Is masturbation a sin?

[NothingIsImpossible]

People also need to remember the views on this subject depend on ones denomination. In my "non-denom" church we go by the bible. No twists, no cherry picking, no looking deeper into some hidden meaning.

Can you MB without thinking of anything?

I could. It's not hard.

 

[JacksBratt]

It is a sin.


You just don't understand the male anatomy. So the reason why you get the "urge" to release is because you are not practicing chastity. Either you are fornicating or masturbating on a regular basis. So what happens is your body starts to produce more sperm once you start to release yourself. You have basically turned on your switch. Now your body craves for more since your testes are producing larger amounts of it. Now if you stop releasing yourself, it usually is fine for 3 days... Then the urges hit in. This is when you are feeling "backed up". However you are not really backed up because your excess sperm will be eliminated in your urine. For the next couple of weeks, the urges will continue to hit. After about a month of abstaining, you will start to not have urges anymore. If you continue for 3 months after a while you will not even think about it anymore. However there will be moments where the urges come back briefly for a time. But they are very short and typically if you get up and go for a walk or take a cold shower, it goes away immediately.

So basically you can turn off the switch with some self control. I have been successful at being single with no porn and no masturbation. It's not really hard. Just requires you to deny yourself. Also it requires control of your mind. Don't let your mind wander off to thinking about sex with girls and etc. or the urges will naturally come back if your mind is filthy.

Thanks for this information. I applaud you.

I was not saying that I have a problem with it, personally. I am a married man..and 57. I'm not a race horse anymore...

But I do remember those years... Even as an abstainer well into my late 20's. All because of scare tactics and the threat of it being a sin.. Looking back... I put myself through a lot... for nothing..

The temptation was always there.. High school, parties, youth group, college... living as a single man with two non Christian single men....and all the antics of that life... trying to live as a someone known to be Christian..

Being accused of being "gay" because it was well known that I didn't "Make it" with any girl......

What is worse... MB'ing or giving in when some young sweet heart shows more than a little interest?

There are many pastor's daughters and sons that have ended up with a pregnancy....what is the worst case there? Good Christian kids who could no longer hold back..... with all that pent up temptation and attraction...

And, don't kid yourself.. temptation is not something you have to go searching for... it is everywhere.... school, church, youth, work... hanging out with kids your own age...

I'm saying that telling young men that this is a sin... is not going to produce a generation of Christian boys with the same level of control as yourself...

I think it is a mistake to say such a thing.

 

[Dave-W]

Why do you say this is not good?

If you believe “M” to be sinful, and you are right on the edge of release, any move you make (even breathing) could put you over the edge and it would be counted as masturbating.

And we both know, that degree of arousal does not just go away. No more sleep that night.

 

[Invalidusername]

Thanks for this information. I applaud you.

I was not saying that I have a problem with it, personally. I am a married man..and 57. I'm not a race horse anymore...

But I do remember those years... Even as an abstainer well into my late 20's. All because of scare tactics and the threat of it being a sin.. Looking back... I put myself through a lot... for nothing..

The temptation was always there.. High school, parties, youth group, college... living as a single man with two non Christian single men....and all the antics of that life... trying to live as a someone known to be Christian..

Being accused of being "gay" because it was well known that I didn't "Make it" with any girl......

What is worse... MB'ing or giving in when some young sweet heart shows more than a little interest?

There are many pastor's daughters and sons that have ended up with a pregnancy....what is the worst case there? Good Christian kids who could no longer hold back..... with all that pent up temptation and attraction...

And, don't kid yourself.. temptation is not something you have to go searching for... it is everywhere.... school, church, youth, work... hanging out with kids your own age...

I'm saying that telling young men that this is a sin... is not going to produce a generation of Christian boys with the same level of control as yourself...

I think it is a mistake to say such a thing.

Life isn't easy. We shouldn't teach that jerking it is okay just because "it's hard to resist man".

Why bother following a religion that requires us to never deny the faith even to the point of torture and death if we think abstaining from a few pleasures are "too hard".

 

[Dave-W]

You need to take a look at that survey again. It states "One hundred percent of the men and 99.3% of the women have climaxed in their sleep."
Nocturnal [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][bless and do not curse]

I think Paul Byerly has another survey he was referencing.

But having an [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] in your dreams is not the same as [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][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] in your sleep, any more than dreaming of peeing means you wet the bed.

 

[Dave-W]

It doesn't. That's just your... imagination.

Not really. I have a couple of thousand years of Jewish interpretation (it IS their language) to back me up.

 

[Dave-W]

I don't think it is credible to claim one can touch without lust. If you could, then I would agree that it is not a sin, but I think you are probably fooling yourself.

What is your definition of “lust?” I suspect it is incorrect.

When I started doing it, I thought it was some kind of urinary function. I knew nothing of sex. How is that “lust?”

Still a sin. Even more so when you are married because you are separating yourself from your spouse.

Including if your spouse wants you to, and be either an active participant or passive observer?

 

[Dave-W]

It's always a sin. It's a serious offense to God, who gave us the sexual faculty in order to bring new life into the world, to abuse it in this manner. If done with full knowledge (I know it's wrong) and full consent (I'm going to do it anyway), it's a sin that causes spiritual death- a mortal sin.

I totally disagree.

 

[Dave-W]

Tough it out. Many people have sacrificed much more for thier beleifs.

Is that what God said: “Tough it out?” Not at all.

The Bible says it is a sin to NOT have regular frequent sex between married couples.

 

[Dave-W]

Masturbation is in the least unclean...

And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even. - Leviticus 16:16-17

Um - try chapter 15 instead of 16. And note the “seminal emission” says nothing about HOW it happened; whether a wet dream or by masturbating.

Also, the same applies for married couples having regular marital relations. That is in verse 18. BTW, frequent marital relations are COMMANDED in both testaments.

 

[JacksBratt]

The better question here, the more importance question, is not whether masturbation is likely a sin, but is it really a grave/mortal sin, as taught by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches? Is it really the kind of habitual sin that could doom your eternal soul to Hell, regardless of how kind and generous one may be otherwise?

I don't hold to any sin being "mortal" or otherwise..... Sin is sin.. we all have sinned and all sin still.
Christians and non.

The difference is Christians accept and acknowledge Christ as their savior and His work on the cross..... and follow a lifestyle that strives to be more like Him.

Sorry, that's off topic

 

[Dave-W]

In Judaism, the understanding is that spilling seed is the murder of one's children.

Not so whatsoever. That is a Christian interpretation.

I read recently of a few Haredi (ultra Orthodox Jews) groups in Israel that teach their girls how to touch starting at about age 7. In Judaism it is considered a sin to deny one’s self a pleasure that is not forbidden, and masturbation is NOT considered forbidden.

And the death of Onan was NOT for masturbating; it was for denying his deceased brother Er a child/offspring to inherit his property.

 

[Dave-W]

I have stated that I don't need those thoughts to touch.

What lead you to need to touch in the first place?

If he is anything like I was at 17, a very strong physical need for release.

If you just focus your attention on those sensations, there is no need for lusting after anyone.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Hello. I’m not quite sure if I’m posting in the correct area because I’m new to the site and forums in general, but here we go. I’m a 17 year old boy and lately I have been curious about this issue in the church. I would tend to lean more towards it NOT being sinful. However, I’m open to having my mind changed. I’ve researched this quite a bit and gathered various answers from both sides of the debate. Most answers I’ve gathered against masturbation involve scripture twisting or just aren’t logically sound (at least that is how I see them). I’ve asked my parents and pastors with no real answer. Obviously living in the United States, I cannot get married legally unless I have parental consent (I do not). So Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 7:9 doesn’t help since our cultures are different. So, that said, what are your thoughts?

Nope, it’s not.

 

[A Realist]

Teaching someone to touch is saying, "Yeah there's no problem with it. Go ahead!"

 

[TuxAme]

I totally disagree.

On what grounds?

 

[Blade]

There are things in this life that are natural. And as we get old will should stop. Yet.. its what one THINKS that CAN make it a sin. The problem is.. one would have to have very strong discipline. In those moments.. the FLESH will take over.

To married or not think of another person.. REAL or NOT.. in lust is a sin. Now what two married people do in there bedroom.. is between them..

Give EVERYTHING over to HIM..

 

[Ronald]

Hello. I’m not quite sure if I’m posting in the correct area because I’m new to the site and forums in general, but here we go. I’m a 17 year old boy and lately I have been curious about this issue in the church. I would tend to lean more towards it NOT being sinful. However, I’m open to having my mind changed. I’ve researched this quite a bit and gathered various answers from both sides of the debate. Most answers I’ve gathered against masturbation involve scripture twisting or just aren’t logically sound (at least that is how I see them). I’ve asked my parents and pastors with no real answer. Obviously living in the United States, I cannot get married legally unless I have parental consent (I do not). So Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 7:9 doesn’t help since our cultures are different. So, that said, what are your thoughts?

Many things in life are permissible, but some things are not good for you, especially in access. Pleasuring yourself is obviously better than sexual harassment, seducing someone and of course rape. Self control in this matter is advisable for several reasons.
I think it is a sin against yourself if you habitually do it too often. Sexual satisfaction was created by God. He purposed for man and woman to marry and in the marriage bed, they would satisfy each other. If you satisfy yourself, you might become withdrawn, introverted, less compelled to seek the other sex and years later end up alone because you figure relationships are too difficult ... so I'll just take care of myself ... I don't need anyone ... or whatever the excuse you make - and cop out! I personally know a man, a hermit, who had copped out of the desire and need for a woman because of the difficulties he had in his first marriage. So, he just took care of himself for the last forty years, alone! How sad. I'm not saying masturbation caused this but it helps if you realize that something is missing in your life and this creates desire, drive to satisfy those things. Let's say he was strict about not masturbating, don't you think he would have been more motivated to find a women? Men who habitually do this inevitably get into porn and that is obviously a sin for them. I was told once by a Pastor, whatever you allow to be your master is sin for you. If it has control of your life, it is a sin for you. Except of course God. We allow ourselves to be slaves to sin. And out of control habits is in a sense, idolatry.
Men burn with desire for a woman. They are partially motivated in a sexual way, attracted to them and therefore make it there ambition in life to find one to marry complete there lives. I think masturbation subdues these desires and motivations.
Another scenario: Let's say you are already married. Why would you do this, when satisfaction from your mate would be much more enjoyable? It is like cheating her of her obligation and responsibility to sexually satisfy you. This would also relax your need for her and she would feel in a sense cheated or undesirable. Oh, the Bible doesn't really address this, so we are our own judge. It does say that sexual sin is sin against your own body. There are consequences to our behavior. Remember George Michaels got caught in a rest room satisfying himself? What shame he must have felt after that, it tainted his life. But then later on we found out that he was gay so I guess what does it matter, that was worse.

 

[TuxAme]

I don't hold to any sin being "mortal" or otherwise..... Sin is sin.. we all have sinned and all sin still.
Christians and non.

The difference is Christians accept and acknowledge Christ as their savior and His work on the cross..... and follow a lifestyle that strives to be more like Him.

Sorry, that's off topic

If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.
1 John 5:16-17

 

[Dave-W]

On what grounds?

On the grounds of the ECFs inventing sins, including this one. Our Lord blasted the Pharisees for that exact thing.