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I agree with this> You can be married and still be in sexual sin.
And, I have found out that, without being married, I now know how to stop that way of sinning, just by loving her exclusively, being proned to God s plans.
That is the solution I encountered and, if I married with a person I dont surely LOVED or liked, that problem would go on.
And, I have found out that, without being married, I now know how to stop that way of sinning, just by loving her exclusively, being proned to God s plans.
That is the solution I encountered and, if I married with a person I dont surely LOVED or liked, that problem would go on.
S
How do I know?
Because I've done it (actually my Savior did it for me, though I did have to work at it). I was the guy so ensnared he'd be praying for forgiveness while looking. I don't know how much darker it can get than that, or how much deeper one could fall into the abyss, because that's a matter of deepest spiritual shame for me.
You stop this garbage dead in it's tracks - you don't straddle the fence for a while and try to tell yourself you're weaning off of it. That's the kind of worldly compromise that will get you ensared again. What do you do - tell yourself once a week, then every two weeks, etc? You'll lie to yourself and say "oh well one more time won't hurt."
That's what addicts say - one more time. Since your body isn't chemically dependent, you don't run the risk of dying from stopping too soon (the alcoholic you mentioned can die). Meanwhile, you are dying on the inside the longer you engage in the behavior.
And since you brought it up, stopping completely is the same thing you do with masturbation. Again, I've done it.
There is no biological danger in not touching yourself. The process is very similar to a vastectomy, only it's not permanent. For a short time (1-4 weeks) it's going to feel mildly to moderately uncomfortable - like taking a shot to the jewels. That's your body sending white blood cells to deal with the emissions you're no longer producing (I guess one could argue that abstinence is eco-friendly).
The entire purpose of the men's discussion group in my signature was to give guys a safe place to talk about this nonsense, away from female eyes and judgment (women are a source of weakness for a lot of us). That's sadly been dead on the vine for a while - you ladies are lucky you have a women's forum for this stuff. Most guys aren't going to even admit they're struggling out in the open, let alone go into the amount of detail I just did.
Weaning off is terrible advice.
That's wonderful; congratulations.
Most of us, when suffering, think it's the worst possible hell there could be, because it was the worst possible hell we oursleves have faced.
I don't know your context, but I do know that the average American is highly soft in terms of suffering. Most Americans don't know how good they got it. Most of us get stressed be the inconvenience of having to wait ten more seconds in line than usual, or stressed because someone already five mph over the speeding limit isn't going fast eboughn. Much of the illness we suffer, is brought on by stress, and stress over really petty, entitlentment minded ideas/expectations. Ask a doctor. Basic, chronic stress is just as bad as eating wrong or not exercising.
So, not dealing with anything else - just stop - is the magical cure? Maybe for you - and again, your interpretation of what is very difficult may be just be child's play compare to what this man is going through. There are lots of factors that may have helped you, not available to this one.
That's my point about the American mindset - we assume universal solutions to problems, that we have all the answers because it worked for us. We assume we are all identical, thus have to approach everything in identical fashion, because we all struggled in identical degrees. That aggravates problems, not solve them.
I really don't know why I'm reponsding. I don't think you are honestly listening. I'm not sure you've read St Paul's words, in Romans 7. He does what he wishes not to do. Did you even read the OP? This is not someone who thinks " ah, what I'm doing ain't hurting anything." The answer is Christ - not willpower. The answer is the grace to fail as you try to master your sin.
The body becomes apt to fight disease because it comes in contact with it. That's why children of germophopee oftwn developmallergies and other immunity problems - their parents took the "it's bad, so being exposed can't do any good" approach. You conquer sin by facing it, not running away - you conquer it by dealing with it's cause. You run away from your weakness without conquering it (building immunity) you will fall sick to it again, and with more a vengeance.
And repressing all desires and then giving no information to be safe, is how we end up with a nation with the highest teen pregnancy rate. You sincerely think telling a child that somwething is bad is going to keep them from doing it? The D.A.R.E program (which I was in) talks about the horrible horrible things that happens because of drug use. Did you know they nomlonger use the program? Because it encourages behavorjt by forbidding it. That's the point of the Gospel. The Law cannot be perfectly obeyed because it it's strict standards. It's strict standards is breeding ground for sin. We can't even stay away from a single tree, when told to do so. We are curious by nature, and forbidding something increases it. Teach teens what sex is, and it will likely be treated with far more prudance, because they realize it's a natural part of growing up - like hormones, and mastruation. Forbidding something makes it more appealing, when it's not something univerally understood to be bad, like murder. But the frustration can ultimately lead to that. Forbidding sex, they turn to porn, need more and more, and are raping and abusing woman because that's the only way they can get aroused - literally the only way.
I understand and respect that. That makes sense. But again, you're assuming his environment is similar to yours, and that stopping porn is just going to remove all tempataion. I never said there was danger in not masturbating, either. I've gone years on end with it, or any touch from a man. But not every woman is exactly like me.
And men are not for us? In that insinuated? We can just turn off our sex drives on and off like a switch? That is highly stereotypical and naïve. If that's the kind of thing taught in those groups, you're probably compounding the problem by creating a disconnect with the women in their lives by painting them as robots who just flip a switch. Lol wow....
Maybe a forum wasn't created because of the stereotypes of men not opening up, which you just confirmed. Why open a forum, pay to maintain it and such, if all that's going to be passed around is jokes and small talk you could put in another forum? And btw, there are sites that have sections for both... which is why I'm a little surprised this one doesn't.
Well, like I said, this black and white approach you and many Christians take is why Jesus came in the first place. No one can perfectly obey all the rules, and most people can't just up and quit whatever they struggle with. Otherwise, I think we would've had a more proud and pompous Paul, than we do.
Most of us, when suffering, think it's the worst possible hell there could be, because it was the worst possible hell we oursleves have faced.
I don't know your context, but I do know that the average American is highly soft in terms of suffering. Most Americans don't know how good they got it. Most of us get stressed be the inconvenience of having to wait ten more seconds in line than usual, or stressed because someone already five mph over the speeding limit isn't going fast eboughn. Much of the illness we suffer, is brought on by stress, and stress over really petty, entitlentment minded ideas/expectations. Ask a doctor. Basic, chronic stress is just as bad as eating wrong or not exercising.
So, not dealing with anything else - just stop - is the magical cure? Maybe for you - and again, your interpretation of what is very difficult may be just be child's play compare to what this man is going through. There are lots of factors that may have helped you, not available to this one.
That's my point about the American mindset - we assume universal solutions to problems, that we have all the answers because it worked for us. We assume we are all identical, thus have to approach everything in identical fashion, because we all struggled in identical degrees. That aggravates problems, not solve them.
I really don't know why I'm reponsding. I don't think you are honestly listening. I'm not sure you've read St Paul's words, in Romans 7. He does what he wishes not to do. Did you even read the OP? This is not someone who thinks " ah, what I'm doing ain't hurting anything." The answer is Christ - not willpower. The answer is the grace to fail as you try to master your sin.
The body becomes apt to fight disease because it comes in contact with it. That's why children of germophopee oftwn developmallergies and other immunity problems - their parents took the "it's bad, so being exposed can't do any good" approach. You conquer sin by facing it, not running away - you conquer it by dealing with it's cause. You run away from your weakness without conquering it (building immunity) you will fall sick to it again, and with more a vengeance.
And repressing all desires and then giving no information to be safe, is how we end up with a nation with the highest teen pregnancy rate. You sincerely think telling a child that somwething is bad is going to keep them from doing it? The D.A.R.E program (which I was in) talks about the horrible horrible things that happens because of drug use. Did you know they nomlonger use the program? Because it encourages behavorjt by forbidding it. That's the point of the Gospel. The Law cannot be perfectly obeyed because it it's strict standards. It's strict standards is breeding ground for sin. We can't even stay away from a single tree, when told to do so. We are curious by nature, and forbidding something increases it. Teach teens what sex is, and it will likely be treated with far more prudance, because they realize it's a natural part of growing up - like hormones, and mastruation. Forbidding something makes it more appealing, when it's not something univerally understood to be bad, like murder. But the frustration can ultimately lead to that. Forbidding sex, they turn to porn, need more and more, and are raping and abusing woman because that's the only way they can get aroused - literally the only way.
I understand and respect that. That makes sense. But again, you're assuming his environment is similar to yours, and that stopping porn is just going to remove all tempataion. I never said there was danger in not masturbating, either. I've gone years on end with it, or any touch from a man. But not every woman is exactly like me.
And men are not for us? In that insinuated? We can just turn off our sex drives on and off like a switch? That is highly stereotypical and naïve. If that's the kind of thing taught in those groups, you're probably compounding the problem by creating a disconnect with the women in their lives by painting them as robots who just flip a switch. Lol wow....
Maybe a forum wasn't created because of the stereotypes of men not opening up, which you just confirmed. Why open a forum, pay to maintain it and such, if all that's going to be passed around is jokes and small talk you could put in another forum? And btw, there are sites that have sections for both... which is why I'm a little surprised this one doesn't.
Well, like I said, this black and white approach you and many Christians take is why Jesus came in the first place. No one can perfectly obey all the rules, and most people can't just up and quit whatever they struggle with. Otherwise, I think we would've had a more proud and pompous Paul, than we do.
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And let me make clear - it IS true that too much masturbation, chronic and unhealthily frequent, will lead to problems, physical problems, later. My husband read in a medical journal that there was a case of one with a pron/masterbation addiction. After a number of years, he could no longer get aroused naturally - need meds. On the flip side, healthy levels are good for your prostrate. None at all can be psychologyly damaging for men. So yeah, it depends.
ServantStrike - I really enjoyed your post and your being open about your former struggle. There is so much secrecy and shame around sex/sexual sin - and not only in the church that just the topic being breached in a kind fashion is a good one.
I am absolutely sure that a men only discussion would be very helpful, but I think that shedding light on the issue for both men and women is good. I don't think women by-and-large understand men's thinking/desires with regard to sex and what a pull it is. I mean, there is some level of understanding, but it's fairly well glossed over.
Jamie26301 - God has made a release mechanism for men that they experience as pre-pubescence and in their pubescence that I will guess that night-time occurrence might still be in play. God actually does know how humans work, and he does make a way.
I am absolutely sure that a men only discussion would be very helpful, but I think that shedding light on the issue for both men and women is good. I don't think women by-and-large understand men's thinking/desires with regard to sex and what a pull it is. I mean, there is some level of understanding, but it's fairly well glossed over.
Jamie26301 - God has made a release mechanism for men that they experience as pre-pubescence and in their pubescence that I will guess that night-time occurrence might still be in play. God actually does know how humans work, and he does make a way.
Olerica, women bond more emotionally, and on ideas, while men it is more physical and visual. That is however not absolute, and I'm putting aside the arguments for soceitial construct being or not being a cause.
I see this in my marriage. I am much more emotional, in terms of our relationship, than he is. However, I do see value in logically assessing a situation, rather than approaching with what feels right - and that's more of a male trait (broadly speaking). And he is affectionate and hugs/kisses often through the day, and that's more of a female trait. So yeah, we can't categorize each other in terms of struggles, is my point, because we don't all think or function the same.
The mechanism you speak of, what do you mean exactly? And why is it sufficent?
I think masturbation is healthy, and a good restraint against having sex when one is not ready or married. As with anything, too much can be damaging. This is my opinion, and I don't think "spilling one's seed" is enough Scripture to forbid it. Then you're bringing contraception to the table, and that being a reason it's wrong... and that leads to birth control and all this being wrong.
When we forbid masturabtion, we bring other issues to the table, because then we have to explain why it's a sin - when it seemly does no harm to your neighbor (and can actually prevent harm, if it keeps you from having sex and getting pregnant), and, imo, doesn't offend God. If it offends God, I wish to know why.
I don't know why God would be offended by something that in moderation actually helps men - as wine in moderation can help people. And esp since He designed the body that seemly benefits such. When we want to show evidence for God's design, we always look at benefits and say "see, see." But convenienantly ignore benefits that result of something that offends our traditions.
I see this in my marriage. I am much more emotional, in terms of our relationship, than he is. However, I do see value in logically assessing a situation, rather than approaching with what feels right - and that's more of a male trait (broadly speaking). And he is affectionate and hugs/kisses often through the day, and that's more of a female trait. So yeah, we can't categorize each other in terms of struggles, is my point, because we don't all think or function the same.
The mechanism you speak of, what do you mean exactly? And why is it sufficent?
I think masturbation is healthy, and a good restraint against having sex when one is not ready or married. As with anything, too much can be damaging. This is my opinion, and I don't think "spilling one's seed" is enough Scripture to forbid it. Then you're bringing contraception to the table, and that being a reason it's wrong... and that leads to birth control and all this being wrong.
When we forbid masturabtion, we bring other issues to the table, because then we have to explain why it's a sin - when it seemly does no harm to your neighbor (and can actually prevent harm, if it keeps you from having sex and getting pregnant), and, imo, doesn't offend God. If it offends God, I wish to know why.
I don't know why God would be offended by something that in moderation actually helps men - as wine in moderation can help people. And esp since He designed the body that seemly benefits such. When we want to show evidence for God's design, we always look at benefits and say "see, see." But convenienantly ignore benefits that result of something that offends our traditions.
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For the sake of brevity, I'm talking about night-time emissions.
The trick about masturbation? Well, if you are talking about a porn addiction, those images don't go away because you stop looking at them. You can't unsee it. And if one is touching themselves in a sexual fashion, our minds bring up images that have been previously viewed; be it porn, a previous sinful relationship... and as far as I'm aware, lust is still a sin.
I thanked ServantStrike for his transparency, but perhaps it's time for some of my own. I see that you have stated that you are currently married. I was married as well. My husband passed away 3 years ago.
At the time of his death, I was not serving Christ. The sudden and grief-filled hole in my life was nearly more than I could bear. A female friend who is not a believer gave me a 'care package' of various things that would aid me in solo sexual comfort because I'm not a woman who was ever sexually promiscuous nor was I going to start then. Fast forward, and it became a problem.
I rededicated my life to Christ about two years ago, but I still had a problem with dealing with sexual sin and seeking release. God clearly spoke to me that he wanted my fidelity until I was married when that fidelity in sexuality was turned over to my husband (whomever he may be). This included the solo sexual sin that I was partaking in.
In dealing with it? It's not something that can be handled on your own. EVERY time an image or desire would come up, I'd have to pray, "Lord, deliver me." And the times that I've needed to seek his help have become less and less. Do I still struggle? Sometimes I do... just like everyone with habitual sin they deal with.
We must protect our eyes, our ears, our bodies. We are the temple of the Holy Ghost. We are not our own, we've been bought with a price. Do you really think that God would not give a way out for someone who is struggling with sin and is seeking God's help in dealing with it? He is SO faithful.
I think it's short sighted to look at masturbation as simply 'excess sexual' release. The hormones associated are addictive and they are meant to be so as it's meant to bond a husband and a wife together. Sexual release isn't meant for self pleasure or gratification. We want to justify our sin (whatever it is) because it's difficult to give up the things we comfort ourselves with, we don't want to do that... God is meant to be our comforter.
The trick about masturbation? Well, if you are talking about a porn addiction, those images don't go away because you stop looking at them. You can't unsee it. And if one is touching themselves in a sexual fashion, our minds bring up images that have been previously viewed; be it porn, a previous sinful relationship... and as far as I'm aware, lust is still a sin.
I thanked ServantStrike for his transparency, but perhaps it's time for some of my own. I see that you have stated that you are currently married. I was married as well. My husband passed away 3 years ago.
At the time of his death, I was not serving Christ. The sudden and grief-filled hole in my life was nearly more than I could bear. A female friend who is not a believer gave me a 'care package' of various things that would aid me in solo sexual comfort because I'm not a woman who was ever sexually promiscuous nor was I going to start then. Fast forward, and it became a problem.
I rededicated my life to Christ about two years ago, but I still had a problem with dealing with sexual sin and seeking release. God clearly spoke to me that he wanted my fidelity until I was married when that fidelity in sexuality was turned over to my husband (whomever he may be). This included the solo sexual sin that I was partaking in.
In dealing with it? It's not something that can be handled on your own. EVERY time an image or desire would come up, I'd have to pray, "Lord, deliver me." And the times that I've needed to seek his help have become less and less. Do I still struggle? Sometimes I do... just like everyone with habitual sin they deal with.
We must protect our eyes, our ears, our bodies. We are the temple of the Holy Ghost. We are not our own, we've been bought with a price. Do you really think that God would not give a way out for someone who is struggling with sin and is seeking God's help in dealing with it? He is SO faithful.
I think it's short sighted to look at masturbation as simply 'excess sexual' release. The hormones associated are addictive and they are meant to be so as it's meant to bond a husband and a wife together. Sexual release isn't meant for self pleasure or gratification. We want to justify our sin (whatever it is) because it's difficult to give up the things we comfort ourselves with, we don't want to do that... God is meant to be our comforter.
I think you hit the nail on the head Olerica! While perhaps masturbation itself is not a sin (for those claiming the "spill your seed scripture" as a reason why I highly recommend you re-read it and put it into context), it's more of where masturbation takes you. We know that if we desire in our hearts we have already committed adultery, so if one can self pleasure without ever lusting desiring or having their mind go into something elicit or adulterous then by all means. However, I do not think one person can say that they can separate one from the other as they are usually together. Sure masturbation helps one "release" the tension and may "help" you from going out there and committing adultery but two things. Firstly, is lusting in our minds any less sinful than having sex? Not to God its not...Secondly, should not our relationship with God be enough to deter us from committing adultery? It's like saying well God's enough to a certain point, but if I masturbate it helps...one might essentially be saying God isn't enough, which is nonsense.
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
I believe the answer is there. If we drink from the "water" our Lord provides we will never thirst for any other water for no water will bring us more satisfaction.
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
I believe the answer is there. If we drink from the "water" our Lord provides we will never thirst for any other water for no water will bring us more satisfaction.
Really !?
Surely that is a legitimate part of it. If it were not so, the human race would be extinct.
Frankly, at 70, I reckon it's the most over-rated of indoor and outdoor sports.
But I did not always think so.
Surely that is a legitimate part of it. If it were not so, the human race would be extinct.
Frankly, at 70, I reckon it's the most over-rated of indoor and outdoor sports.
But I did not always think so.
In the context of lust, wasn't Jesus talking about adultery? It seems to me, that lust is longing what you cannot have, esp longing for what belongs to another.
So I agree - you can't unsee it. And perhaps one would would resort to those images. I'm not a man, I have never been a man, never will be a man... lol so while I understand frustration, I'm not sure how to go about allivating it in a pure manner.
If anyone is interested, there is a Christian website that endorses "pure masturbation." I'm not going to link it, so if anyone wants to know, pm me. It has no graphic images, it is not "porn," but not sure if it's appropriate to post publicly. I probably should permission from a mod just to pm the name of the site. But it is designed to help with this.
Awwww so sorry! I would be utterly crushed if that happened to me. My sympathy... Maybe three years ago, but you never really get over a loss of that nature.
I understand ad respect a personal call, I really do. What I don't like is ditacting others about what God is saying to them.
I understand this moment by moment method. I've been through that with something else.
But this is the thing, and I know it's kinda an "infant Christian" speculation, but why would God need to give you a way out of the way He designed you to release to begin with? Is that Him tempting you? Why would He need to give you a way out of something that He blesses in the "right context?" which for most people is a sheet of paper, a pair of rings, and state recognition?
For marriage to be a sacred institution by God, it certainly seems we act as "our own" and layer it with many many approvals required by men. The Churh tolerates this and works with it. Try to find a pastor that will marry you without the state, a certificate for just you two, andbecause Iing out your own legalities. You may find this difficult, and to me, that says the Church dosn't regard God as the One who seals the deal.
God pronounced Adam and Eve man and wife - and so far as we can see, there was no special ceremony or recognition for it. That's why I lean more and more towards "we're married in the eye of God." More and more I see this as a matter of the heart, and to just pin someone or a couple down as sinful because they haven't met man's visual requirements is becoming more and more foolish to me. Because the Bible.
Sure, it's addictive, or can be. But wine can be addictive, but we don't (well, some of us) forbid it for that reason. Exercise gives a high, and be addictive. At one point in my life, I was dangerously thin, because I was addicted to walking - like seven-ten miles a day. But we're not going to tell people not to start a walking regime, right? Esp when the exerice is addressing taking care of the body, the temple, by losing weight or such.
Is there anything God wants us to pleasure in, besides Himself? When we feel a rush of feel good chemicals at seeing someone benefit from our gift, happy for them, do we stop and be like "now, not supposed to get pleasure or satisfaction from this." There are people who volunteer for selfish reasons; they do it solely for the high. But that doesn't mean feeling the high is a selfish thing.
That's one thing that is kinda muddy in orthodox Christian doctrine, imo. What is appropriate to feel good about and feel a rush in? I feel very good holding my husband, and I'm not going to ruin it by scolding myself for taking pleasure in it because it's not for self-pleasure. I pleasure myself by giving it, and vice versa. Do you need to just stop having sex because on some level we do it for the pleasure?
Sure no one wants to give up what is comforting. But feeling comfort from God is subjective is definition. I could say "God strengthened me in coummuion today - I feel recharged, blessed and comforted." Someone else would contest that, because they don't think He's present there, like I do. They don't believe God blesses through that and so would judge my "worship" of the feast.
That's what I mean... There's no way to pin God down and say "yes, that person is taking comfort in God" or "yes, that person is losing faith in God backslidden." If that were the case, that God could easily be spotted or not in another person, what do we need discernment for? Would be a pretty transparent God indeed.
So I agree - you can't unsee it. And perhaps one would would resort to those images. I'm not a man, I have never been a man, never will be a man... lol so while I understand frustration, I'm not sure how to go about allivating it in a pure manner.
If anyone is interested, there is a Christian website that endorses "pure masturbation." I'm not going to link it, so if anyone wants to know, pm me. It has no graphic images, it is not "porn," but not sure if it's appropriate to post publicly. I probably should permission from a mod just to pm the name of the site. But it is designed to help with this.
Awwww so sorry! I would be utterly crushed if that happened to me. My sympathy... Maybe three years ago, but you never really get over a loss of that nature.
I understand ad respect a personal call, I really do. What I don't like is ditacting others about what God is saying to them.
I understand this moment by moment method. I've been through that with something else.
But this is the thing, and I know it's kinda an "infant Christian" speculation, but why would God need to give you a way out of the way He designed you to release to begin with? Is that Him tempting you? Why would He need to give you a way out of something that He blesses in the "right context?" which for most people is a sheet of paper, a pair of rings, and state recognition?
For marriage to be a sacred institution by God, it certainly seems we act as "our own" and layer it with many many approvals required by men. The Churh tolerates this and works with it. Try to find a pastor that will marry you without the state, a certificate for just you two, andbecause Iing out your own legalities. You may find this difficult, and to me, that says the Church dosn't regard God as the One who seals the deal.
God pronounced Adam and Eve man and wife - and so far as we can see, there was no special ceremony or recognition for it. That's why I lean more and more towards "we're married in the eye of God." More and more I see this as a matter of the heart, and to just pin someone or a couple down as sinful because they haven't met man's visual requirements is becoming more and more foolish to me. Because the Bible.
Sure, it's addictive, or can be. But wine can be addictive, but we don't (well, some of us) forbid it for that reason. Exercise gives a high, and be addictive. At one point in my life, I was dangerously thin, because I was addicted to walking - like seven-ten miles a day. But we're not going to tell people not to start a walking regime, right? Esp when the exerice is addressing taking care of the body, the temple, by losing weight or such.
Is there anything God wants us to pleasure in, besides Himself? When we feel a rush of feel good chemicals at seeing someone benefit from our gift, happy for them, do we stop and be like "now, not supposed to get pleasure or satisfaction from this." There are people who volunteer for selfish reasons; they do it solely for the high. But that doesn't mean feeling the high is a selfish thing.
That's one thing that is kinda muddy in orthodox Christian doctrine, imo. What is appropriate to feel good about and feel a rush in? I feel very good holding my husband, and I'm not going to ruin it by scolding myself for taking pleasure in it because it's not for self-pleasure. I pleasure myself by giving it, and vice versa. Do you need to just stop having sex because on some level we do it for the pleasure?
Sure no one wants to give up what is comforting. But feeling comfort from God is subjective is definition. I could say "God strengthened me in coummuion today - I feel recharged, blessed and comforted." Someone else would contest that, because they don't think He's present there, like I do. They don't believe God blesses through that and so would judge my "worship" of the feast.
That's what I mean... There's no way to pin God down and say "yes, that person is taking comfort in God" or "yes, that person is losing faith in God backslidden." If that were the case, that God could easily be spotted or not in another person, what do we need discernment for? Would be a pretty transparent God indeed.
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Yes! Although, without love, it could function like a placebo.
I think that a "normal" person do not eat more than 1 (or 2 dishes) his/her lunch so, if I have "eaten" once, there{ s no need to be fed twice, for several hours and, considering the age of a person, metabolism changes and varies so, when I was younger, I could have felt the need of eating more than now, particularly when a person learned to fast, sexually inclusive.
Be blessed if God{ s wants to.
I think that a "normal" person do not eat more than 1 (or 2 dishes) his/her lunch so, if I have "eaten" once, there{ s no need to be fed twice, for several hours and, considering the age of a person, metabolism changes and varies so, when I was younger, I could have felt the need of eating more than now, particularly when a person learned to fast, sexually inclusive.
Be blessed if God{ s wants to.
We all tend towards that Olerica - that is the struggle with the flesh that we will never beat until we shed this tent... and honestly, that's one reason such black and white solutions some Christians pose tick me off - it's almost like proposing "do this, and you will never sin in this manner again! You will have won! You beat the devil!"
"Take heed lest he fall," "pride goes before destruction," etc etc, would advise not to think oneself above any sin. As you clearly do not, and that's awesome.
And believe me, I tend towards the "aha, this is IT" just as much as anyone else, and I try to work on that. I could stand to have a little more compassion, and ears wider open. I could stand to be slower to speak, oh could I. That's my problem - I liken my weakness to Peter's, impulsive and certain. And just because I advocate multiple solutions or open mindedness doesn't mean I do so in a way that reflects the very values I put forth.
We all need Jesus - in varying degrees, for varying reasons, but let's not forget we are all brothers and sisters, and that one common Person is all that really matters.
"Take heed lest he fall," "pride goes before destruction," etc etc, would advise not to think oneself above any sin.
As you clearly do not, and that's awesome.And believe me, I tend towards the "aha, this is IT" just as much as anyone else, and I try to work on that. I could stand to have a little more compassion, and ears wider open. I could stand to be slower to speak, oh could I. That's my problem - I liken my weakness to Peter's, impulsive and certain. And just because I advocate multiple solutions or open mindedness doesn't mean I do so in a way that reflects the very values I put forth.
We all need Jesus - in varying degrees, for varying reasons, but let's not forget we are all brothers and sisters, and that one common Person is all that really matters.