A question for any ordained ministers. Is masturbation a sin?

Different churches have different views on masturbation. The Roman Catholic Church holds that any sexual expression that is outside marriage and not open to procreation is improper. At the other end of the spectrum, my church - finding no prohabition in scripture (as you probably already know, the sin of Onan was failing in his duty to his family, not in "spilling his seed") we hold that like drinkning, clubbing and a variety of other activities masturbation is fine and natural so long as it doesn't interfere with your secular or spiritual life.

The wisdom of the biblical admonistions against fornication, strong drink and other hedonistic persuits is not that the acts themselves are, per se, bad, but because humans tend to seek pleasure, and the more we get the more we want. Smoking pot a few times a year probably isn't a problem (except with the police, and in many parts of the country they don't seem to care about the occasional user much), but we all know a few "pot heads", people who have made their entire lives revolve around smoking pot.

Sex is the same, a person who occasionally masturbates for relief of tension, stress control etc. is probably fine. A person who starts missing church, schools or work so they can get a new porn magazine (do they still have those or does everybody use the internet now?) and pleasure themselves is in trouble. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, so that which interferes with your relation with God is bad for your soul. That which interferes with your relations with others is bad for you.

My guess is that the responses of other creeds fall on a spectrum in between.

That which is diobediant to or contradicting to God's commands is bad for your soul.


There is no justification for impure thoughts or impure actions from Christians. Excuse me for disagreeing but my Bible doesn't say "Its ok to do these things sometimes as long as its not all the time."

It also doesn't say "Its ok to do these things as long as you don't miss church."

It says "Don't do them."

It is extremely dangerous to attempt to justify sinful behavior.

Hebrews 12

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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I think it would be kind of tough to touch if your mind is occupied with verses such this. Just imagine that "cloud of witnesses" watching everything you're doing.

If you are unmarried, God designed your body to "take care of business" while you sleep. Mastrubation to relieve stress is unnecessary.

WesWoodell said:

That which is diobediant to or contradicting to God's commands is bad for your soul.


There is no justification for impure thoughts or impure actions from Christians. Excuse me for disagreeing but my Bible doesn't say "Its ok to do these things sometimes as long as its not all the time."

It also doesn't say "Its ok to do these things as long as you don't miss church."

It says "Don't do them."

It is extremely dangerous to attempt to justify sinful behavior.

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but one has to establish first that masturbation is sinful behavior...I recognize what others are saying about lust--agreed, it is a sin--however, I must insist that the two do not have to go together. there is no bibical support to say masturbation, in and of itself, is a sin

wow!

WesWoodell said:

I respectfully disagree - I believe it is mentioned by Jesus.


Matthew 5:27-30 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away."

Why else would Jesus talk about impure thoughts/lust and the right hand in the same sentence?

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now this is surely just my opinion and my own exegesis, but to me, that is perhaps the biggest stretch and reach I have seen, the sentences all fit together nicely with one central theme without trying to create a connection through masturbation.

Is it reasonably possible for someone touch and keep from lusting in the midst of it?

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absolutely--don't judge everyone based on your own experience.

Once again - its not the act that I believe is sinful. Its the thoughts that go along with it.

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agreed

But can a person engage in the act and not allow the thoughts to creep in?

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yes, sometimes it just feels good

No normal person can ...

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that's insulting and presumptuous

You sure get insulted a lot

WesWoodell said:

You sure get insulted a lot

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you know Wes, when you suggest that your interpretation is the only one God approves of, you insult others. When you say something like you did in that post, it insults many. "no normal person does" says a lot more than you intend. I personally am not insulted by it, but there are those who may read it and feel rightly that you are saying they are not normal--all because they are different from YOU
Do you not, as a pastor, understand how that would be insulting?

I think it would be kind of tough to touch if your mind is occupied with verses such this. Just imagine that "cloud of witnesses" watching everything you're doing.

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It'd be hard for me to pee or poop, too. I don't like the idea of even one person watching me as I do those things, yet there's a cloud of witnesses that watch me take a dump? No wonder I gave new meaning to "anal retentive" when I was younger...

Seriously, I get what you're saying. But if we occupy our minds all the time with verses as this one, it's gonna be hard to do some biologically very necessary things. Reminds me of a Family Guy episode...

Peter: I'm looking for a toilet training book.
Salesman: Oh, well, we've got the standard "everybody poops". And then there's the less popular "nobody poops but you."
Peter: Well, see, we're Catholic, so...
Salesman: Ah! Then you want, "You're a naughty child and that's concentrated evil coming out the back of you!"

(No offense to the Catholics here. I didn't make it up)

First let me say that I'm not ordained yet but would still like to comment.
My first response to the first question "is touching yourself a sin" is to say it depends what is on your heart, or in this case what's in your head? If you are able to complete the task at hand with pure thoughts and are honest with yourself and God then more power to you. On the other hand if you cannot touch with clean thoughts (those that are edifing and not lustful) you have commited sin. My advice is to be honest with God about your perdicament.
The second question (fantasizing about your wife) is still a quandry for me. I'm still praying about this and looking to the word for answers. While there is nothing wrong about finding your wife attractive and sexually motivational, I would caution you against idolitry. Once you focus on your wife instead of Christ you have sinned. Other than that I see nothing wrong.

AngelusSax said:

It'd be hard for me to pee or poop, too. I don't like the idea of even one person watching me as I do those things, yet there's a cloud of witnesses that watch me take a dump? No wonder I gave new meaning to "anal retentive" when I was younger...

Seriously, I get what you're saying. But if we occupy our minds all the time with verses as this one, it's gonna be hard to do some biologically very necessary things. Reminds me of a Family Guy episode...

Peter: I'm looking for a toilet training book.
Salesman: Oh, well, we've got the standard "everybody poops". And then there's the less popular "nobody poops but you."
Peter: Well, see, we're Catholic, so...
Salesman: Ah! Then you want, "You're a naughty child and that's concentrated evil coming out the back of you!"

(No offense to the Catholics here. I didn't make it up)

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LOL!! You make a very good point!

Well, I try...