Desires

[TomMcC]

I was talking to a member of the RCC who told me that "homosexual desires" are not sinful, but only "homosexual acts". More thoughts from the RCC persons...God gave those desires to the homosexual, so, they can't be bad desires. Any thoughts?

[SelfGovernor]

Matthew 5:27-28 27 " You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Even our thoughts can be sinful.

[RAMCLAP]

We all have sinful desires. What sets Christians apart is our desire to fight them for the Glory of Christ. To have Him tear down the sinful lusts of all kinds is the power of the Holy Spirit and the glory of His power.

[TomMcC]

I looked up in Catholic Answers their official position, and sure enough, "desires" are not sinful in their view. The RCC guys would not use the word "lust" to describe this particular "desire". I asked them for biblical references and am still waiting. Catholic answers didn't use the above scriptures, or really any scripture to defend this "desires" teaching.

Also, some Catholics were very uneasy with the whole concept, and were speaking against it. Seems it's not universally excepted in the RCC, pretty much like this Pope isn't universally excepted.

[RAMCLAP]

I looked up in Catholic Answers their official position, and sure enough, "desires" are not sinful in their view. The RCC guys would not use the word "lust" to describe this particular "desire". I asked them for biblical references and am still waiting. Catholic answers didn't use the above scriptures, or really any scripture to defend this "desires" teaching.

Also, some Catholics were very uneasy with the whole concept, and were speaking against it. Seems it's not universally excepted in the RCC, pretty much like this Pope isn't universally excepted.

Indeed.

[billvau]

Tom - The key is what they mean by "desire" because a desire can be good (desire to be an elder 1 Tim. 3:1) or it can be sin. There are various words, OT and NT for "desire" and the context is key. In the NT, we most often use the word "lust" when a desire becomes controlling. When a desire is dwelt on / actively contemplated, it is sin, even if the action itself isn't carried out. I'd quote him James, especially 1:13-15. God does not give evil / sinful desires (1:13). Homosexual desires are a perversion of natural, God-given, sexual desires that are only to be acted on in a man-woman marriage (sex is a wedding gift!). No one is "tempted" with homosexual desires unless a normal sexual desire has already changed categories from normal to abnormal (i.e. sinful).

Jas1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Jas4:1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Look up "pleasures," "lust," and "envious" - they are essentially synonyms and are very, very strong words for strong desires.

God bless,
Bill