Why do so many people think that looking at the beauty of a woman is lustful? Why cant you just look at what God has given you, and the rest of the world?
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Why do so many people think that looking at the beauty of a woman is lustful? Why cant you just look at what God has given you, and the rest of the world?
b/c God said "Be in this world but not of it" WE are human so the idea of lustfullness and beauty is something that we all struggle with. I have trouble wearing clothes that don't cling to my body...that is the style but it's not morally right. Beauty can also be personality, ideas, POV, etc. Beauty doesn't necessarily have to be looks and a face. I'm beautiful in the eyes of God b/c i'm His child. I don't have a bf so does that mean i'm ugly?
Like i said this is something that humans struggle with...you may want to ask Shea for exact Bible refrences...she always has her Bible open when she comes to this forum. :D
8)
I don't believe that God intended us to avert our eyes to the natural beauty of a woman's form that He created for us. I think that what is meant by the verses about lust is what the spirits eye sees, not the physical one. I think it's the thoughts and feelings that we attach to what we observe that are in question here; in other words, if you can't look at the beauty of a woman, or anything else for that matter, without becoming aroused and lustful, then you have a problem. I believe it is perfectly alright to appreciate God's work of creation in every form. I don't know how clear I'm making myself here, so if you have any thoughts or questions about what I've posted here, please let me know.
You posed a difficult topic to reference Ickmeister, but I must agree with Tigerlily. Biblically speaking, lust is most definately a sin, but appreciating beauty of all forms is perfectly all right.
Of course, as Chardata explained, I have references! :D The biggest one would be Song of Soloman. It's a short OT book, and to me a beautiful love poem. There are many refrences to beauty in the OT; many are innocent, and others lead to lust to teach as an example why it is so wrong. A good example of this is the story of David and Bathsheba. David is said to be handsome in 1 Samuel 16:12,18, and Bathsheba is said to be beautiful in 2 Samuel 11:2. There is nothing wrong with the observance of this beauty, but the sinful act they commited (which you can read about in 2 Samuel 11 and 12) was most definately wrong.
wow you read my mind, Shea! I was just about to come back on and suggest that! :P Everything that has been said is correct and i agree with. 8)
Thank you
I know action stopped on this discussion in May, but I was reading over your questions about masculinity and beauty. You're probably not even thinking about this stuff any more, but I just wanted to add from a male's point of view concerning lust. The big thing to remember is that guy's are hot-wired much differently than girls, and, unfortunately, many of us lack the strength to just stop at admiring a woman's beauty--our thoughts usually lead elsewhere. Sometimes it's our fault, and a woman's bare arm will get us going. Sometimes a girl walks out wearing something so tight and low-cut that there's nothing left to the imagination. Since self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, much of the responsibility falls on guys to pray for strength to acknowledge and move on. But I encourage you as my sister in Christ to remember your brothers, and remember that there is a big difference in dressing attractively and dressing to attract. My girlfriend makes a conscious effort not to wear super short shorts or shirts that show her midrif, because she knows that her waist is incredibly sexy to me. She does this because she loves me and wants to keep me pure--to her, that's more important than being in style or sexy, and that's very sexy. Two of our chief responsibilities in our relationships are to grow in closeness through Christ (not rushed intimacy due to raging hormones from a shirt to deep or shorts to high) and to guard each other's hearts (not our status as defined by culture--you must be sexy, etc.). To look upon a woman's beauty and praise God for creating something so awesome is worship--to delight in God and his works. But to look upon the beauty of a woman and make it an idol--the thing you constantly think about, search for and chase after because you think it will bring you happiness--is sin. As men we must save our passion and desire for marriage, and as women, you guys must help us out by not awakening desire before it is ready. Men are created to initiate and lead, women are created to encourage, help and nourish. Sure, some feminist is having chest pains now, but it's scripture. And both roles are awesome and indespensable. Nothing makes a man want to be a man more than a woman.
:D I have to commend you for this wastin- what an intelligent and noble stance to take! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by wastinaway
Some scriptures that go alond with this quote and the rest of the post.Quote:
But I encourage you as my sister in Christ to remember your brothers, and remember that there is a big difference in dressing attractively and dressing to attract.
1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
Romans 14:21 [It is] good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [any thing] whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Some scriptures that go alond with this quote and the rest of the post.Quote:
But I encourage you as my sister in Christ to remember your brothers, and remember that there is a big difference in dressing attractively and dressing to attract.
1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
Romans 14:21 [It is] good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [any thing] whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Like Tigerlily, I also commend you for your attitude on this topic, Wastin. In fact, just yesterday, one of our preachers preached on the subject of sexual immorality. The meat of the message came from Proverbs chapter 5. It was pretty direct even to some of the nameless young ladies of our own congregation.
I understand that this subject can be very difficult for male's. But also it can be difficult in other ways for females, especially in the last few decades of our society. Very, very rarely will I go out shopping for new clothes. To me, it becomes so frustrating to the point that I usually wind up making my own and being thankful that I know how to sew. There are slim pickin's for the modest girl.
One sad thing that I saw just today, a mother came into the coffee shop where I was having lunch, with her two young daughters. One was wearing a pauncho because of the wet weather, but the youngest one who couldn't have been more than five was wearing a very high bare midriff (sp?) and I recalled a news report I saw once where a group of girls her age were in some sort of Brittney Spears dance class. One of the girls was interveiwed saying that she liked the clothes because the shirts were short and showed a lot of skin!!! Five years old!!!
Its things like that which really make me wish I were born 200 years ago. :-?
200 years ago?!
What was so great about the 19th century? The Industrial Revolution had already begun and people were generally miserable. Maybe 20,000 years ago would be a better figure.
First of all, Biblically speaking, it is impossible for the earth to be 20,000 years old. Second, your going to have miserable people in any century. I was referring to a desire for the higher standard of morality and modesty in general at the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by AbdoRinbo
The Bible! The Bible!
And the message that your trying to get across is...?