Did anyone quote this yet?
3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for Gods holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy personsuch a man is an idolaterhas any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.£ 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things Gods wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them. (Eph 5 - NIV)
I'm trying to think of some of the things that our culture has accepted that we would be ashamed to do in the church. I have recently read an article that states that if one can redeem the act by praising God during and afterwards, than it must be an "okay" act. Like watching a sunset (something that gives pleasure and we can thank God) or kissing your spouse/girfriend/boyfriend (something that can be done in the sight of God, enjoyed, and He can be praised for bringing you such a great person and bringing pleasure by that person, though pleasure alone cannot be adequate praise), or even eating a chocolate bar. All things that can bring pleasure and be a source of Praise.
Can we think of masturbation this way? What is the general root? Is it biology? Is it pleasure? Is it lust? If it is only biology, then can we say it cannot be sin? Can we be proud of our biology and use our urges to praise God? Isn't it equally "natural" for a child to want chocolate rather than broccoli, but we know there is a value to the broccoli, and would be fools to let the kid eat nothing but chocolate because that's what the kid wants in his head and body, we are being fools. More than that, those urges cannot be "good" - becuase things like gluttony we know to be sin.
Here it is. Can you touch in your church worship service? Should praising God and sexual pleasure be linked? Can your church have a sunrise service or meal afterwards with tasty treats, or even join people together and wish them a great wedding night? Of course. Can your church have a masturbation booth so you can praise God and have a sexual release by yourself? Think about it. I know it's extreme, but we are dancing around the fact that "it's not in the Bible" and it's good for your body (prove it!)...when we know deep down it's not something that can go hand in hand with worship and praise. So how could it be right?
I Corinthians 6 says it all as far as I'm concerned:
9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
12"Everything is permissible for me"but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"but I will not be mastered by anything. 13"Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."£ 17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Paying back that "price" by pleasing ourselves in a way we know can't be the type of thing we do with others (that would be perverse or tied to lust) or in the presence of others (it would either disgust them or cause them to lust). We ought to be thinking of how we can pay back Christ for the debt we owe, rather than justifying the weakness or wickedness we are all born with. He came to give us life to the full...does that mean a stronger hand with which to touch? Does that come anywhere near what you think Christ came for and what it means to be united to Him?
Peace,