So this is my first blog and consequently my first blog post. I typically wouldn't be interested in this sort of thing, but I've been in a weird mood lately; and on top of being extremely bored this seemed like a fantastic idea. I will spare the generalities of the typical 'this is my first blog post' and get into what is on my mind.
I recently attended a bible study at the church and with the class I am a part of. The topic of focus was our thoughts. These are my thoughts on thoughts and how they relate to sin. I do believe some sin originates with our thoughts. ie. the sins of lust, adultery, fornication, and porn might have began as a thought, 'that girl has nice legs' or 'I'd like to see him with his shirt off'. Obviously these world viewed more serious infractions could have been controlled at the initial thought process. So, with just this one example I think we can agree that a number of sins are formed and can be controlled at their formation in our minds. Also, the point was made that God cares about our actions more than thoughts. So if we can stop it at the thought process, is it really a sin? My opinion is yes. The bible says as a man thinks in his heart so is he. So a sinful thought is a sin the same as the action would be. I feel like this is pretty clear throughout the Bible without much need for explanation. But, this doesn't satisfy my thirst. A taste of milk almost always makes me hungry for some meat and potatoes.
What about those actions that don't start with a thought. What about the reaction you have when someone cuts you off on the interstate? Did you really have time for a thought process to occur before you punched your steering wheel and called him a lover of his mother? No. So where do the un-premeditated sins originate; The sins that can't be stopped consciously at the mental level because they bypass this process all together?
They start with with the heart. I define the heart as our innate being. What we are at our core.
My favorite verse of scripture (at the moment, as it changes seasonally) is John 15:15
“I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me, and I in him,
bears much fruit; for without Me
you can do nothing.”
This whole concept of 'abiding' is relatively new to me, as in the last two or so years. Abiding in Christ is an action of the heart. When I think of abiding I think of seeking the very face, the very presence, the awesome nature of our Creator. Hopefully as we do this and mature in our faith, we realize that all this work of seeking is to make us realize we are nothing without Him. Once we humble ourselves to this servant-hood of our Master, we are now able to abide. Once we are abiding, He, as promised is abiding in us. In my mind this is the point where the heart (our very core) is changed. We are now tuned into the same channel as Christ. Our heart breaks when His breaks, we feel his Spirit guiding our every motion, and our innate being has been transformed.
So what is the solution for controlling the the uncontrollable sin in our life. The solution is we can't, but He can. We must start at the source of the thought. The very synapse that begins the thought process must be rewired from our heavenly power source. The all powerful source of the universe.
