Lust and its Bad Rep

[Skwim]

In another thread an RF member posted the following about the sin of lust.

"Pornography use isn't a new sin, it is simply a new technologically enabled manifestation of that old sin called lust."​

and referred to Matthew 5:27-28

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
​

A few points

​

1. The Bible is quite straightforward in referring only to men. It says nothing about a woman looking after a man to lust after him and committing adultery with him already in her heart. Women are given bye here---lucky them?

2. The reason lust is a sin is that it amounts to a form of adultery.

a·dul·ter·y
əˈdəlt(ə)rē/
noun
noun: adultery; plural noun: adulteries
voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse.
​

But any such lust occurring among unmarried people would fail to meet the definition of adultery, and therefore not be a sin. Lust need not be a sin at all.

3. Is there anything intrinsically bad about lust? Keep in mind the Bible only damns it in the context of adultery.

lust
ləst/
noun: lust
1.very strong sexual desire.​

and being a "very strong sexual desire" its only liability rests in an inability to keep it in check, resulting in an offense. But there are a lot of things a person can very strongly desire that may result in an offense. A very strong desire for money, A very strong desire for power. A very strong desire to be rid of one's mate. A very strong desire for prestige. Etc., etc.. BUT, these very same very strong desires may result in good outcomes and not offenses at all. So, to answer my own question No, there is nothing intrinsically bad about lust.

4. The only bad Bible-lust is that which is committed by a married man. Everyone else, go ahead and lust away. Just mind your manners.

.

 

[Grandliseur]

In another thread an RF member posted the following about the sin of lust.

"Pornography use isn't a new sin, it is simply a new technologically enabled manifestation of that old sin called lust."​

and referred to Matthew 5:27-28

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
​

A few points

​

1. The Bible is quite straightforward in referring only to men. It says nothing about a woman looking after a man to lust after him and committing adultery with him already in her heart. Women are given bye here---lucky them?

2. The reason lust is a sin is that it amounts to a form of adultery.

a·dul·ter·y
əˈdəlt(ə)rē/
noun
noun: adultery; plural noun: adulteries
voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse.
​

But any such lust occurring among unmarried people would fail to meet the definition of adultery, and therefore not be a sin. Lust need not be a sin at all.

3. Is there anything intrinsically bad about lust? Keep in mind the Bible only damns it in the context of adultery.

lust
ləst/
noun: lust
1.very strong sexual desire.​

and being a "very strong sexual desire" its only liability rests in an inability to keep it in check, resulting in an offense. But there are a lot of things a person can very strongly desire that may result in an offense. A very strong desire for money, A very strong desire for power. A very strong desire to be rid of one's mate. A very strong desire for prestige. Etc., etc.. BUT, these very same very strong desires may result in good outcomes and not offenses at all. So, to answer my own question No, there is nothing intrinsically bad about lust.

4. The only bad Bible-lust is that which is committed by a married man. Everyone else, go ahead and lust away. Just mind your manners.

.

Men would never have gotten married did they not lust for a woman. The problem is when unrestrained lust is let loose.

I have several questions about some of this that I posted in another question. I am not sure I will ever know before I die.

 

[Grandliseur]

In another thread an RF member posted the following about the sin of lust.

"Pornography use isn't a new sin, it is simply a new technologically enabled manifestation of that old sin called lust."​

and referred to Matthew 5:27-28

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
​

A few points

​

1. The Bible is quite straightforward in referring only to men. It says nothing about a woman looking after a man to lust after him and committing adultery with him already in her heart. Women are given bye here---lucky them?

2. The reason lust is a sin is that it amounts to a form of adultery.

a·dul·ter·y
əˈdəlt(ə)rē/
noun
noun: adultery; plural noun: adulteries
voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse.
​

But any such lust occurring among unmarried people would fail to meet the definition of adultery, and therefore not be a sin. Lust need not be a sin at all.

3. Is there anything intrinsically bad about lust? Keep in mind the Bible only damns it in the context of adultery.

lust
ləst/
noun: lust
1.very strong sexual desire.​

and being a "very strong sexual desire" its only liability rests in an inability to keep it in check, resulting in an offense. But there are a lot of things a person can very strongly desire that may result in an offense. A very strong desire for money, A very strong desire for power. A very strong desire to be rid of one's mate. A very strong desire for prestige. Etc., etc.. BUT, these very same very strong desires may result in good outcomes and not offenses at all. So, to answer my own question No, there is nothing intrinsically bad about lust.

4. The only bad Bible-lust is that which is committed by a married man. Everyone else, go ahead and lust away. Just mind your manners.

.

Would have liked to see you comment on fornication:

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these : fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.​

 

[Kuzcotopia]

Would have liked to see you comment on fornication:

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these : fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.​

Sorcery?

Let's talk about that instead. Do you believe people engage in too much sorcery these days?

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Lust is not about sex.
You can lust after anything.
It is desire for something taken to excess.

 

[Yohanan ben Yaaqov]

Lust is sexual desire, and sexual desire is a good thing. Without sexual desire, we could not reproduce, and reproduction is God’s very first commandment to mankind. Therefore lust, on its own merit, cannot be a sin. Adultery, however, is not only a sin, but a very serious sin punishable by death. But a far greater sin is adding to or subtracting from Torah. Torah’s definition of adultery is very clear and specific, and is found at Vayyiq’ra/Leviticus 18:20:

וְאֶל־אֵשֶׁת עֲמִיתְךָ לֹא־תִתֵּן שְׁכָבְתְּךָ לְזָרַע לְטָמְאָה־בָהּ׃
V’el-ʾéshet ʿămiyt’ḵa loʾ-tittén sh’ḵav’t’ḵa l’zaraʿ l’tam’ah-vah:​

“And to the wife of your neighbor, you will not give your ejaculation for insemination to become defiled by her.”

Adultery is a crime that is exclusive to married women. The ONLY way a married man can commit adultery is if he inseminates another man’s wife. If a married man has sexual intercourse with a single woman it is not adultery. After all how could a man acquire a piylegesh/concubine without having sexual intercourse with her? For that matter, how could a married man acquire any additional wives without sexual intercourse?

If the hero of the chr-stian fairytale said a man is committing adultery by merely looking at a woman, and having a sexual desire for her, he is effectively adding to Torah, which is a far greater sin than adultery.

 

[Tmac]

Men would never have gotten married did they not lust for a woman. The problem is when unrestrained lust is let loose.

I have several questions about some of this that I posted in another question. I am not sure I will ever know before I die.

Actually man instituted the bond of marriage to prevent the alpha for impregnating all the females like in the rest of the animal kingdom.

 

[Grandliseur]

Sorcery?

Let's talk about that instead. Do you believe people engage in too much sorcery these days?

I don't know, have you not heard a lot about Wicca recently? I have.

The KJV Strong's explanation for the term is:

05331:
5331 pharmakeia far-mak-i'-ah from 5332; medication ("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extension) magic (literally or figuratively):--sorcery, witchcraft. see GREEK for 5332​

Even today there is a difference between those who are illusionists and those who actually do magic, who have a bond with a demon to help them in their art.

Have you seen on Youtube, Desmond's magic? And, others.

Before my mother married, she is quite dead now for some years, she and her friends worked the 3 legged table to communicate with the spirits - being young and not knowing better. It stopped working when my father entered the room. After he left, they asked it why? and, the reason given was that he was a practicing Christian.

 

[Grandliseur]

Actually man instituted the bond of marriage to prevent the alpha for impregnating all the females like in the rest of the animal kingdom.

You believe as you like. My beliefs differ.

 

[Kuzcotopia]

I don't know, have you not heard a lot about Wicca recently? I have.

The KJV Strong's explanation for the term is:

05331:
5331 pharmakeia far-mak-i'-ah from 5332; medication ("pharmacy"), i.e. (by extension) magic (literally or figuratively):--sorcery, witchcraft. see GREEK for 5332​

Even today there is a difference between those who are illusionists and those who actually do magic, who have a bond with a demon to help them in their art.

Have you seen on Youtube, Desmond's magic? And, others.

Before my mother married, she is quite dead now for some years, she and her friends worked the 3 legged table to communicate with the spirits - being young and not knowing better. It stopped working when my father entered the room. After he left, they asked it why? and, the reason given was that he was a practicing Christian.

Ooo-Kay. I'll just back away slowly.

 

[Grandliseur]

Ooo-Kay. I'll just back away slowly.

The modern sorcerer, wizard, or whatever you want to call such person is usually not believed to be what s/he is.
The following video is somewhat entertaining while illustrating modern sorcery:

 

[Revoltingest]

Men would never have gotten married did they not lust for a woman. The problem is when unrestrained lust is let loose.

One thing certainly worse than unrestrained lust is unrestrained piety.

 

[metis]

Using the definition for "lust" as found in the OP, it's not a sin but a natural function of our hormonal system. But, what we do with our "lust" may or may not be a sin.

 

[Revoltingest]

Using the definition for "lust" as found in the OP, it's not a sin but a natural function of our hormonal system. But, what we do with our "lust" may or may not be a sin.

Aye, keep yer hands to yerself.
A kilt is not an invitation!

 

[Grandliseur]

One thing certainly worse than unrestrained lust is unrestrained piety.

Then, let me not get in your way, Sir. Please continue as you are.

Everyone pays the piper sooner or later, whichever piper it is.

 

[Revoltingest]

Then, let me not get in your way, Sir. Please continue as you are.

Everyone pays the piper sooner or later, whichever piper it is.

Don't worry.
Not much lust going on here anymore.

 

[Skwim]

Would have liked to see you comment on fornication:

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these : fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.​

Hey, make a thread on fornication. I'd be happy to chime in.

.

 

[Grandliseur]

Don't worry.
Not much lust going on here anymore.

That sure seems to what happens when we age.

I had a very unfortunate event happening to me. I was isolated, not in prison, but in prison of my own making, where I was totally by myself on a daily basis for years. All of a sudden I was hit by the most intense sexual desires I ever have had in my life, and I had done nothing, pictures, books, to bring this on. I wondered if some cancer had hit my hormonal balance center.

Fortunately, that is gone now.

 

[Skwim]

Using the definition for "lust" as found in the OP, it's not a sin but a natural function of our hormonal system. But, what we do with our "lust" may or may not be a sin.

Right, and why I said "...being a 'very strong sexual desire' its only liability rests in an inability to keep it in check, resulting in an offense."

.

 

[Skwim]

Lust is not about sex.

Well, it certainly can be, and in the dictionaries I checked sexual lust is almost always mentioned first. As Merriam-Webster puts it:

"usually intense or unbridled sexual desire."

.​