cheating on God...

LeoSalinas22 · 05-09-2007, 07:03 PM

i don't know if this has been done before but i'll go ahead and start this thread. my question upon starting this thread is if things like playing videogames, watching movies, "erotic self-pleasure", reading other forms of works like comic books or novels, or listening to music, etc. would offend God because they are a form of idolotry. let me use an example, batman, spiderman, mickey mouse, etc. they seem harmless. having statues of them or posters of them is harmless and doesn't hurt anyone and some look to these "examples" as a form of guidance or answers. but how different is it from statues of virgin mary or greek gods or that big ass statue in egypt of the half man half lion? also, for example, people can read novels like war and peace or lord of the rings but can't finish the bible? or another example, working out. isn't that worshiping the self? i could go on and on, but i won't. i ask this because i compare doing these things to like praying to statues or pictures or offering sacrifices to pagan gods. i mean the above mentioned "hobbies" seem harmless, right? we aren't hurting anyone, right? no one dies, no one gets offended, so its ok! to top it off, they would be worse because we actually put our emotions into it! we curse video games because we lose to them or we cry at a certain movie because it moved us more than Gods Words. but i can't help but think that God is like the Husband and we are like the wife. from my experience, if my wife isn't paying attention to me then that bothers me. even if she would rather watch one of her mexican soaps instead of hang out with me.lol. she isn't hurting anyone, but i want her to be with me. i would imagine that God sees us the same way. He wants us to always be with Him and be faithful to Him. am i overreacting? should i just "chill" and continue to do all these things without considering His feelings? i hope i don't sound "preachy". it isn't my intent. i hope to read all responses very soon since to me it is a very interesting and important subject.

Faithfulservant · 05-09-2007, 07:27 PM

"Be still and know that I am God" comes to mind.

and this one seems to be my scripture for the day..lol

"Therefore there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus"

This might sound preachy but I remember feeling like that and if I can help you please take my words.

From my Christian perspective.

You are a new creation in Christ.. read your bible and pray and thats how you grow. Dont let satan defeat you with guilt and self condemnation.

Dont you know that satan stands before the throne of God and accuses us constantly ... and do you know that Christ died and was victorious! When He said "It is finished" He meant it

satan would like nothing better than to make you feel like you arent good enough.. When the blood of Christ washed you clean you now stand spotless before the throne of grace.

Your carnal wretched man is asleep and know that he will wake up from time to time and you with the guidance of God will figure out how to keep him down until then rest in Him and remember it is HE who strengthens you. It is nothing that YOU do.

Dondi · 05-09-2007, 08:19 PM

"All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." - I Corinthians 6:12

I think this is key. But I think it comes down to personal convictions. Some things are blatently obvious as sin, but there are a lot of grey areas, and in those instances we are going to have to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us.

I'll give you an example. Remember when Jesus taught on adultery in Matthew 5:

"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." - Matthew 5:27-28

Now some will claim that this teaches that "erotic self-pleasure" is sin, because how can we get pleasure without lusting in the heart. But some would interpret this passage in the stricted sense of the law. The law in Levitucus 20:10 says: "And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death."
Here adultery is defined as a man committing unlawful fornication outside the bounds of marriage with someone that someone else's wife. Therefore to look at another woman with lust who is not your wife is the same as committing adultery with that woman in your heart. So some will even take this to mean this only applies to men, since Jesus didn't specify anything concerning a woman who lusts after a married man in these passage.

But that would be absurd, wouldn't it. So what one has to do if get the intent of the passage. And that is where the leading of the Holy Spirit comes in. What the letter of the law doesn't do, the Spirit does, for Jesus said, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." - John 16:13

niranjan · 05-09-2007, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeoSalinas22

i don't know if this has been done before but i'll go ahead and start this thread. my question upon starting this thread is if things like playing videogames, watching movies, "erotic self-pleasure", reading other forms of works like comic books or novels, or listening to music, etc. would offend God because they are a form of idolotry. let me use an example, batman, spiderman, mickey mouse, etc. they seem harmless. having statues of them or posters of them is harmless and doesn't hurt anyone and some look to these "examples" as a form of guidance or answers. but how different is it from statues of virgin mary or greek gods or that big ass statue in egypt of the half man half lion? also, for example, people can read novels like war and peace or lord of the rings but can't finish the bible? or another example, working out. isn't that worshiping the self? i could go on and on, but i won't. i ask this because i compare doing these things to like praying to statues or pictures or offering sacrifices to pagan gods. i mean the above mentioned "hobbies" seem harmless, right? we aren't hurting anyone, right? no one dies, no one gets offended, so its ok! to top it off, they would be worse because we actually put our emotions into it! we curse video games because we lose to them or we cry at a certain movie because it moved us more than Gods Words. but i can't help but think that God is like the Husband and we are like the wife. from my experience, if my wife isn't paying attention to me then that bothers me. even if she would rather watch one of her mexican soaps instead of hang out with me.lol. she isn't hurting anyone, but i want her to be with me. i would imagine that God sees us the same way. He wants us to always be with Him and be faithful to Him. am i overreacting? should i just "chill" and continue to do all these things without considering His feelings? i hope i don't sound "preachy". it isn't my intent. i hope to read all responses very soon since to me it is a very interesting and important subject.

I like Batman a lot. Spideys good, but not as good as batman.

dauer · 05-09-2007, 08:30 PM

Why can't God be present in the works of comic books, in masturbation, in music, in video games?

My girlfriend and I sometimes do things that aren't just devoted to each other, but have other focuses as well. But if we're spending that time together, it's meaningful for us and good bonding time. So what's the problem if it's not harming anyone and you make God a part of it?

Dauer

wil · 05-09-2007, 08:56 PM

I don't think you can ever cheat on G-d.

Anytime we think we are cheating G-d, we are simply cheating ourselves.

Make a bull outta gold...it doesn't affect G-d.

Drink to excess, rape pillage, and plunder...it is we that is harmed now and harmed in the end by our actions...G-d is.

dauer · 05-09-2007, 10:03 PM

Wil,

if we are harming ourselves and each other, maybe that's by extension doing harm to God. In the Jewish tradition man is spoken of as b'tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. It seems reasonable to suggest that harming another or ourselves is tantamount to defacing God's image. And if as Judaism understands it tzelem does not refer to physical resemblance, then perhaps even destructive words are doing that same harm. It's the only image of God that my tradition avoids calling an idol, the ever-changing, each-unique human form.

--Dauer

wil · 05-09-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dauer

if we are harming ourselves and each other, maybe that's by extension doing harm to God.

Namaste Dauer,

I hear that...and understand where you are coming from and have a tendency to agree...but if I do...and carry it forward then the harm I am doing is to myself after me, after G-d, back to me...yes?

dauer · 05-09-2007, 10:53 PM

Wil,

I don't really follow your example.

Dauer

wil · 05-10-2007, 04:01 AM

If we the image of G-d, if we are expressions of G-d in this realm, would not our acting less than divine affect that image...

17th Angel · 05-10-2007, 10:38 AM

*sniff sniff*

Smells to much JW for my liking.. These are things that are there to make life that much more enjoyable, and worth living. I play games watch DVD's like a religion... There is -no- harm at all in that in my opinion... Either way we can't prove that it is bad or good in a spiritual way... But seeing as I don't believe in a spiritual world I guess that I don't really have to prove a thing. In all honesty if you took technology away from myself... I would have to take soldiering back up, with out movies and such, that would prevent me killing myself.

And If you ask "well what if you never had movies or games?" That question has an obvious answer.....

Games improve hand eye coordination, reactions, mental ability and health, make team work, improve problem solving, create a community where people gather to share in an experience that they enjoy.... So yes they help with social skills.... Also as technology goes on... You are also learning computer skills.... Even computer engineering... You know what parts improve game performance and you learn to install them... Trust me, if you are that much into games... You learn this quick. I kick arse at computer networking/engineering and maintenance... programing and scripting... ALL because of games.

Also "cheating" is an interesting word to use.... If I have sexual relations and a realtionship with my wife... I'm not cheating on your wife am I? Because she isn't my wife.... Same goes for your god.

Faithfulservant · 05-10-2007, 03:41 PM

Its still considered fornication.. in both instances.. It doesnt necessarily mean having sex..

17th Angel · 05-10-2007, 03:44 PM

What of sports? I score a point for my team... I am not cheating on the other team... Cause I am not on their team.... ;/

Faithfulservant · 05-10-2007, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 17th Angel

What of sports? I score a point for my team... I am not cheating on the other team... Cause I am not on their team.... ;/

depends on how you look at it.

If your on your team and you score a point for the other team... you hurt your team.

17th Angel · 05-10-2007, 04:22 PM

But I am not scoring a point for their team... I'm scoring for my team. ;/ I am not cheating on the other team... If I did... However highly unlikley put in an owngoal... I certainly wouldn't have done it on purpose so that isn't cheating.