I don't want anyone putting down Adrian Rogers. I'm not, because I think the subject of lust is a difficult one. Just look at all the Christian books, videos, and sermons that have been written and produced about the subject! I think most of these people have good intentions. Although most say Masturbation is a sin, those same people are also married. Which makes me wonder if they are really qualified to say such a thing. They all admit that Masturbation isn't even listed in the Bible as a sin. But if you tie it to lust in Matthew 5:28, then poof it's a sin now. The argument goes like this. "You can't masturbate without thinking about a woman in the wrong way." I first started Masturbating when I was just 6 years old. I don't have a clue why I started back then. But it wasn't until the birds and bees were explained to me that the sexual connection between masturbation and women was established. There are a lot I could say about this, and maybe I will in the very near future.
I want to list some books that I personally have or had in my library, just to show that I've done research into this. And this doesn't even include all the Videos, and Internet articles I have read on the subject. But like my Dad once told me. "That is not going to help you, and so far He's been right."
They Shall Expel Demons (Unabridged) by Derek Prince, talks about Masturbation and Lust a lot.
Every Man's Battle by Steven Arterburn, talks about Masturbation and Lust a lot.
Go And Sin No More: A Call To Holiness by Michael L. Brown talks about Masturbation and Lust a lot.
Chasing Love: Sex, Love, and Relationships in a Confused Culture by Dr. Sean McDowell talks about Masturbation and Lust a lot.
The Great Sex Rescue: The Lies You've Been Taught and How to Recover What God Intended by Sheila Wray Gregoire Talks about how all these Christian books about lust and sex has got it wrong, and it's hurting married Christian women.
It seems like the line between liking women, and lusting after them is a very fine one. Before puberty I liked girls, but I didn't have the feelings that got after puberty. Back in 1999 I decided I needed to get help. I tried talking to my youth pastor about it, and received no help. Then I tried talking to the senior pastor, and again I got no help. I couple years later, that Church fell apart, and all the friends I made at that Church I lost. I've been basically friendless ever since.
I am very thankful for all your prayers. I'm glad that people are finally starting to realize that when I ask for prayer, it's because it's a deep issue.
You ever notice the bible don't talk much about poopin or peein either?
I mean there is something about cooking with human excrement and peein on a wall, but there are really no rules or laws concerning them.
Except maybe take a shovel or spade to keep the area clean.
There's a lot of umm personal things the bible don't really touch on, maybe because their personal and they don't affect other people.
The topic you touched on is a private thing between your conscience and God.
And I feel about this subject as I do about many, what you do in your bedroom is your business. Not your neighbor or the government, or even the church. Unless it harms another person.
There is a part Paul talks about the "gossip" of a man having his father's wife or some such....
Was Paul angry at the act itself or the "gossip" that infected the church?
1Co 5:1
It is
reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
This "reporting commonly" sounds like people not minding their own business, frankly.
Whisperers, Gossipers.
The bible has something to say about these too:
Rom 1:28
And even as they did not like to retain God in
their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity;
whisperers,
Rom 1:30
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
So while these people commonly reporting on others having fornication, they themselves are guilty of being gossipers and whisperers.
That's why I say, You do you and let God worry about them.
The bedroom regardless of what the situation is is between you, God, and if there is a partner involved.
A good lesson is when the woman caught in adultery was about to be stoned according to the law.
However, according to the law, both the woman and the man were to be stoned.
For some reason only the woman was accused.
My question would be, how many of those men that were going to stone her were guilty of the same thing?
Jesus wrote something in the sand with his finger and then said, He who is without sin cast the first stone and they ALL walked away.
Another is the parable about the log in your brother's eye.
So while these people are accusing other people of doing things wrong, they themselves are guilty of other offences which they feel are not worthy of punishment, in their eyes.
If it were a sin for the man to have his father's wife, then wouldn't it be equally sinful for a man to take his father's daughter, in the case of Abraham and Sarah?
And yet God blessed them.
The reason why there is so much division in the world today is mainly because of gossip. And it spreads like wildfire.
And then everyone is guilty.
Just like the bible says.
The only time someone should intervene is if another is being harmed and has no way to defend themselves.
Pray for the children.
Hugs
Just my 2 cents worth
