Question:
I had a question about when thinking about sin is a sin. I think I am being too hard on myself, but I am not sure. I thought about sending nudity to someone. I know we are supposed to reject the thought immediately, but I dwelled on it. I thought well maybe that’s what this person wants. However, I have made a commitment to not participate in this type of behavior. I am 100% not going through with that thought.
Do you think this crosses into sin? I thought it was more of a temptation, but I want to make sure.
Answer:
You were tempted to sin, but on consideration, you decided it wasn’t right. That was the proper thing to do.
As explained in Is seeing other boys in the nude all right? nudity is to be considered embarrassing or shameful. Nakedness can’t always be avoided. It doesn’t become sinful unless it is done for sexual pleasure or voyeurism. “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness!” (Habakkuk 2:15). Sending people nude pictures can be considered a form of pornography, especially when done for entertainment. It doesn’t matter whether someone wants to see nude images or not. That doesn’t determine whether something is right or wrong.
You made the right choice. Stop looking for ways to condemn yourself.