Are thoughts still actions but of the mind and not body?

[lizaanne]

I was lying in bed thinking about this last night and could not get my head around why there is a difference.

The 7th Commandment states that we must not commit adultery, and in the Bible it also says that when a man looks with lust upon a woman, he has committed adultery. So the thoughts of his mind have become an action that is punishable.

The 6th Commandment states that we must not murder. But I’m not aware that it states anywhere in the Bible (PLEASE correct me if I’m wrong) that if we think about murder that we have committed the act.

Now obviously, no one dies if we think about murder, I realize this. And I realize the psychological and spiritual impact of lust. I’m just wondering why thinking about murder is not approached the same way as thinking about lust.

I know someone out there can make some sense out of this for me!

Thanks!

~Liza

 

[baltobetsy]

There is a difference between considering the idea of murder and actually wishing someone harm. There is definitely a prohibition against wishing someone harm. But to consider murder in the abstract can be and often is morally neutral.

Lust, on the other hand, often arises on its own when the mind is turned to sexual matters or an attractive body. It is difficult to consider sex in the abstract without having some kind of reaction or temptation.

So, thinking about sex is more dangerous than thinking about murder, when it comes to sinning in one’s thoughts.

Betsy

 

[cue]

The 6th Commandment states that we must not murder. But I’m not aware that it states anywhere in the Bible (PLEASE correct me if I’m wrong) that if we think about murder that we have committed the act.

“You have heard that it was said to the men of old, “You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says “You fool!” shall be liable to the hell of fire.”
Matthew 5:21-22

 

[Peterdiago]

Matthew 5:21-22

See, darling (directed at Lizaanne, not cue!) - this is why you should have woken me up and asked me. I would have said this

The Sermon on the Mount is the hardest thing in the world. It’s an impossible standard.

Also, it’s the 5th commandment that forbids murder - the 6th commandment forbidding murder comes from the Protestant interpretation.

 

[lizaanne]

See, darling (directed at Lizaanne, not cue!) - this is why you should have woken me up and asked me. I would have said this

I was too tired - and didn’t want to wake you.

Also, it’s the 5th commandment that forbids murder - the 6th commandment forbidding murder comes from the Protestant interpretation.

That’s what you get from a little convert girl.

So then - why do we put SO much emphasis and pressure on those who lust, but those who hold hate in their hearts, we just don’t talk about that as much? I’m just seeing such a disparity there that I don’t understand.

~Liza

 

[Peterdiago]

I was too tired - and didn’t want to wake you.

I wouldn’t have remembered you waking me anyway - you know I sleep like a rock!

So then - why do we put SO much emphasis and pressure on those who lust, but those who hold hate in their hearts, we just don’t talk about that as much?

I’m not sure - I tend to think that lust requires a very obvious fixation on an external object, while anger does not. For example, a man tends to look at a girly magazine or whatever when he is lustful - he just broods in anger when he is angry.

There appears to be a whole industry which is designed to cause lust in humans, while there isn’t such an industry for anger.

I think that both are problems, but that because lust is more obvious it is spoken of about more.

 

[rwoehmke]

Well lessee, there is a porno industry to feed the lust and a handgun industry to feed the anger. Personally I am convinced that we neglect the sinfullness of holding grudges and feeding our anger against others. Most of us can justify our anger, but have more difficulty justifying lust though I think the latter would be much more fun.

 

[Peterdiago]

Well lessee, there is a porno industry to feed the lust and a handgun industry to feed the anger.

The analogy is faulty - the handgun industry (even if one assumes all handguns are bought with the intention of killing someone) feeds murder, it does not feed anger. The pornography industry does not directly feed adultery, it feeds lust.