bobinfaith "thoughts of a beautiful woman,
undressing her in my thought" I have been thinking of this comment, since I read it this afternoon. If this is meant to be taken literally, I don't think I have ever done that. First of all, I live in south Florida, so there really is no need to undress anyone. I attend a "come as you are" church which, in south Florida, means skin tight jeans, shorts, dresses, exposed stomachs, and cleavages that starts around the belt-line. Do I look? Well, yes, I am a guy. Do I lust? Not really, as the sex part really isn't the reason I look. I think women add beauty to the planet and are pleasant to look at. I think this because I am a heterosexual with a pulse. I do not see this as a sin, because it is what it is. It is possible to admire a clever advertisement about McDonald's and not actually be hungry for a cheeseburger.
Now, roll the clock back 20 years (well, 30, since I've been married that long), the answer to the lust thing would be different. As you know, I do the voluntary security thing on Sundays, so I am there from 8 to 2. There have been occasions when several of us will see someone. We usually look at ourselves, shake our heads, and someone will say something like "man, going to hell for that one." It gets a laugh and we move on.
As for thoughts of anger and violence, can't say I have done that. Do people make me angry? Yes, I am angry at someone right now. Will I lay in bed and dream of doing a "Negan" on that person, no I will probably just think if I could have done more to help her not be in the place she is now and hope she finds her way in her next career choice.
Now, there have been times (lesser as I get older) where I have had some very graphic dreams of physical encounters. All but one that I can recall was about someone I once knew in thy way, but was not thinking about as I fell to sleep. Not sure I know what to call that, as I have no control over it. That "one" was about someone I have known most of my life , have never had that type of relationship with, and really never thought of that way. Well, I take it back, I did think she looked hot in a bikini, but we are talking back when we were 15 or 16. I have no idea where that dream came from and it actually woke me up. So, I am just not sure that something we "think" about in that context can be considered a sin, as I believe that a sin requires some level of knowledge and intent.
So that can lead to two sub-questions. Can you be totally Christian in your dreams? Is it possible to look at a woman (man, for anyone reading this that is a sister), appreciate her/his beauty, and it not be a sin?
Rtm