Is a crush considered lust?

[ForJesusChrist]

Just a simple question, is a crush considered lust?

Thanks and God Bless

 

[WithLoveFromAlyssa]

Just a simple question, is a crush considered lust?

Thanks and God Bless

Im wondering if you Got this question from the modesty topic.
Im interested in what others say....

I personally think it depends.

 

[Neogaia777]

Just a simple question, is a crush considered lust?

Thanks and God Bless

I think it is lust most of the time, cause it's usually something we do when were starting out very young and first learning thing about sexuality, or in our teenage years when most of the focus of attractiveness is based on just another physical outward appearance alone (which is lust)

But I think for an adult, (or a child to even, really) or someone who is experienced in love can develop a crush based on a person's inside (inward) traits, instead of just the outside appearance, but is a crush based on even the inner insides of who a person is leads you to lust for them still a crush and isn't it still lust?

We have to remember that not all lust in the form of sexual desire anyway is a bad thing, it is meant to draw two people together, whether you base it on a person's insides or outsides, but this is why in ancient time when two people (a man and a woman) met each other for the first time and sparks flew for both of them...

"Marriage" happened pretty quickly there afterward, (in ancient times) so that their lust for each other leading to them having sex and producing children could be sealed just between those two, with a lifelong pact...

Your supposed to always save or reserve your lust for your wife or your husband though and not be sharing it with anybody else, for the rest of your days.

In fact marriage was instituted due to prevalence of fornication (lust, the desire to have sex with a man or woman) as Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 7:1-6...

That's my opinion anyways, in Jesus Christ's Holy name, God Bless!

 

[JGiddings]

Nope. It is attraction and that doesn't mean the dirty kind.

Let us not read too much into the subject.

 

[Neogaia777]

Nope. It is attraction and that doesn't mean the dirty kind.

Let us not read too much into the subject.

That depends if you think that the definition of lust is not that much different from desire or attraction or not, or whether or not you think all lust is/has to be dirty or bad or not...

God bless!

 

[JGiddings]

That depends if you think that the definition of lust is not that much different from desire or attraction or not, or whether or not you think all lust is/has to be dirty or bad or not...

God bless!

HUGE difference.
Lust is a strong feeling sexual desire. It is a sexual sin.
Crush is having to do with a person thinking that another is cute, or sweet, or interesting and it affects the heart and mind, and it's harmless, I believe it's a part of growing up. Unless it turns into stalking but that's a different subject.

Just my opinion.

 

[Neogaia777]

HUGE difference.
Lust is a strong feeling sexual desire. It is a sexual sin.
Crush is having to do with a person thinking that another is cute, or sweet, or interesting and it affects the heart and mind, and it's harmless, I believe it's a part of growing up. Unless it turns into stalking but that's a different subject.

Just my opinion.

Now I don't know if the old original Greek or Hebrew word translated "lust" was meant to include sexual desire only, but our modern day definition of the word lust, does not just mean sexual desire or sin, today's modern day definition of lust is:

Lust is an emotion or feeling of intense desire in the body. The lust can take any form such as the lust for knowledge, the lust for sex or the lust for power. It can take such mundane forms as the lust for food as distinct from the need for food. Lust is a powerful psychological force producing intense wanting for an object, or circumstance fulfilling the emotion.[1]

So you can see that our modern day understanding of the word lust may be different from the old understanding of lust, never mind, I'm wrong, they (in ancient times) defined it the same way as well, here's the info:

In English-speaking countries, the term "lust" is often associated with sexual desire, probably because of this verse. But just as the English word was originally a general term for desire, the Greek word ἐπιθυμέω was also a general term for desire. The LSJ lexicon suggests "set one's heart upon a thing, long for, covet, desire" as glosses for ἐπιθυμέω, which is used in verses that clearly have nothing to do with sexual desire. In the Septuagint, ἐπιθυμέω is the word used in the commandment to not covet:

I would say that the words desire and attraction can both be found under the words "Love" and "lust", lust is a desire of the flesh, and Love is a desire of the spirit, in my opinion, However in my opinion the desire/purposes sought out behind the desire of a thing matters...

"lust" seeks to dominate, control, conquer, possess a thing, and can be rather forceful, where as love subdues, is meek, mild, gentle, and humble and seeks to release, or set free (another person's spirit, to allow them the freedom to be, whomever they were meant to be and love them through it)

This is really a very difficult subject and I believe I have reached the limitations on my thoughts opinions about it, so I'm going to let others have the floor now, maybe they can elaborate or explain better or help...

In Jesus Christ's Holy name, God Bless!

 

[14messenger]

Just a simple question, is a crush considered lust?

Thanks and God Bless

If its wicked, its lust.

Consider your thoughts. Do they line up with God or for wicked things...

 

[JGiddings]

There is no doubt whatsoever that lust is wrong and is equated in God’s eyes with adultery since God looks at the heart. Matthew 5:27-28 says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Lust is an illicit desire and appetite that is indulged as one looks at another person selfishly and with covetousness, ie sexual.
Remember we cannot add to it the modern definition, ie lust for knowledge, etc.
Lust is a sin, and it's directly related to the Exodus 20:17.

 

[turned around]

Hi ForJesus,
Come on a simple crush. Why are we so sin conscious?

Grace to you.

 

[14messenger]

Why are we so sin conscious?

Let me pray.
Lord, let all sin be revealed, until your own are blameless.
May your convicting Spirit, convict us and set us on the straight path, far from those that choose to ignore it.
Amen.

 

[PersephonesTear]

Just a simple question, is a crush considered lust?

Thanks and God Bless

I would say no, not at all the same thing.

 

[turned around]

Hi Messenger,
This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel, and Judah. There sins and iniquities I will remember no more.

Grace to you.

 

[14messenger]

Hi Messenger,
This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel, and Judah. There sins and iniquities I will remember no more.

Grace to you.

Amen. May we reject all of those sins that attempted to damn. Let us be the Lords, for His will alone.

 

[goxfiles]

I think it is lust most of the time, cause it's usually something we do when were starting out very young and first learning thing about sexuality, or in our teenage years when most of the focus of attractiveness is based on just another physical outward appearance alone (which is lust)

But I think for an adult, (or a child to even, really) or someone who is experienced in love can develop a crush based on a person's inside (inward) traits, instead of just the outside appearance, but is a crush based on even the inner insides of who a person is leads you to lust for them still a crush and isn't it still lust?

I'd have to agree with your first point. I think that for many young people (certainly not necessarily all, but many) their crush is usually a manifestation of their sexual desires. Think about it. Who are the girls that always seem to get guys to have a crush on them - the "hot" ones, or the fair ones? I think we all know the answer there. Those of you that are teens like me will get what I'm talking about.

I think that - and you all can feel free to disagree with me - the concept of having a crush primarily occurs during the teenage years when you're developing sexually, and part of this urge I think goes away to a certain extent in most people. Sure, 30 year old office workers can be attracted to a woman, but I don't think that the word they'd use is "crush". But I'm not 30, so maybe I'm wrong.

I see lots of kids chasing girls around in my school and it's mostly about appearances. Since appearances can trigger desire, which is lust in my eyes, I think that yes, in the teenage sense it is totally, 100% lustfull to have a crush.

 

[Omena]

I decided to go ahead and look up the definition for "crush". My dictionary defines it as "a brief but intense infatuation with someone..."

Infatuation is usually equated with sexual or romantic desire, but it could also be used to describe a case where someone is very interested or inspired by a person (even on an intellectual level). So I don't really think a crush is what Jesus was trying to steer us away from when he talked about not lusting after a woman. My understanding is that Jesus was telling us not to look at a woman as a sexual object and fantasize about her. But even that is a bit of a grey area, and we can't deny our attraction to the opposite sex. It's built into our nature, and (as was mentioned somewhere else on this thread), it's used to draw two people together in marriage.

I think maybe even some fantasizing is okay (i.e. nothing to feel condemned over), but that ideally we should be striving to see the opposite sex as a sister/brother in Christ, and not as someone just to have sex with. It's a tricky area and I don't think any of us can find the perfect balance, but in answer to the OP's question, I feel a crush and lust are two different things.

 

[goxfiles]

Infatuation is usually equated with sexual or romantic desire, but it could also be used to describe a case where someone is very interested or inspired by a person (even on an intellectual level). So I don't really think a crush is what Jesus was trying to steer us away from when he talked about not lusting after a woman. My understanding is that Jesus was telling us not to look at a woman as a sexual object and fantasize about her. But even that is a bit of a grey area, and we can't deny our attraction to the opposite sex. It's built into our nature, and (as was mentioned somewhere else on this thread), it's used to draw two people together in marriage.

My dictionary defines infatuation as: "an intense but short passion or admiration for someone for something". So you're right on that part - if it's an intellectual attraction, then it's fine, as it's not inherently bad. But if it's based on how the girl (or the guy) looks, or whether or not they're "sexy", which I think is the crux of most teenage crushes, then it is lust in my opinion.

In my personal life, of many kids that I know that have crushes, I'm sure at least the girl's looks play into 90% of them. It may be about way more than that, in fact it may be intellectual, but if looks plays into it at all, then it's lust unless you intend to marry her. That's my honest opinion coming from someone who hasn't and isn't interested in dating, so maybe my views will change later in life, but that's how I feel about it right now.

 

[Omena]

That's fair enough goxfiles, and good on ya for choosing to stay single, that's something I would have had a very hard time doing at your age! You may find as you get older though, that your view does change, so it's nice to hear that you're open to that.

It wasn't long ago that I was struggling with condemnation over looking at women sexually, but then after discussing it and praying about it, I found (at least for me personally), that there was a bit of a middle ground. I don't think I need to feel guilty about finding a woman attractive, at the same time I should try not to let sexual feelings toward her drive my thoughts or distract me from what I should be doing for God. I think God just wants honesty, so if I see a beautiful woman, rather than pretending I'm not attracted (which could possibly lead to other emotional/mental problems), I can just admit it to God and maybe even thank him for making such a beautiful human

 

[goxfiles]

That's fair enough goxfiles, and good on ya for choosing to stay single, that's something I would have had a very hard time doing at your age! You may find as you get older though, that your view does change, so it's nice to hear that you're open to that.

It wasn't long ago that I was struggling with condemnation over looking at women sexually, but then after discussing it and praying about it, I found (at least for me personally), that there was a bit of a middle ground. I don't think I need to feel guilty about finding a woman attractive, at the same time I should try not to let sexual feelings toward her drive my thoughts or distract me from what I should be doing for God. I think God just wants honesty, so if I see a beautiful woman, rather than pretending I'm not attracted (which could possibly lead to other emotional/mental problems), I can just admit it to God and maybe even thank him for making such a beautiful human

Thanks for your comments. To clarify, I don't think it's bad to think of someone as attractive, but I do think it is not good to persue a relationship with them based on looks - I consider that lust, not to mention that it is unfair, because there are so many other teenage girls and women out there who probably would like to be with someone but aren't because of competition with the really "hot" crowd, not to mention libido-enfused teenage males.

If you're going to date someone, I believe you should date them because they're a good person, nice, have similar interests to you, etc, and just view their looks as a small bonus that you weren't searching for.

 

[OGM]

Do you believe in dating someone you have no physical attraction to?