Masturbation as a sin

[Mountainmanbob]

I don't think we can trust our feelings about this. I would prefer to say the inner knowing. But maybe that is what you meant.

Very true it's not about our feelings. It is about how we think regarding it.

Truthfully I found it to be a deep sin. One that bothered me much. And once I stop doing that there was great relief.

That's just me -- good luck with finding what works for you.

Once again I blew it.
For there is no such thing as good luck.

I think the Holy Spirit maybe talking to you because, obviously you brought this up. Oh, why is it so hard to recognize at times what is right and what is wrong?

Many times I actually know deep in my heart but, I prefer to go for my sin.

Although I am finding --

That as I get older I sin far less but, my sin bothers me much more.

If you also have this?
Take it as a good sign.

M-Bob

 

[zoidar]

Very true it's not about our feelings. It is about how we think regarding it.

Truthfully I found it to be a deep sin. One that bothered me much. And once I stop doing that there was great relief.

That's just me -- good luck with finding what works for you.

Once again I blew it.
For there is no such thing as good luck.

I think the Holy Spirit maybe talking to you because, obviously you brought this up. Oh, why is it so hard to recognize at times what is right and what is wrong?

Many times I actually know deep in my heart but, I prefer to go for my sin.

Although I am finding --

That as I get older I sin far less but, my sin bothers me much more.

If you also have this?
Take it as a good sign.

M-Bob

I can say it bothers me because I want to do what is right. It would be great if the scripture said it clearly, that it's sin. Maybe we do know deep in our hearts ... the law is written i our heart, as Paul says.

 

[Idromos247]

The bible does not directly forbid Lesbianism (to my knowledge) but it does directly forbid male Homosexuality in Leviticus 20:13. Is lesbianism a Sin? Absolutely. And we know this from taking scripture as a whole and knowing how the bible defines pure and true sexuality.

The bible never comes out and damns "masturbation". But it commands us to think pure thoughts, and Jesus informed us that lust is in the same category as committing the sin in the eyes of God. Are you able to touch without any sexual, lustful thoughts of any woman (whether someone you know, or from porn)? If you are honest you will answer "No". And that is how masturbation becomes a Sin.

I pray that God gives you the strength to fight this.

 

[Noah Ark]

Masturbations usually caused by watching/reading PORNS.

 

[salt-n-light]

But wouldn't it be mentioned somewhere in the NT if masturbation is sin?

Would you apply that same reasoning to beastiality and pedophilia? No.

So it’s safe to say that based on the parameters God already set on sex, that’s it’s to be between man and woman who are married, that anything outside of that would be a sinful act.

Besides TBH, there’s a lot of stuff that’s Bible do spell out in words that we still ignore/twist anyways. Take it from the people of the OT, they had step by step instructions, 633 commandments, and they still ended up more wicked.

So it’s less on whether or not it’s spell out, and more on the idea that we wouldn’t like it to be true.

 

[zoidar]

Masturbations usually caused by watching/reading PORNS. Dont you ?

Who? Me? I'm blessed to be free from porn. You?

 

[zoidar]

Would you apply that same reasoning to beastiality and pedophilia? No.

Maybe it's not mentioned in NT but in OT.

NT is describing immoral sexuality in many places and always seems to talk about sex with another. Why doesn't Paul or the other apostles, or Jesus for that matter, say anything about masturbation?

It's not weird they don't mention beastiality or pedophilia specifically because that was hardly a problem among Christians. Masturbation on the other hand most Christians have more or less taken part of one time or another. If it is (I'm not saying it isn't) a sin that will lead us away from God why don't the apostles or Jesus mention it, since it is such a common thing?

 

[salt-n-light]

Maybe it's not mentioned in NT but in OT.

NT is describing immoral sexuality in many places and always seems to talk about sex with another. Why doesn't Paul or the other apostles, or Jesus for that matter, say anything about masturbation? It's not weird they don't mention beastiality or pedophilia because that was hardly a problem among Christians. Masturbation on the other hand most Christians have more or less taken part of one time or another.

You ask where in the NT, don’t all of a sudden mention that those are it’s in the OT, because spilling of seed is also mentioned in the OT and not explicitly in the NT.

The mention of sexual immorality is not always coupled with the mention of involvement with someone else. They explain to be why Paul mentions sexual immorality seperate from the mention of adultery, fornication, and homosexuality, if that is the case in 1 Corithians 6?

That’s all assumption that beastiality and pedophilia wasn’t such an issue like masturbation.Mind you, a lot of these people Paul addressed probably came from cultures that have done a lot of morbid rituals, so it would be hard for me to think that somehow those things were off the table. If you can prove that it wasn’t , I’ll believe you.

A lot of Christians taken up a lot of things, a lot of us normalize things, doesn’t make it that much more ok in the sight of God.

And would it make someone stop masturbating if they were to list to explicitly? Let’s get to the core of the issue. People don’t want it to be true. They know God doesn’t approve it outside marriage. That He has made explicit. But somehow people want to excuse masturbation, even make it something that is essential for survival. What?

Nah.

 

[Jon Osterman]

We need to be very wary of using OT texts to judge this because it is very difficult to separate all the cultural influences. I notice the previous threads mentioning the "spilling of seed" but in the OT this is the story of of Onan in Genesis 38 who is struck down by God for being reluctant to birth a child with his widowed sister-in-law (he "spills his seed" to prevent pregnancy). I don't think many here would expect a man to father a child with his widowed sister-in-law these days...

In fact, the OT is chock full of supposedly God sanctioned actions that we would (rightly) find morally reprehensible in today's society.

 

[zoidar]

You ask where in the NT, don’t all of a sudden mention that those are it’s in the OT, because spilling of seed is also mentioned in the OT and not explicitly in the NT.

The mention of sexual immorality is not always coupled with the mention of involvement with someone else. They explain to be why Paul mentions sexual immorality seperate from the mention of adultery, fornication, and homosexuality, if that is the case in 1 Corithians 6?

That’s all assumption that beastiality and pedophilia wasn’t such an issue like masturbation.Mind you, a lot of these people Paul addressed probably came from cultures that have done a lot of morbid rituals, so it would be hard for me to think that somehow those things were off the table. If you can prove that it wasn’t , I’ll believe you.

A lot of Christians taken up a lot of things, a lot of us normalize things, doesn’t make it that much more ok in the sight of God.

And would it make someone stop masturbating if they were to list to explicitly? Let’s get to the core of the issue. People don’t want it to be true. They know God doesn’t approve it outside marriage. That He has made explicit. But somehow people want to excuse masturbation, even make it something that is essential for survival. What?

Nah.

Sure it was a problem among gentiles with beastiallity and pedophilia. But among Christians? I don't think so. Prove it, of course I can't. Masturbation must have been an issue in those days among Christians just as among Christians today, but NT says nothing specifically about it, which I think is strange, since it must have been a common problem. That doesn't mean it's all right of course. Just saying.

The story of Onan has not much to do with masturbation but with not taking responsibility.

I think if it was plainly stated in the NT by Jesus or the apostles, that masturbation is sin, many people would stop.

 

[Phil 1:21]

You ask where in the NT, don’t all of a sudden mention that those are it’s in the OT, because spilling of seed is also mentioned in the OT and not explicitly in the NT.

Onan's sin was refusing to impregnate his sister-in-law as per God's command.

And would it make someone stop masturbating if they were to list to explicitly? Let’s get to the core of the issue. People don’t want it to be true. They know God doesn’t approve it outside marriage. That He has made explicit. But somehow people want to excuse masturbation, even make it something that is essential for survival. What?

Have you ever repented of something after discovering it was sinful? Let's give people the benefit of the doubt, okay?

 

[salt-n-light]

Sure it was a problem among gentiles with beastiallity and pedophilia. But among Christians? I don't think so. Prove it, of course I can't. Masturbation must have been an issue in those days among Christians just as among Christians today, but NT says nothing specifically about it, which I think is strange, since it must have been a common problem. That doesn't mean it's all right of course. Just saying[QUOTE/]

There were Jew and Gentile Christians. Some of them carrying customs and practices that they wanted Paul to address. So again hard to just discredit it completely just because of an idea of how Christians should be like. I figured that mentioning sexual immorality should be good enough for people to discern what would be moral and immoral. I guess not.

I wasn’t thinking of Onan when I made that comment but Leviticus 15, where the person is considered unclean for spilling seed. It’s to make the point that yes those stuff were mentioned in the OT, but just because it’s not explicit in the NT doesn’t mean it’s not to be consider.

I will give you that bodily fluids wasn’t given as strong of an offense or judgement in the OT as beastiality, so I will give you that where it’s not explicitly saying masturbation as abominable in terms of the act itself in the OT.But then again, I don’t see pedophilia anywhere explicit in OT and NT, so idk if you wanna claim your line of logic as a source of victory.

The point is is that you are lusting. Masturbation naturally put you in that framework. It puts you in that mindset sexually that is outside of marriage.Willfully. I don’t see how anyone is able to want to stimulate and be void of thoughts. It’s either you have thoughts that would make the stimulation the solution, or the stimulation provoke thoughts. No matter how it could be spun, there’s no room to justify it.

Again if anyone can raise their hands to say that I’ve successfully masterbated with a blank mind then I’ll say that I’m wrong.

 

[mindlight]

I'm an adult in my mid 20's, I know I'm not the most mature person in the world but I've been struggling with this a lot lately. I'm not addicted to masturbation but I feel like I can't avoid doing it every once in a while, and I think the reason it bothers me so much is because I can't be 100% sure whether it's a sin or not.
If I don't touch like once a week I get too overwhelmed by stress from my everyday life. But if I do touch, I fear that I may be going against God. I know the second is more important but even so it's not easy to control it.
The thing is, I've researched as much as I could but I can't find any scripture that I think is absolutely about this. I've seen Christians quote that part where Jesus talks about "looking at a woman with lust". Or the Onan story. Or some quotes from Paul about how the body is the temple of Christ and self control.
I asked a priest and he told me masturbation IS a sin. But I've also seen Christians on the Internet saying masturbation is the lesser of two evils if it means it can be a release that stops you from commiting a worse sin (like fornication?). Doctors regardless of religion seem to say it's healthy and that it's okay as long as it's not addictive.

So I have a bunch of questions about this subject:

• What scriptures are the most clear about masturbation being a sin (if it is)?
• What did Jesus mean when he said that about looking at a woman with lust? I mean it's quite impossible to never absolutely ever get turned on by someone (unwillingly).
• What is the healthiest alternative to masturbation? I mean I try to distract myself, pray, read the scriptures. But I still get stressed out and weak eventually.
• If it's a sin, why is it a sin? I've been told at some point that a sin is something that means you are not loving someone else (and that you love or unlove God by your actions towards other people). Who isn't loved when you touch? I'm currently single but I would obviously put my partner in the first place if I were with one. If it's offensive to God then why exactly would He pick something as arbitrary and specific as this? I know pornography can come into play but do porn performers feel unloved if someone masturbates to them?
  
• If it's a sin, how bad as a sin is it? Or are all sins equal? I've learned at some point that some sins are mortal, others aren't.
• Do average Christians touch? Or are they being honest when many of them imply or claim they don't?

I think a reason this bothers me so much was that even though I hardly ever masturbated before becoming a Christian, I wasn't worried back then about whether it was a sin or not, it was just a mundane action. But now I can't help bringing God into the equation and only thinking about how MAYBE I lose His love or friendship, but only after doing it.
I'm also worried that this may be something many people must struggle with. But I get the impression that most Christians on the Internet that speak against it sound like they never touch and I feel more alienated from them that way since it just seems unnatural to be able to avoid it unless they are asexual.
I live surrounded by Christians but I'm sure most of them at least have premarital sex. I currently don't and I know I can't judge others but I struggle with accepting that every Christian has their own idea of what's right and wrong. I know that common sense could help understanding if something is a sin, and that knowing if you can "do it in the name of God" or "for the Grace of God" can also help, but neither of these apply directly to masturbation. Common sense tells me masturbation is at least healthy (doctors say it) and the other part is just too vague. I know people as friends don't mind if their friends touch in private and Jesus refers to Himself as a friend who just asks us to love each other.

Thanks a lot in advance for any answers!!
God bless.

The truthes I get from scripture and basic reality are the following:

1) The bible does not condemn masturbation. There is no thou shalt not verse....

2) Jesus is clear that adultery/fornication can be a matter of thought as much as of action and expects us to strive for perfection. Masturbation for a man especially can be seen simply as form of exercise and release that does not have to involve sexual thoughts but so also it can fan those flames. We are expected to manage our thoughts and actions. Porn is not helpful at all.

3) It is better to marry than to burn with lust. But sometimes marriage is the wrong decision. For a sexual person saying no to the wrong person may require masturbation as an alternative.

4) Some people want sex a lot more than others. Addiction is a kind of idolatry that can be managed by fasting. But a realistic management of ones sexual passion may include masturbation. Statistically masturbation is used as a release of sexual tension far more by men than women. Far more by young rather than old. Some people will lie about it cause they are afraid of what others will say. It is God to whom you account.

5) if you are burning with passion it might be better stewardship of your time to deal with the desire through a quick thoughtless masturbation than spend the whole day in deranged sexual turmoil.

6) Even inside a marriage imbalances can exist between desire and opportunity. One partner may give up on sex completely when that is not possible for the other. For example in times of illness or pregnancy.

7) prayer and scripture are brilliant for gaining perspective on sexual passions. Also regular exercise at times of temptation and also keeping busy is helpful.

 

[ThisIsMe123]

I'm an adult in my mid 20's, I know I'm not the most mature person in the world but I've been struggling with this a lot lately. I'm not addicted to masturbation but I feel like I can't avoid doing it every once in a while, and I think the reason it bothers me so much is because I can't be 100% sure whether it's a sin or not.
If I don't touch like once a week I get too overwhelmed by stress from my everyday life. But if I do touch, I fear that I may be going against God. I know the second is more important but even so it's not easy to control it.
The thing is, I've researched as much as I could but I can't find any scripture that I think is absolutely about this. I've seen Christians quote that part where Jesus talks about "looking at a woman with lust". Or the Onan story. Or some quotes from Paul about how the body is the temple of Christ and self control.
I asked a priest and he told me masturbation IS a sin. But I've also seen Christians on the Internet saying masturbation is the lesser of two evils if it means it can be a release that stops you from commiting a worse sin (like fornication?). Doctors regardless of religion seem to say it's healthy and that it's okay as long as it's not addictive.

So I have a bunch of questions about this subject:

• What scriptures are the most clear about masturbation being a sin (if it is)?
• What did Jesus mean when he said that about looking at a woman with lust? I mean it's quite impossible to never absolutely ever get turned on by someone (unwillingly).
• What is the healthiest alternative to masturbation? I mean I try to distract myself, pray, read the scriptures. But I still get stressed out and weak eventually.
• If it's a sin, why is it a sin? I've been told at some point that a sin is something that means you are not loving someone else (and that you love or unlove God by your actions towards other people). Who isn't loved when you touch? I'm currently single but I would obviously put my partner in the first place if I were with one. If it's offensive to God then why exactly would He pick something as arbitrary and specific as this? I know pornography can come into play but do porn performers feel unloved if someone masturbates to them?
  
• If it's a sin, how bad as a sin is it? Or are all sins equal? I've learned at some point that some sins are mortal, others aren't.
• Do average Christians touch? Or are they being honest when many of them imply or claim they don't?

I think a reason this bothers me so much was that even though I hardly ever masturbated before becoming a Christian, I wasn't worried back then about whether it was a sin or not, it was just a mundane action. But now I can't help bringing God into the equation and only thinking about how MAYBE I lose His love or friendship, but only after doing it.
I'm also worried that this may be something many people must struggle with. But I get the impression that most Christians on the Internet that speak against it sound like they never touch and I feel more alienated from them that way since it just seems unnatural to be able to avoid it unless they are asexual.
I live surrounded by Christians but I'm sure most of them at least have premarital sex. I currently don't and I know I can't judge others but I struggle with accepting that every Christian has their own idea of what's right and wrong. I know that common sense could help understanding if something is a sin, and that knowing if you can "do it in the name of God" or "for the Grace of God" can also help, but neither of these apply directly to masturbation. Common sense tells me masturbation is at least healthy (doctors say it) and the other part is just too vague. I know people as friends don't mind if their friends touch in private and Jesus refers to Himself as a friend who just asks us to love each other.

Thanks a lot in advance for any answers!!
God bless.

When I was around your age...I was in the same boat. I actually thought, at the time, that it wasn't sinful...as long as I wasn't sleeping with a woman outside of wedlock...it was in my mid-20s I discovered that even THAT was a sin...too?

And let's say...you stop doing that altogether, but then, if you even THINK about a woman in a lustful fashion...say on campus college and women are dressed in certain ways, even THINKING about it is...a sin.

Then I think, "Well, everything is a sin apparently, and we can try our best doing this kind of stuff...because Jesus did die for our sins."

 

[zoidar]

There were Jew and Gentile Christians. Some of them carrying customs and practices that they wanted Paul to address. So again hard to just discredit it completely just because of an idea of how Christians should be like. I figured that mentioning sexual immorality should be good enough for people to discern what would be moral and immoral. I guess not.

The question is: Is masturbation one of those things the Bible means when it talks about sexual immorality? The question seems easy for you to answer and for some others, but to me it's not that obvious. If you can show it by scripture, it would be great. It's not that I in any way try to defend sinful living. I want to get to the truth about the matter.

 

[ThisIsMe123]

Raise your hands if any guy in here successfully been able to touch without any connection to sexual imagery, thoughts, or temptations...

So then idk how anyone is suggesting that its ok as long as the thoughts are pure. That's like telling a kid, "you can have as much candy as you want, as long as you don't dwell on how yummy it is". That's kind of the point of masturbation...

Yeah, I mean, can you imagine making your mind going completely blank like a vegetable before you start the deed?

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

Yeah, I mean, can you imagine making your mind going completely blank like a vegetable before you start the deed?

It's possible, just not the norm, and creates difficulties in finishing the deed.

 

[☦Marius☦]

Nevertheless the design intent is clearly for union in relationship. Those who touch alone in marriage are expressing a damaged marriage relationship.


No.

But because God has chosen not to condemn something openly does not mean that it meets with His intentions. It is manifestly clear in scripture that the intention of sex is for relationship and procreation between a man and a woman as an expression.

Marriage is about a selfless union meant to draw two people closer to God. It is meant to be a blessed life, two people helping each other in the ascetic commands Christ put down. Self denial is essential to Christian life.

To say that the selfish, and self destructive lustful act if masturbation is harmless, and even beneficial, is going against the entire spirit of the selflessness and denial of passions that Christ taught. Just as gluttony and self indulgence is a sin, so is masturbation -the the sole purpose of which is to bring one to ecstasy in a completely useless manner.


What is sad with the ever prevailing pornographic culture is that the Evangelical Protestant world have no monasteries to save the individual with no wife. For those who want Chasity in the way Paul recommends, there is no way of life. Most people look down on the single in the western churches. It's a sad thing. Why not give a way of life for the addicts in prayer and repentance instead of telling them to "get married", when bringing a sex addiction (which masturbation can become), to a marriage with bring nothing but trouble.

 

[Anguspure]

Marriage is about a selfless union meant to draw two people closer to God. It is meant to be a blessed life, two people helping each other in the ascetic commands Christ put down. Self denial is essential to Christian life.

To say that the selfish, and self destructive lustful act if masturbation is harmless, and even beneficial, is going against the entire spirit of the selflessness and denial of passions that Christ taught. Just as gluttony and self indulgence is a sin, so is masturbation -the the sole purpose of which is to bring one to ecstasy in a completely useless manner.


What is sad with the ever prevailing pornographic culture is that the Evangelical Protestant world have no monasteries to save the individual with no wife. For those who want Chasity in the way Paul recommends, there is no way of life. Most people look down on the single in the western churches. It's a sad thing. Why not give a way of life for the addicts in prayer and repentance instead of telling them to "get married", when bringing a sex addiction (which masturbation can become), to a marriage with bring nothing but trouble.

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Yes, the only monastries that exist in our culture are dedicated to financial gain and the culture there in only exacerbates the problem.

 

[zoidar]

Marriage is about a selfless union meant to draw two people closer to God. It is meant to be a blessed life, two people helping each other in the ascetic commands Christ put down. Self denial is essential to Christian life.

To say that the selfish, and self destructive lustful act if masturbation is harmless, and even beneficial, is going against the entire spirit of the selflessness and denial of passions that Christ taught. Just as gluttony and self indulgence is a sin, so is masturbation -the the sole purpose of which is to bring one to ecstasy in a completely useless manner.


What is sad with the ever prevailing pornographic culture is that the Evangelical Protestant world have no monasteries to save the individual with no wife. For those who want Chasity in the way Paul recommends, there is no way of life. Most people look down on the single in the western churches. It's a sad thing. Why not give a way of life for the addicts in prayer and repentance instead of telling them to "get married", when bringing a sex addiction (which masturbation can become), to a marriage with bring nothing but trouble.

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For some people monastery may be a solution. But most of us aren't fit for that kind of living. There were no monasteries at the time of the apostles. I believe they overcame sexual immorality pretty well. So of course we can too, through the Holy Spirit.