Masturbation

I know it is clear in the Bible that all sexual immorality is wrong and sinful. I also know that masturbation is an act that only promotes sexually immoral thought. But recently there has been a lot of research over masturbation, and it has many supposed health benefits for men and women who masturbate. I was wondering if these claims were true to be scientific fact. If they are, why would God refrain us from something that would be beneficial to our health? If they are not true, are these health professionals claiming a simple correlation rather than a hard fact? Are the health benefits of masturbation minimal?

In the past the catalogue of ills attributed to masturbation is huge. They were obviously so crazy and we laugh at them now. Issues with masturbation reflect unease with human sexuality more than anything else.

John
NZ

Masturbation in itself is not a sin. In the Bible, it is never referred to as a sin, and it does not necessarily go hand-in-hand with lust - it's certainly possible to masturbate without lusting after other people.

but for most people it would be hard to not lust without masturbation...it is as if the two were hand in hand

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That depends on what you see as lust. For too many Christians it can mean virtually anything even vaguely sexually arousing, thereby causing them to struggle against their natural human sexuality. That can become a tragic internal civil war.

John
NZ

Yes I do understand what you're talking about. I have studied the benefits to masturbation and sex in general. I used to be a biology major and was very interested in Immunology. I have found out that having an orgasm will make your brain secrete endorphins. This hormone will help stimulate your white blood cells. So it could help you get better when you get sick from an infection. Also it helps the male prostate in reducing the risks of cancer in the prostate. For women, it helps relieve menstrual cramps. It relives stress also.

Also, you could research it yourself. It would be best to go on webmd or better yet to look at real scientific research go to google scholar or any reliable research site to find out more information.

It's absolutely impossible for me to masturbate without lust...so...I don't.

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I think the CHristian community has dumbed down the idea of lust so that any sexual feelings or any sexual arousal gets slammed with the "LUST!" lable, and that is very misleading and creates a great deal of guilt where there need not be any.

Brother, "You are what your mind thinks. You are what your thoughts are". I recently attended a motivation seminar, and this was the caption. The motivator claims that we make up certain chemistry reaction within our bodies at the thought of something. Believe it? Yes, it does. If we think or focus on food, just when our tummy is empty, we shall be hungry, and the food we thought we should have, often at times, we have it. Almost always its what we're thinking of that is being evolved. This is human and God created us with such chemistry!

Its the mind that is being driven by Satan today to make mankind thing it is perfectly "NORMAL" and safe to do anything that is "lighter sin" such as masturbation. Perhaps by talking about it now, we can imagine there is no such thing as "lighter sin" and "heavier sin". A sin is a sin. Aren't we all bound to it unless we decide to break free?

I am in no position to judge you either. We are all weak in flesh. But we cannot afford to allow Satan to gain credit in devouring our minds. Satan can use technology to spread porn via MANKIND's brains and skills. So how much smarter is the ancient serpent to use mankind's Scientists to proclaim masturbation as good for health. They have created so much Rx medication that have side effects and yet we, consume them just because we believe in their "SCIENTIST" position.

I have seen many friends spend thousands of dollars for surgeries today. Not all doctors are genuine, as mostly are reaping money from the patients even for a small problem with health. Its the era where professionals are being used to trick us into believing stuff. Its psychology, brother. If we claim a normal somebody said such and such, we will take it ever so lightly. But if the same thing is said by a somebody as a scientist or in the professional area, we will make a big statement of it to consider it good and appropriate.

ITs up to your judgemental mind in deciding if there is guilt conscious when you masturbate or not. There will be some voice speaking to you when you really want to deeply ponder on something.

Think for yourself, Brother and ponder upon your thoughts.

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Two works to consider, http://www.christianforums.com/t7410522/

Richard Baxter offers excellent advice against lust, in all it's sneaky forms, in his massive work on practical theology titled, "The Christian Directory."

A few directions for dealing with lust:

Direct. IX. Look always on sin as one that is ready to die, and consider how all men judge of it at the last.—What do men in heaven say of it? And what do men in hell say of it? And what do men at death say of it? And what do converted souls, or awakened consciences, say of it? Is it then followed with delight and fearlessness as it is now? Is it then applauded? Will any of them speak well of it? Nay, all the world speaks evil of sin in the general now, even when they love and commit the several acts. Will you sin when you are dying?

Direct. X. Look always on sin and judgment together.—Remember that you must answer for it before God, and angels, and all the world; and you will the better know it.

Direct. XI. Look now but upon sickness, poverty, shame, despair, death, and rottenness in the grave, and it may a little help you to know what sin is. These are things within your sight or feeling; you need not faith to tell you of them. And by such effects you might have some little knowledge of the cause.

Direct. XII. Look but upon some eminent, holy persons upon earth, and upon the mad, profane, malignant world; and the difference may tell you in part what sin is.—Is there not an amiableness in a holy, blameless person, that lives in love to God and man, and in the joyful hopes of life eternal? Is not a beastly drunkard or whoremonger, and a raging swearer, and a malicious persecutor, a very deformed, loathsome creature? Is not the mad, confused, ignorant, ungodly state of the world a very pitiful sight? What then is the sin that all this consists in?

Though the principal part of the cure is in turning the will to the hatred of sin, and is done by this discovery of its malignity; yet I shall add a few more directions for the executive part, supposing that what is said already has had its effect.

http://www.puritansermons.com/baxter/baxter16.htm

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“Were it not that God had chosen some, Heaven would have none!" Elder D.J. Ward