God didn’t tell us “no,” he just told us, “Here are some guidelines.” The same desire that attracts us to our spouses works the same toward others. We’re not animals, so we shouldn’t act like it. Like much of creation, there’s a Catch-22: We wouldn’t know pleasure if there was no such thing as pain. Likewise, we wouldn’t seek out and find a spouse if we didn’t have those “urges,” and God’s plan would be over pretty quickly, as nobody would have the desire to procreate and continue the race. It’s a necessity of this creation. Don’t give up.To me, we humans were made with sex “on our minds”. Men do nothing but think about it all the time. It is like God made this so strong within us, but yet then turned around and told us “no”. How hard is that??? It doesn’t make sense to me.
And, even if partners are committed to each other, love each other; it doesn’t take much for one to “look” at the opposite sex and have sexual desires arise. We are sexual beings and were made that way; the tough challenge is to stay out of that sexual sin area! How does God really expect humans to do that???
While I am far from perfect, sins of speech are not a major issue for me. Never have I felt actually DRIVEN to sin through speech.
I believe the key is to prepare yourself beforehand. Temptation begins the moment you turn on a TV, look at a magazine or newspaper, or walk out your front door. If you’re expecting temptation, and “prepare your mind for action,” you will be much better prepared to deal with that temptation. That’s just my personal experience. I also think there is a major difference between being tempted and actually entertaining impure/immoral thoughts. Using certain passages of scripture as “mantras” seems to help me, e.g. “Take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.”While I am far from perfect, sins of speech are not a major issue for me. Never have I felt actually DRIVEN to sin through speech.
Sexual temptation and sexual sin on the other hand sneaks up and attacks in the most brutal manner. It a lot like slipping on “black ice”. One minute you are walking along just fine and the next minute you are flat on your back wondering what happened.
Centurion:
now that i have came back to the Church my desires are entirely different…i take care to guard my tongue though i do slip but in all due respect i fall more often in the reallm of sexual sin…when i slip with my tongue repentance comes just as quick as words leave.not so with sx sin…
Now I have no understanding of your situation. It is just totally foreign to me. It must be the difference between men and women. Now if I lose my temper and verbally skin you alive (a talent of mine) I would sooner cut out my tongue than apologize. Speech sins are a constant temptation to be fought off for me. But lusting after strange men just because they are attractive? It just isn’t an issue.
yep i would place you in the majority of women is this regard(sexul temptaions/thoughts)i have learned where and how to direct my sexual energy,through Christ and His Church…so i no longer “lust” after a foxy lady…though if i am not on guard she can catch my attention…
I think it is the only sin which can seem “harmless”.Whenever I read the Ten Commandments, it’s almost funny to say that I have honestly NEVER had an overwhelming, deep burning almost uncontrollable desire to steal, dishonor my parents, murder, covet my neighbor’s wife or goods. But why in the world is sexual sin so difficult to stop? If something else is your biggest struggle, it would be interesting to hear from you!
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Only my opinion, but I don’t think their “lust for one another” was the source of their shame. If you woke up one morning in Times Square buck naked wouldn’t you be ashamed? Before the fall Adam and Eve were clothed in light, less tangible than denim, but clothed nevertheless. After the fall they were caught in the altogether, that was the source of their embarassment.
Where if you consider that we are created through a sexual act, it is not a wonder that sexuality be the center of our being almost competing with God. Perhaps this is where the problem come from. Somehow unknowingly these two force which participate in our creation are competing within us!Whenever I read the Ten Commandments, it’s almost funny to say that I have honestly NEVER had an overwhelming, deep burning almost uncontrollable desire to steal, dishonor my parents, murder, covet my neighbor’s wife or goods. But why in the world is sexual sin so difficult to stop? If something else is your biggest struggle, it would be interesting to hear from you!