Christianity Oasis Forum

[vahn]

"How can one NOT sin ? " is the question tossed at me last night , that ended up in sorta lengthy conversation , which, in turn, gave me an idea of using it as a theme in the study . And, taking into account the responses of my last post and one of them being "study before the study" another light bulb came on , so , "How about making it a COOLie study" before a retreat study ? Hmmm !?!?!

So, here I am , "study"ing OK ?

Here's what happened . After a lengthy "negotiations" (2 wks) with the brass convincing them about the spiritual nature of the AA program , I finally got the green light to use the van for that purpose . So, last night I loaded all interested in it and off to a meeting .
One lady there who picked up a white (newbie) chip the same day I did , happened to be there , and this lady has a habit of putting on her "magnetic" attire on Fri & Sat. eve mtgs. Ok , nothing "wrong" yet , although one (like me, I suppose) cant help but "admiring" the "style" right ? Ok, I know the thoughts that "might" be going through everyone's mind that's reading this , and except with a "tiny" truth, my mind did drift off from the speaker OK ? but I caught it and that would've been the end of it . But Nooo !
After the meeting , we hung (the guys that is) around for fellowship, and catchin-up for I hadnt seen these guys for well over two years , and of course, I have to hear Miss Magnet's hey vahn !! right ? Hugs-how-are-you-long-see-no-time later , on the way back , from the back of the van I hear the-all-familiar-voice of "Tick" in rapid fire , how long you've known her , I saw the way she's looking at you ...yada yada yada , you get the pic.
This morn. , casual chat with another res. I was asked that question , on the supposition that that was what went on last night , more in the van than the meeting , I told him that because it is our nature to be sinful that's why we think sinfully even it is the other person that is acting as such . It was his way of thinking that made me the guilty party , so to speak . Reminding him what Job did upon finding out about his sons' & daughters' "partying" he only THOUGHT that they MAY have sinned , and went to make atonements for their actions , which, I told him , is what made him righteous in God's eyes.
Now that's one topic , among Matt . "Even looking at a woman" , or , Ex. thou shalt not covet , and also the one that's been egging at me and I think I will use that as well , soon as I find out where it is ,that is , is the one that says "even if your actions cause your brother to sin , you are accountable for his sin " YIKES !!

Just thoughts going through my head right now , and Wed. is not today either . But I dont share , you dont know , you dont know you cant help , you dont help I dont learn , so , cough it up !!

If it wasn't for sin there would be no need for repentance , no repentance , my Lord died in vain , and that would be my ultimate SIN .

[comfy]

Can we be held accountable for causing someone else to sin? Two scriptures I have are >

"Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way." (Romans 14:13)

"It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak." (Romans 14:21)

There may be another that is more to the point. But we do need to be good examples to encourage others >
"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

The best defense is a good offense (o: > good example, so we are busy with how to love, instead of fighting off temptation so much.

[comfy]

"How can one NOT sin ? "

Well, I still give in, in my mind.

"Confess your trespasses to one another,
and pray for one another,
that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer
of a righteous man avails much."
(James 5:16)

So, we can pray for God to *heal* us of whatever makes us able to sin.
And be "healed" together with God in His love which makes us
so we do not sin. In God's love, this is easy . . . more and MORE
as we grow in God's love.

A kid can easily get a sickness he or she has never had before.
But the the body detects that germ and develops immunity against it.
And, the next time that little bug attacks, the body has
immunity more ready-to-go against the disease germ.
And after a couple of times of the sickness, that little critter
can get to wishing it had never gotten started with the kiddo.

Like this, as God's children . . . we grow in grace and the
immunity almighty of God's love > those sin-sicknesses
can have a harder and harder time with us.
Even my paranoid stuff that ones would say is just
a medical issue > I see how I can be unloving about ones
I imagine to be against me; so this is NOT just a medical problem,
if I can become unloving and be cursing people with my suspicion,
instead of blessing them. And as I deal with how I am relating
with people in my imagination, this helps cancel out the paranoia.

And with women . . . if I use a female for an imagination >
this USING is NOT loving her and caring about her.
It helps me to realize that God wants me to LOVE a woman,
NOT just USE her.

And I'm finding there is a major difference between being
attracted by a woman, versus being satisfied in love
sensitive and beautifully pure and relating with her in love >
"submitting to one another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5:21)
If attraction does not call attention to God, this is all you need to know.