To be a real Christian X

October 8, 7:01 AMAtlanta Protestant ExaminerRonald Thibeault

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Let’s kick it up a notch!"  Chef Emeril Lagasse would say. In discussing one of the Ten commandments, Jesus seems to be saying just that. You know it says "Do not commit adultery, ‘BUT’ Let’s kick it up a notch! Do not even think about it! Do not fantasize or visualize! Don’t entertain such thoughts! Get that out of your mind! ‘Bam!!"

Keeping your mind pure is a difficult task for even the best of us. Lest you have in your mind this is only a male thing, "Think again!" Women have problems with impure thoughts too. Many of us would not commit the physical act of adultery. But, many of us would not hesitate to take a look at certain parts of the opposite gender’s anatomy more than appreciatively.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." Matthew 5:27-30

In 1986, the Attorney General’s report on pornography reported several negative effects. Among the detrimental effects was the fact that pornography undermines and reduces the status of women to objects, not persons, for the use by men for sexual gratification.

So how does one deal with the issue of lustful thoughts. Though Jesus sounds extreme, his idea is not far off. Remove the temptation. Take down the dirty pictures. Don’t buy pornography. If watching gymnastics bothers you, don’t do that. Do not feed your lustful thoughts. Instead fill your mind with whatever is righteous and pure. By removing the temptation and replacing it with righteous habits you will be more successful in overcoming impure thoughts.