can not diffrentiate between thought and action, then mobody can be a Christian because from time to time, everybody,even the Pope, has doubts of the Existence of Christ.

And no one can be sinless.
 
I beg to differ on the point that even the pope has doubts about the existence of Christ. I’m not the pope and I certainly don’t doubt it.🙂
 
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

HERE I AM TO SHARE THE TRUTH OF GOD LOVE
Harmony1988 said:
Yea, I do.

I think thoughts will enter our head all the time, but it’s not very difficult to stop the thoughts the moment they enter. When you continue with it is when you start lusting.

That being said, I’m sure lots of people do it, and for some it’s harder to stop than for others.
Click to expand...
let us together help one another, if happen that your close friend saw a beautiful and sexy woman passby… and he said to you…waww. how nice it is if I can sleep and making love with her!!

Just tell THE TRUTH…
To share with you all… this is what I use to do to help my friend
I will say to him…Hey friend, that Lady is created by God. see…how perfect is GOD creation, God make her so beautiful. PRAISE THE LORD! And May GOD bless her always. And May God forgive our sin and her sin too…Let us pray to the LORD so that she will realize that her action (sexy) make other sin in their heart…

MAY GOD BLESS

AMEN

FROM WATT
 
Starwynd said:
Because if you can not diffrentiate between thought and action, then mobody can be a Christian because from time to time, everybody,even the Pope, has doubts of the Existence of Christ.

And no one can be sinless.
Click to expand...
Involuntary thoughts are not willed and are not sins. Fostering obstinate doubt is another matter. Just like noticing someone else is not a sin but taking pleasure in impure thoughts is another matter.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top