It has been said that the thought of a sinful act, or the temptation to commit said act, is equal to the act itself. So, basically, if you think about doing something, it is the same as doing it.... huh??Now, I know I am not alone when I say that at least twice a day, there is some wicked, mean, or simply less than pure thought that travels across the landscape of my mind. Be it the wonder of how an attractive female, who happens to catch my eye, conducts herself in the throes of passion, or a wish that I could ram my car into the back of that jerk that just cut me off without the slightest flash of a blinker. The majority of us have these thoughts. But is it fair to say that it is the equivalent of random fornication or spreading someone all over the interstate? I think not.
Now, unfortunately, there are those that are impulsive and will act on a thought without the foresight of the consequences of their actions - immediate gratification. But I like to believe that the majority of people have the filter that keeps them from making those negative thoughts into a reality firmly in place.
All this to say that I disagree with anyone who says that if you think it, you would do it. I know I would never cause anyone harm for their rudeness (as much as I would like to slam in their face the same door they neglected to hold for me), nor would I ever have extramarital sex with another woman(even though that woman has a body built for sin). These are just the base desires for instant gratification that most normal people have, and fortunately, my restraint filter is firmly in place.
And fortunately, I do not have telekenesis!
"If a man is considered guilty for what goes on in his mind, then give me the electric chair for all of my future crimes!" - Prince - Electric Chair.
4 comments:
I am awed by the picture for your blog entry...I am very curious about your temptation. C'est la Vie!
I agree with you for the most part, but I feel I must go deeper.
a random "bad" thought is not sin, the prolonged dwelling on is what constitutes sin. We may not be incomplete control of random thoughts, however we can stop ourselves from continuing those thoughts. Not stopping them is also a from of instant gratification.
I agree with you. Thoughts don't constitute actions. And dwelling on a "sinful" thought isn't bad either. I think you're more likely to dwell on something if it's forbidden or if you're being hard on yourself about it.
The idea of thoughts being as bad as actions is something I dealt with often at my former church. It was pretty stressful. And you were supposed to confess to one another all the time about that sort of thing. I'm just glad to be out of there and to be sorting things out in a healthy, non-judging manner.
I am right there with you......DC
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