I feel vindicated

Good for you

Our thoughts will be judged.

Even 'evil' or 'wrong' thoughts, if they are not acted upon, or if they are strenuously resisted (as shown by a person's behaviour), do not make a person bad, obi. At least I don't think so. Resisting the temptation (the thought in one's mind) to do something bad is virtuous, surely?

Not that this was quite what I had in mind, but it is an interesting aspect.

Thank you, ww.

Actions often originate as thoughts so not acting upon a negative thought is good.
However, it makes me think about saying one thing but thinking another. Being two faced, in fact or telling white lies. It is complex.

Telling lies and being two-faced is behaviour. Behaviour is what makes a person who they are.

Jesus will judge who is good and who is bad. I couldn't possibly say.

compellingtruth.org/intrusive-thoughts-sin.html

One instance of where your op and God differs is lust is not good behaviour.
In that instance, the thoughts may not be acted upon, but the thoughts are still not good.

But yes, resisting temptation is good behaviour.

Lust is a feeling, is it not? A desire. If one resists it, then one isn't doing anything wrong.

What happened to people not being able to help their feelings? That is the usual argument when someone feels hurt by something that was not intended to hurt. If it is true that people can't help their feelings, then feeling lust cannot be helped. Acting on the feeling can be helped, i.e. one can resist the temptation to act upon it.

A question for you, obi (again, rather off the drift I was expecting): does Jesus judge people who don't believe in him (I mean who don't believe he was a god even if they believe such a person existed about two thousand years ago)? Does he judge people who believe in other gods and not him? Does he judge feelings that people "can't help" or only how they act?

Is it fair to judge someone on feelings they "can't help"? I would have said no.

My previous post is based on the assumption, for argument's sake, that lust is wrong, which I'm not sure it is, at least not in all circumstances, e.g. I don't think it is when it's between two consenting adults.

I don't believe it is wrong for a sexual animal (a person, for example) to feel ( feel, not necessarily act upon) sexual desire?

?

Crumbs. You have about 10 difficult questions in that post. It is going to take some time to answer them all. I will do them bit by bit.

Lust is a feeling, is it not? A desire.
I dont know. I would have thought it is more than that.

If one resists it, then one isn't doing anything wrong.
Unfortunately not I dont think in this instance.
Matthew 5:28Chapter Parallel Compare 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart

A question for you, obi (again, rather off the drift I was expecting): does Jesus judge people who don't believe in him (I mean who don't believe he was a god even if they believe such a person existed about two thousand years ago)? Does he judge people who believe in other gods and not him?

He will judge everyone.

I don't agree with the statement that Jesus will judge everyone, obi, I accept that you believe what you believe but I think some of what you have said is complete bullshit. I've a feeling you will judge me for saying that.

Who decides what is a lustful look? When people fall in love and gaze longingly into each other's eyes, are they doing wrong? The answer is no, they aren't.

Lust is defined in Chambers dictionary as a desire, longing or appetite. All those are feelings, not actions. There is nothing difficult about that idea.

It's possible to feel hungry but not eat. It's possible to feel angry but to contain one's anger. It's possible to feel lazy but to get on with some work. Etc, etc, etc ad infinitum.

If resisting wrongful thoughts is still going to judged, you might as well carry on and commit the full bifta. At least you'll have got some pleasure on the way to being judged.

Quite. If Matthew reckons we'll be judged to have committed the 'sin' just by the thought having come, unbidden, into our minds then we're all going to hell in a handcart anyway.

Is not lust thoughts and actions?

SueDonim. I certainly wouldnt recommend that personally.

What happened to people not being able to help their feelings? That is the usual argument when someone feels hurt by something that was not intended to hurt. If it is true that people can't help their feelings, then feeling lust cannot be helped

Thoughts and intent are part of lust?

Is not lust thoughts and actions?

No. It is a feeling.

Actions are separate.

I think you've won the argument, bags All that other stuff from obieone was a bit Old Testament, wasn't it. It took me back to Sunday school with the brethrrans. The problem there was, several of them did act on their lustful thoughts with some of the young congregation.

Intent is a different kind of thought from a feeling.

For example, I could want to hit somebody without ever intending to do it because I think hitting people is wrong.

I could also intend to hit someone but then decide not to because I think hitting people is wrong. If that were the case I would have overcome my bad intention, my intention based, perhaps, on the feeling of rage against the person. In short, I have struggled with bad feelings and intentions and controlled my behaviour. That is good.

Oh dear, petra !