Is masturbation a sin?

[Izdaari Eristikon]

I struggle with this also. I absolutely believe that using pornography to touch is a sin because we know God hates pornography. That being said, I cannot believe that masturbation in itself is a sin. There are many single men and it has been scientifically proven that a man's health is improved by an occasional sexual release. There is really nothing in the Bible to say that it is a sin. The one verse that is used in the Old Testament is taken out of context and used on the sin side.

Now that I have joined in, let me tell you my problem. I have a condition called Prostitis which prevents me from having normal sex with my wife. My only release is through masturbation. My wife has become uninterested in sex all together so the only way I can get a release is to look at either pornography or pictures that have been drawn. I have concluded that if I used the drawn pictures that it's OK because that is not a real woman. Any comments?

And of course it isn't only men who touch. Statistically, 92% of men do, but 62% of women do (Kinsey). This is not just a male concern.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

So far cimbk, you're the one failing at this thread... why?

Because in multiple posts I have explicitly told you that the burden of proof is on you guys to prove that masturbation is a sin, according to the scriptures... thus far, you haven't proven anything other than your petty assertions...

Now stop goofing off and start proving it, or get out.

IMO, Charles Spurgeon wins this thread. No one has yet made a very strong case for it being a sin.

 

[MrJG]

I will go back to my original statement.

A person cannot be aroused unless there is something causing it. Touching yourself might get you there, but it won't make you reach a climax. Therefore, you have to think about something explicit. If that is not your spouse, then it is sin because you are lusting in your mind.

If you are married, then it might not be sin, but it is taking away from your spouse.

 

[Agentle]

If lust is the main driving force for MB then I think it would be sin.
But then what of those who have wet dreams? Did they sin in their sleep?
Cheers

 

[Colleen1]

my guess is, you will never be able to stop this addictive sexual behavior because you don't see it as sin, If its not a sin, there's no reason to stop.

This is much the way many of the churches are dealing with homosexuality, calling it not a sin, and those bound with it never get free.........personally I think masturbation is a form of homosexuality,

especially since you don't have sexual thoughts of females during your playing with yourself. your manipulating the male sex organ to a point of [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse], this is exactly what homosexuals do...........

good luck with that on judgement day, there is a way to be completely free from that, and if the king of masturbation (ME!) can be totally free from that for years, then anyone can get free. but there isn't much hope if you don't see it as sin

No, that's a very unaware statement to be making. If it were so, then the vast majority of people would be gay. Just not so.

 

[Memukan]

The vile practices of the heathen temples were nasty, sodomy, touching yourself, sex with animals.

Marriage is HOLY, the marriage bed is HOLY, your spouse is holy.

 

[TheCharismaticOne]

I don't believe it's a sin as long as you are not giving in with sexual thoughts.

If you are giving into sexual thoughts, then it's a sin.

This was what I was going to post.

 

[MrJG]

Please explain to me how one can do this without sexual thoughts.

It can't be done. We can not cause ourselves arousal and climax without sexual thoughts.

 

[tangled]

If you feel it's a sin while you're doing it then it's a sin; don't do it.

 

[Memukan]

This was what I was going to post.

I guess it depends on what your definition of sex is. Sound familiar ?


Memukan

 

[mantelofaprophet]

For the grace of God that brings salvation. It teaches us to say NO to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

 

[Willy21]

This is a subject that I don't like to share, but if I wish to ovecome my sins, I need to. It has been said that confession is good for the soul, but repentance is even better in my opinion. I repented yet I still make bad choices. Is it because I am weak or getting something out of it? Or is it not a sin and I am over exaggerating things?

Hey Lik3,

I do believe it is just for the fact that you have to think of images or someone and then you have committed adultrey in your heart, but i understand what you are going through i battle this myself.

God Bless

Bill

 

[iambren]

If it's one topic that irks me in Christian circles it is this one. My opinion--mb is NOT a sin, even if you do have sexual thoughts when you do it. Actually, masturbating without sexual ideation I find to be perverse! I don't believe God wired us to operate that way.

Here is my suggestion for responsible sexual behavior:

Take a sheet of paper and divide it by a line. You want to make two sections in which you want to describe, discern, and reflect on.......


1 What is lust? Why is it a sin? Why did Jesus equate it with adultery in the famous "look upon a woman" passage?

2 What are normal sexual thoughts? What/how can you think of with your God-given sexuality(active even as children) that is NOT a sin?


Scratching you nose and touching your genitals is the same thing EXCEPT the thought life with sex in mb. If you're single and imagine a handsome/beautiful member of the opposite making love to you, fine. No harm done.
Sex thought does NOT equal lust, but lust normally uses sexual thought. So keep it straight; I don't like those that throw the "lust card" around indiscriminately.

 

[spokken2]

Although I do agree with you on this being a very debatable topic in which no one can seem to result to a logical yet profound reason to why this act is harmful if its effects seem to be very helpful and satisfying. I don't think thoughts of another while doing it would be applicable when it comes to making love, because who's to say you don't know that person or their life and their backgrounds and what they mean to you, so you wouldn't really love them because they are like a complete stranger too you. Yet I believe if the person you were thinking of is imaginary or someone that you desire just to get that quick release, than that most definitely would be considered as lust because you're thinking about them based on the thoughts of your mind, rather than the feelings of your heart.

 

[Ave Maria]

Masturbation is most definitely a sin. God gave us our reproductive organs so that they could be used for both procreative and unitive purposes within the confines of a marriage between one man and one woman only. The reproductive organs are not there to be used only for pleasure as is this case with masturbation. Masturbation is a grave sin and it can send you to Hell.

 

[Jonathan95]

Yeshua said it is sin, in a prophecy here, whether you want to believe it or not and call it a false prophecy, well that's up to you:

Porn encourages sex out of marriage. Demons of lust enter into your body then you yield to your flesh and sin against your own body, through masturbation. Why masturbation is wrong you may ask yourself? It is sin MY children, I am not pleased with MY children lusting after each other, I am not pleased with the world telling my children to touch because it is natural, sex outside of ME, MY children is dangerous, demons make love to you. Do not do it. Do not watch porn, do not make porn, MY children, this includes your photos. The photos you take the photos you look at. Listen to ME, you are grieving the HOLY SPIRIT, you are.

Source: Prophetic Words | End Times Prophecy

 

[medieval_lady83]

I'm gonna have to agree with iambren on this one. Sexual thoughts and lust are not the same thing. Human beings have body parts that were created for the purpose of having sex. I don't think God gave us those body parts and expects us to never think about the purpose for which they will be used.

I definitely think it's important for us to get an appropriate definition of lust to begin with. I think people assume that before the fall, God's perfect plan was that men and women would only have sexual desires and thoughts once they were married. As in, once they complete their wedding ceremony (however it varies by culture), all of a sudden God bestows them with a sex drive. But after the fall single people now experience sex drive, feelings, thoughts, which is wrong because they're not married. When you're married, it's called a sex drive. When you're single it's called lust. But we have no proof that God's original design of humankind restricts sexuality to married people only. The bible is only clear that God restricts sexual union to man and wife, and doesn't want us desiring to commit adultery, hence the "you have already committed adultery with her in your heart".

Singles are regular human beings, just like married people. Singles have desires too, and mb is one way people avoid sexual sins that are specifically discussed in scripture.

Would it make sense to tell someone that they are not allowed to think about eating, unless they have the money to pay for food? The people who have jobs, get to eat and think about eating all the time, but the homeless people in the streets, aren't even allowed to think about it. We all have stomachs that growl, and mouths that were made for tasting, teeth made for chewing. How can we expect those who go the longest without food to avoid thinking about it? Besides, who's to say they're not thinking of the day when they will have money, so that they can rightfully buy the food? Just as thoughts of food are a reality for all who have the body parts to eat and digest, I think sexual thoughts are the right and unavoidable reality for all who have sexual organs. And I think lust would be more like the homeless person who day dreams about stealing food.

 

[medieval_lady83]

Continuing in that vein, I did a quick online word study on "lust". Very informative. If you go to eastonsbibledictionary website, and choose the topical search, it shows you all the various ways that "lust" is used in the bible, and the intended meanings in Hebrew and Greek.

What I find interesting is that historically, "lust" could be positive, negative, or neutral. It could mean a strong desire for something good or sinful. It's important to know the meaning being used at the time.

Anyway, just food for thought.

 

[Gentlemantech48]

I agree with medieval lady's answer. It's easy for people who are married and have a healthy sex life to judge those that are either single or are married but have a partner who is unable to have sex. I will admit I've had to repent of anger with the Lord for creating me with a sex drive and then giving me a wife who has absolutely no interest in sex. It's a tough situation and until you've been there, be careful about judging. As I said to begin with, I do believe that God hates pornography (I am defining pornography as actual video or pictures of real people in a situation that was designed to create an arousal in a man or a woman). As for seeing people in "normal circumstances" that arouse us or seeing people in our imagination, I'm still seeking the Lord on what to do or not do about that. I wish there was an easy answer beyond being castrated.

 

[marksman315]

If sexual fantasy is part of the process involved with masturbating, and the fantasy is not about your spouse, then it is sinful. Jesus made it very clear that we should not even think about sexual immorality (which includes fornication and adultery).