Is Masturbation a sin?

[Dave-W]

The Apostle Paul will never agree that we should touch.
Never!

Can you show me where he said NOT TO? (and without trying to do a construct like: "A is B and B is C and C is D; and D is prohibited; so A is prohibited ")

 

[ken777]

Can you show me where he said NOT TO? (and without trying to do a construct like: "A is B and B is C and C is D; and D is prohibited; so A is prohibited ")

each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable (1 Thes 4:4, NIV)

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[Dave-W]

Sorry. In order for that to say what you claim it is saying, you have to prove the apostle meant "M" specifically to be unholy and dishonorable.

 

[ken777]

It is up to you - if you think masturbation is "holy and honorable" then there is no problem.

Personally I believe the Bible only describes marriage as holy and honorable.


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[Cearbhall]

each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable (1 Thes 4:4, NIV)

When I was Christian, I didn't see anything unholy or dishonorable about masturbation.

 

[ken777]

When I was Christian, I didn't see anything unholy or dishonorable about masturbation.

That is different to arguing it IS holy and honorable.

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[Cearbhall]

That is different to arguing it IS holy and honorable.

Obviously. But nor can you say that it's definitely not.

 

[ken777]

Obviously. But nor can you say that it's definitely not.

It is possible to identify the sexual activity that the Bible describes as holy and honorable ... and why it is holy (Ephesians 5). I would like to see a Biblical argument for masturbation being a holy activity.

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[dayhiker]

1 Cor.6:12 "I have the right to do anything," you say--but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"--but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 Cor.10:23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. ...
26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. ...
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?


So its interesting to me that Paul never disagrees with those that say all things are good and lawful. Preachers today make these verses sound like all things are never benefecial. The test is are they beneficial, does it it cause another to stumble.
Where stumble is to destroy another faith and that person is suppose to come to the one with he liberty and ask him to stop. I've personally never had anyone do this.

Col.3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Whatever - that covers a lot of things ... we are to do them in the name of Jesus with thanksgiving.

1 Tim.4:4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

Again we see Paul saying everything God created is good and we are to reject anything that God created. That includes out sexuality.

One more thing, to me if we say only the things that God says are holy and so not do them, then we should not be flying in planes or riding in cars and we should be like the some Mennonites.

So I find masturbation beneficial, good, lawful and holy because of my thanksgiving and prayer by the word of God.

 

[TheBarrd]

I can't find where Paul said anything about masturbation, one way or the other.
I don't think anyone thought to ask him what he thought about it.

 

[ken777]

Paul said: "each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable (1 Thes 4:4, NIV).

The only holy and honorable sexual activity in Scripture is the sexual union of husband & wife because their physical intimacy is a reflection of the spiritual intimacy of Christ and the Church. (Eph 5)

 

[Paul of Eugene OR]

Paul said: "each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable (1 Thes 4:4, NIV).

The only holy and honorable sexual activity in Scripture is the sexual union of husband & wife because their physical intimacy is a reflection of the spiritual intimacy of Christ and the Church. (Eph 5)

It remains true there is no scripture opposed to masturbation and it would behoove God's children to not add to scripture what is not there.

 

[Dave-W]

I would like to see a Biblical argument for masturbation being a holy activity.

The opening section of Song of Solomon chapter 5 has Shulamite masturbating and she is described as "undifiled."

 

[RDKirk]

But my real question is, is it a sin if you do it and not look at porn. Because I do touch but I don't don't look at other women.

You're asking the wrong question and looking for the wrong kind of responses. "Is X a sin?" is the wrong question for a Christian. It's okay for a Jew, but the wrong question for a Christian.

"Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is edifying." -- 1 Corinthians 10

For a Christian, the question is not whether we can search a written code to determine if any particular act is permitted or prohibited. People who think that way are like the one-talent steward, seeking only to avoid doing the wrong thing, and then failing to do the right thing. Some people think Christianity is merely a matter of never having done anything particularly bad.

"Everything is permissible!"--we don't find our morality in a written code.

"But not everything is beneficial." What is the good that it does?

"You are not your own, but were bought for a price." -- 1 Corinthians 6

For a Christian is raised: Is this act profitable? Specifically--because we belong to Christ and are merely stewards of our own bodies for him--is it profitable to Christ? Does it build me up in my Christian walk? Does it edify me or another Christian or the body of Christ? Do I become a better, stronger Christian for practicing it?

 

[dayhiker]

So 1 Thes. 4 is saying to me that we are to live in Jesus. Now instructions have been given to us as to how to live for Jesus. To a void porneia (prostitution), which my studies have lead me to understand that Paul and those around him understood as mixing idol worship with prostitution. So to control our own body to to not be involved in any kind of idol worship. That is what the pagans are doing as they don't know God. Secondly, we should not hurt our brothers and sister. This is how we are holy and sanctified. We love one another. So we see again the two commandments Jesus gave us to love God, don't worship idols and to love one another, by not hurting each other, Rom.13:10 were re read love doesn't hurt your neighbor.
For me to say that controlling our body is to not touch is to make something that God cares so little about that He never says its wrong. Yet if it is wrong, its the sin that is committed more than any other sin listed in the Bible. How many times have we stole, how many times have me lied, how many times have we taken God's name in vain, how many times have we killed someone, now many time have we committed adultery? OK some clearly take God's name in vain more often than they touch, but all, as in 95% of us have masturbated many more times than we have done any of those sins. So I think if God considered masturbation sinful and not controlling our body he would have had an 11th commandment, Thou shall not touch. Its just not there and Bible verse gymnastics have to be preformed to get there.

Paul said: "each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable (1 Thes 4:4, NIV).

The only holy and honorable sexual activity in Scripture is the sexual union of husband & wife because their physical intimacy is a reflection of the spiritual intimacy of Christ and the Church. (Eph 5)

 

[TheBarrd]

The answer is simple...
If you think it is a sin, don't do it.
What other folks do, or don't do, is none of your business...it is between them and their God.

 

[TheBarrd]

There are "uberChristians" out there who would prohibit us from anything that gives pleasure...a good deep breath and a comfortable stretch in the morning must be sinful, because Paul said blah, blah, blah...

 

[High Fidelity]

Stay on topic.

Address the topic, not the posters directly. And let's cool it with the name calling.

 

[Pammalamma]

But my real question is, is it a sin if you do it and not look at porn. Because I do touch but I don't don't look at other women.

Yes it is a sin. Jesus said that having lust is just as bad as committing a sexual act. It is the thoughts you are having that are the main sin. These thoughts are not of God, and can lead to demonic oppression. You should ask God what this masturbation is doing to you, and how it is going to affect your future relationships and your mind. Jesus died for our impure thoughts by wearing a crown of thorns.

Most people have committed this sin, but it can be somewhat addictive. If you can hate masturbation and the danger it represents to future relationship health, you are on the road to repentance and submitting every part of your life to the Lord. That is what it means to have a "circumcised heart": dedicating even the most precious, secret parts of your life to the Lord.

I'm proud of you for not looking at porn, though. I see that as a huge accomplishment. When husbands look at porn, their wives feel very rejected and ugly by comparison, because porn is lies. The women seem happy, but they are actually in pain and have been horribly abused, and the porn stars are always the same age, whereas real women get older every day. You have the right heart attitude, so keep looking to God and aspiring to the holiness Jesus demonstrated, while understanding we will never be able to perfect ourselves. We can only give up trying to be good and ask the Lord to change us. God bless you in your quest for holiness.

 

[High Fidelity]

Yes it is a sin. Jesus said that having lust is just as bad as committing a sexual act. It is the thoughts you are having that are the main sin. These thoughts are not of God, and can lead to demonic oppression. You should ask God what this masturbation is doing to you, and how it is going to affect your future relationships and your mind. Jesus died for our impure thoughts by wearing a crown of thorns.

Most people have committed this sin, but it can be somewhat addictive. If you can hate masturbation and the danger it represents to future relationship health, you are on the road to repentance and submitting every part of your life to the Lord. ) That is what it means to have a "circumcised heart": dedicating even the most precious, secret parts of your life to the Lord.

I'm proud of you for not looking at porn, though. I see that as a huge accomplishment. When husbands look at porn, their wives feel very rejected and ugly by comparison, because porn is lies. The women seem happy, but they are actually in pain and have been horribly abused, and the porn stars are always the same age, whereas real women get older every day. You have the right heart attitude, so keep looking to God and aspiring to the holiness Jesus demonstrated, while understanding we will never be able to perfect ourselves. We can only give up trying to be good and ask the Lord to change us. God bless you in your quest for holiness.

Amen to that.