How should we (Adventists) define lust?

[mikeyswen79]

NOTE: Forgive me if this is in the wrong forum, it didn't seem to fit perfectly in the other forums.

I would not be surprised if lust is the most widespread sin. It is so prevalent in our society, culture, and in human history and takes many forms. I was wondering, though, what defines lust?

To be quite frank, the reason I ask is because of my own experience with it. But certain things for me remain unclear and in my search for a clearer picture, I feel like I've only found more reasons to be confused.

A prevailing idea, I find, is that it depends on how you handle your attraction to others. But I think that there is a tremendous lack of clarity as to what would be a right and wrong way to handle attraction beyond the obvious actions of adultery, premarital sex, etc...

On a similar note, in my generation the concept of modesty is amazingly different than what it seems to be for older generations. The fact is guys like to see girls in miniskirts, short shorts, tube/halter/tank tops, bikinis, and other articles of clothing that my elementary school teacher might have seen as an abomination. Is it wrong for women to wear stuff like this? Is it wrong for guys to be attracted to those things? Is this what lust is?

I'm sure there are equivalents for women, though I don't have any examples to give since I honestly don't know what types of things women like that are equivalent to what I mentioned about what men like.

P.S. This is sort of an extension of my topic on Dress and Adornment in the Theological Talk section of this website.

[John317]

Here's how I define and think of lust:

Lust isn't noticing that someone is nice looking or beautiful or handsome. There's nothing wrong at all in noticing that someone is handsome or beautiful. Lust is when we desire to have or use something or someone who isn't lawfully and rightfully ours.

It's a sin to go somewhere with the intention of looking at someone with wrong desires in one's mind and heart. It's a sin also to look at pictures or images of people or things with the same intentions and desires.

It's also a sin when people wear clothes with the intension of causing others to lust after them. There are a lot of people who do this, particularly females. Society tells females in particular that it's a desirable and good thing to do. But the Bible says that it's wrong to do it. Men are more likely to be visually stimulated than women are. Their reactions to the sight of the human body are generally different, although there are exceptions to this rule.

As SDA believers, we shouldn't go by the way the world and society sees these things, but we should always consider how the Bible and the Spirit of propehcy sees them. We should also always be aware and keep in mind that we must one day give account to God in the Judgment for all our thoughts, words and actions.

[Overaged]

A prevailing idea, I find, is that it depends on how you handle your attraction to others. But I think that there is a tremendous lack of clarity as to what would be a right and wrong way to handle attraction beyond the obvious actions of adultery, premarital sex, etc...

[cardw]

This topic is one of the crazy making ideas in most Abrahamic religions.

You have this rule that even if you lust after a woman in your mind you have committed adultery. Now either Jesus meant this literally or he was being sarcastic.

The problem is that our biology is made to lust after the opposite sex. I don't know about you, but from the moment I could remember recognizing the opposite sex, it created an attraction.

I know a lot of men simply suffer from continual guilt because of this idea that lust is a sin or the whole enterprise of trying to determine when lust is a sin. I actually believe that the whole struggle around this idea of lust creates the problems.

It's ridiculous!!!!

The animal kingdom doesn't seem to have any hang ups around this.

Now I personally don't believe in acting on every impulse that I have, but I don't think it's very healthy to go around feeling guilty about one's own biology. And having women covering up isn't the answer.

Obsessing over it is what creates disfunction. It's the taboo that creates the obsession.

It's like saying to oneself all day, "Don't think about sex" D'oh!

I think it's far more healthy to accept one's natural impulses and learn to choose what to do with them wisely.

[LifeHiscost]

More often than not the word lust is restricted to illicit sexual desire, when in reality lust is any desire to satisfy ones' own appetites at the expense of others' well being, which may or may not include any reference to sexual behavior.

When the thought might come to me to desire from another that which removes them from possession of the same, I've learned to satisfy my desires by asking myself the question, "Is that really what I want or is there something more acceptable in God's eyes that will satisfy my wants, as well as be acceptable in God's eyes"? When I've finished answering the question, usually my wandering eye(or whatever) has moved on to less lustful meanderings.

Regards!

[olger]

We can choose to feed our carnal natures or to starve them. Why feed something that is condemned to death?

oG

[abelisle]

I agree with Rich that it is the dysfunctional obsessing over what is considered a taboo that creates the fertile grounds for "lust" to exist and grow.

The harder you try to not do something the more of a problem it becomes. That's why the Bible tells us that "our righteousness is as filthy rags."

The commandment re: coveting I think deals with our concept of what "lust" is - an inordinate desire for what is not ours fueled by a passionate attitude about this selfsame process.

Alex

[karl]

Lust is the opposite of "Not my will but thine."

[Heaven Bound]

I believe that there are certain parts of the human body that should be covered as not to redirect other people's focus away from whom it should be on. That is what I believe. As we get close to Christ's return, we are tempted more and more.