At What Point is Lust a Sin?

[DennisA]

As a male Christian I’ve struggled with lust. I know the scripture mentions if you look at a woman. It’s often difficult to keep my mind from straying down the wrong path. I once had a pastor tell me that you are treading on dangerous ground if you look at a woman and can say, “I would if I could.”I don’t want to sin but I can’t just turn off my brain.
Does anyone have some insight for me?

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

That's what marriage is for. Any hope for you in that regard?

 

[2ndTimeIsTheCharm]

As a male Christian I’ve struggled with lust. I know the scripture mentions if you look at a woman. It’s often difficult to keep my mind from straying down the wrong path. I once had a pastor tell me that you are treading on dangerous ground if you look at a woman and can say, “I would if I could.”I don’t want to sin but I can’t just turn off my brain.
Does anyone have some insight for me?

Here are some Bible verses to help you:

Galatians 5:16-18
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Romans 8:4-5
In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Colossians 3:1-2
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Romans 8:13
For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.


I pray these will build you up. The Holy Spirit is strong and He WILL overcome lust in you life!


🕊

 

[ResidentAlien]

As a male Christian I’ve struggled with lust. I know the scripture mentions if you look at a woman. It’s often difficult to keep my mind from straying down the wrong path. I once had a pastor tell me that you are treading on dangerous ground if you look at a woman and can say, “I would if I could.”I don’t want to sin but I can’t just turn off my brain.
Does anyone have some insight for me?

At what point is lust a sin? Lust is always a sin. It sounds like what you really want to know is when does looking cross over into lust. Only you can answer that. As a rule of thumb. I say if you get aroused you're definitely in lust territory.

 

[DennisA]

I actually have a Bible and can read all the scripture on this subject. What I’d like to hear is your own personal experience. How do you handle lust?
Temptation is not a sin. What I try to avoid is opportunities. What do you do when opportunity rears its ugly head?

 

[Mem]

I actually have a Bible and can read all the scripture on this subject. What I’d like to hear is your own personal experience. How do you handle lust?
Temptation is not a sin. What I try to avoid is opportunities. What do you do when opportunity rears its ugly head?

What would happen if, whenever the thought came to you, you confronted it by asking the woman that you find is tempting you, "Will you marry me?"

 

[Pilgrimshope]

As a male Christian I’ve struggled with lust. I know the scripture mentions if you look at a woman. It’s often difficult to keep my mind from straying down the wrong path. I once had a pastor tell me that you are treading on dangerous ground if you look at a woman and can say, “I would if I could.”I don’t want to sin but I can’t just turn off my brain.
Does anyone have some insight for me?

This is a good scripture for you


“but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:14-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬


lust isn’t sin. it is the motivation for sin and the means through which man is tempted to commit sin.

 

[GWH]

I actually have a Bible and can read all the scripture on this subject. What I’d like to hear is your own personal experience. How do you handle lust?
Temptation is not a sin. What I try to avoid is opportunities. What do you do when opportunity rears its ugly head?

It sounds like you already handle the temptation well by avoiding opportunities, like Joseph and Potiphar's wife (Gen. 39:7-10).
One way to avoid lust is by not purchasing or viewing pornographic media. Porn promotes fornication.

As RA said, lust is always a sin, so your OP should be "when does looking cross over into lust?" In this regard I affirm what your pastor said, lust is when you look at a woman and think, “I would if I could get away with it.”

I also would point out that admiring a pretty flower is not wrong as long as you do not desire to deflower it. If you do not have the gift of celibacy, then pray for God to send you a soulmate (1Cor. 7:1-9). I did, and He did 53 years ago. Yay!

 

[Roger316]

I actually have a Bible and can read all the scripture on this subject. What I’d like to hear is your own personal experience. How do you handle lust?
Temptation is not a sin. What I try to avoid is opportunities. What do you do when opportunity rears its ugly head?

I always remembered Paul's word to the Philippians, where he writes,

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 ;The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

When you feel lust coming, fill your mind and thoughts with the things above.​

 

[Starsdance7]

When the lustful desires arise, can you still calmly and fearlessly come to God?

 

[OneOfHis]

As a male Christian I’ve struggled with lust. I know the scripture mentions if you look at a woman. It’s often difficult to keep my mind from straying down the wrong path. I once had a pastor tell me that you are treading on dangerous ground if you look at a woman and can say, “I would if I could.”I don’t want to sin but I can’t just turn off my brain.
Does anyone have some insight for me?

So God tells us to hold every thought captive.

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ"

There will be thoughts that occur but noticing them before you entertain them and let them grow, then swiftly turning to the Lord and asking for deliverance is like holding those thoughts captive.

If you choose to let your thoughts become imaginations you dwell on or entertain is when you are making a choice to let your mind be on things against what the Lord wants for you.

God tells us to "flee sexual immorality" which means to not wrestle with it but to avoid it completely.


The best way to do that is to fill any void left by a wanting and fallen flesh, with edifying things for your quickened spirit.

Prayer, worship and study are probably the most fruitful examples. Time with family in Christ and accountability also seem to be very helpful.


You're not alone brother. From lust to past addictions to even just wanting to be respected or heard or wanting justice... all of us face thoughts we shouldn't have that if we don't hold captive can lead to temptations which can lead to sin either in thought, word or deed.

 

[Roger316]

When the lustful desires arise, can you still calmly and fearlessly come to God?

Good question. The answer is to honestly ask ourselves, what do we fear? When I was a young believer, I feared God's punishment, so I tried to give up lust. Like quicksand, the harder I tried to escape, the deeper I got. I was young, and lust was with me wherever I went.

So, I prayed about it, and I was honest with God, telling him that if it be his will, take away my desires so that I might love and serve him all my life. His answer was to remind me that fearing God is a good thing, but that he also loves me and love casts out fear. As it says, he always offers us a way of escape. And for my part, all I needed to do was heighten my situational awareness, because if I paid attention, the way out was always there.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

I actually have a Bible and can read all the scripture on this subject. What I’d like to hear is your own personal experience. How do you handle lust?
Temptation is not a sin. What I try to avoid is opportunities. What do you do when opportunity rears its ugly head?

Like you said, situational awareness is really important.

It got to the point with me that I had to cut it out of my life and leave it in God's hands. i put both of my hands around its neck and choked it to death.

 

[Slimsumo]

Like you said, situational awareness is really important.

It got to the point with me that I had to cut it out of my life and leave it in God's hands. i put both of my hands around its neck and choked it to death.

In the winter time its easy work. But during the summer it's a bit tougher when you are surrounded by women who are walking around practically naked, it is impossible as a red blooded high testosterone to not be lusting. So there I have no advice, but I do have advice on how to avoid actually DOING something about it, and that is what the OP already seems to know, fleeing temptation, not resisting it.

I have found that to be the case. For example, if you struggle with alcohol, it is very easy to just not go to the pub, not hang around people who drink all the time, that way there is no temptation to fight, you just avoid it all together.

Those are my two cents, I am open for suggestions on what to do during summer times. And mind you, I don't even go to the beach or anything, I just walk around downtown doing my business as usual. These are modern times with modern problems, you didn't have to worry about this in the 1800s

 

[Standard]

So God tells us to hold every thought captive.

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ"

There will be thoughts that occur but noticing them before you entertain them and let them grow, then swiftly turning to the Lord and asking for deliverance is like holding those thoughts captive.

If you choose to let your thoughts become imaginations you dwell on or entertain is when you are making a choice to let your mind be on things against what the Lord wants for you.

God tells us to "flee sexual immorality" which means to not wrestle with it but to avoid it completely.


The best way to do that is to fill any void left by a wanting and fallen flesh, with edifying things for your quickened spirit.

Prayer, worship and study are probably the most fruitful examples. Time with family in Christ and accountability also seem to be very helpful.


You're not alone brother. From lust to past addictions to even just wanting to be respected or heard or wanting justice... all of us face thoughts we shouldn't have that if we don't hold captive can lead to temptations which can lead to sin either in thought, word or deed.

Amen! A fine post. We all noticed things that get our minds going, but, as you say, entertaining those thoughts is the issue. Look away, move on, pray for wholesome thoughts and distractions to occupy us.... We all face these things and should be as one on this, all for each other, praying and edifying

 

[Standard]

I also would point out that admiring a pretty flower is not wrong as long as you do not desire to deflower it. If you do not have the gift of celibacy, then pray for God to send you a soulmate (1Cor. 7:1-9). I did, and He did 53 years ago. Yay!

Amen! And praise God! His blessings are grand...

 

[2ndTimeIsTheCharm]

I actually have a Bible and can read all the scripture on this subject. What I’d like to hear is your own personal experience. How do you handle lust?
Temptation is not a sin. What I try to avoid is opportunities. What do you do when opportunity rears its ugly head?

Walking in the Spirit is walking in God's power. He empowers you to say no to sin and temptation. Of course you can read your Bible, but if you don't obey what it says about walking in the Spirit, you've not applied His solution to your problem.

Physical wise, if it's in your power to avoid places and people that tempt you, do so. When it is unavoidable, pray to God to help you resist and point the way out and help you get out of that situation. Keep praying until He brings help. Most of the time it's immediate, but when it isn't, keep praying.

In the meantime while praying, turn away physically and put distance between you and the temptation. Some people blame God if they give in to the temptation, but God gaves us eyelids to shut out tempting sights and legs to run away. If they're in working order, God expects us to use them as part of His provision for escape!


🕊

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

I actually have a Bible and can read all the scripture on this subject. What I’d like to hear is your own personal experience. How do you handle lust?
Temptation is not a sin. What I try to avoid is opportunities. What do you do when opportunity rears its ugly head?

One thing that really helped me turn inward to examine what was happening in my heart was to take my eyes off of the temptation and watch how other men were responding. What I saw at times was ugly leering that made me realize I was doing the same thing. So I got convicted and learned to pull in the reigns and find other things to do with my attention when those situations arose. After a while it becomes habitual, or easier at least.

 

[2ndTimeIsTheCharm]

One thing that really helped me turn inward to examine what was happening in my heart was to take my eyes off of the temptation and watch how other men were responding. What I saw at times was ugly leering that made me realize I was doing the same thing. So I got convicted and learned to pull in the reigns and find other things to do with my attention when those situations arose. After a while it becomes habitual, or easier at least.

Yeah if those guys actually took selfies, they'd be grossed out. Its nice that you learned that. A pure-hearted guy, is actually handsome, even if they are plain-looking.


🕊

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

Yeah if those guys actually took selfies, they'd be grossed out. Its nice that you learned that. A pure-hearted guy, is actually handsome, even if they are plain-looking.


🕊

That was part of the motivation and process too. Realizing how it must make women feel.