Confusion

[Joey Roddy]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if nocturnal emissions are considered to be a sin or an abomination to God. I read the bible day and night including prayer. I hardly ever watch television because I find there is so much trash on television. It seems even the commercials disturb me. I'm doing the best I can by the grace of God to serve him and to renew my mind. Every time I have a nocturnal emission, I seem to immediately get on my knees to repent and ask for the Lord's help to overcome it.

I feel ashamed at first because these nocturnal emissions are accompanied by sexual thoughts. I'm doing all that I can do to rid my life from all sources such as television, books, magazines and hanging out with the wrong people at the wrong places. I'm doing all that I can to cut off anything that would cause these thoughts to come into my mind. The bible says that we are to renew our minds daily. I'm putting forth a serious effort in doing so by staying in the word of God and prayer. Please if anything, pray for me that God will send forth his delivering power on this issue. Thank you and God bless.

Sincerely,
Joey Roddy

 

[Larry Mondello]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if nocturnal emissions are considered to be a sin or an abomination to God.

I know you're struggling here, but no, most wouldn't consider nocturnal emissions as sin.

Nocturnal emissions are involuntary. They happen whether you want them or not. Therefore, you have no control over it.

Am assuming you're a virgin @26.
Let me tell you I had a lot of struggles like you during my early 20s, shortly after I accepted Christ in college @19.
Sexual thoughts and lusts -- which I had as a young man -- I still had them and they intensified. Wasn't a virgin. Regretably, lost mine @17 but tried to live sexually responsibly and didn't have any kind of sex until my late 20s...

Like you, was afraid my sexual thoughts = sin.

While that's something every man must decide for himself, I now tend to believe such thoughts are normal.
Don't beat yourself up about having such thoughts.

From what I've read in a Christian marital sex improvement book, the authors say men have many more sexual thoughts than women. They're constantly thinking of sex, even married men, and can get edgy if their spouse doesn't provide it. Hence one reason for marriage, to relieve the sexual tension.
So such thoughts, it would appear, are normal.

Now, if you find yourself constantly thinking of sex and masturbating too excess...

I read the bible day and night including prayer. I hardly ever watch television because I find there is so much trash on television. It seems even the commercials disturb me. I'm doing the best I can by the grace of God to serve him and to renew my mind. Every time I have a nocturnal emission, I seem to immediately get on my knees to repent and ask for the Lord's help to overcome it.

I too looked down on TV shows and culture. This was during the 1980s, and I know secular entertainment is far worse now.

However, I think I've "lightened up" a little.
While I don't purposefully watch sexual-themed TV shows, I know Christians do watch popular TV shows and can find myself not being "offended" if they talk about a particular sitcom or movie that I personally might have thought was "too much" when younger.

When I was more sensitive about it, it got to the point to where I completely stopped listening to secular music. Was upset bec. the music wasn't "Christian" and thought it would be "wrong" to enjoy such music.
Gradually returned to the music, like the Beatles, Beach Boys, Chicago, etc.
Looking back, that kind of music wasn't overtly "sinful."'

Joey, something a Christian recording artist once said also struck me:
"So you wanna drink milk only from a Christian cow ??"

One thing that helps is to try not to take such things personally.
Someone watching a TV show or doing something else that many wouldn't consider wrong, they're not likely doing that to insult you.

This isn't the same thing as associating with people who constantly use curse words, drink, tell sexually explicit jokes, etc.
Wouldn't recommend being close to that kind of crowd.


Just try to lighten up. Don't deliberately sin (i.e. entering sexual relationships), but don't go thinking having sexual thoughts is inherently wrong or sinful.

Realize I've said a lot here, and I hope it makes sense.
Maybe I can say it better another way. Hope it helps.

 

[darknessb4themorning]

Hello Joey!

I am sorry to hear of your struggle with nocturnal emissions. It sounds like you are really trying to follow God's will and putting out sincere effort. You also have a large degree of self-control, which is commendable.

I have struggled with questions about similar issues. Although I have always seen nocturnal emissions as normal, I have had trouble with erections and sexual thoughts. A couple things that have helped me are discovering a healthy view of sex by reading the beginning of Genesis, the beginning of Proverbs, and other verses on sexuality, and reading a book by Joshua Harris called Sex is not the Problem (Lust Is), previously released as Not Even a Hint. I would highly recommend this book to you. It is biblical, thorough, and full of grace.

When you have a healthy view of sex you realize that it is "very good," as God says in Genesis, and so there is nothing wrong in thinking about it. It is good to thank God for our sexuality and the wonderful gift of sex, looking forward to its fulfillment in marriage. We sin when we begin lusting after a particular person and imagining them in our sexual thoughts, unless, of course, that person is our spouse. There is nothing inherently sinful about sex. Sin comes in when we distort God's perfect plan for our sexuality, and begin imagining or doing things that God forbids.

I hope that helps. Let me know if you have further questions.

 

[OGM]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if nocturnal emissions are considered to be a sin or an abomination to God. I read the bible day and night including prayer. I hardly ever watch television because I find there is so much trash on television. It seems even the commercials disturb me. I'm doing the best I can by the grace of God to serve him and to renew my mind. Every time I have a nocturnal emission, I seem to immediately get on my knees to repent and ask for the Lord's help to overcome it.

They are never reffered to as a sin in the Bible. You are designed to have them thus you no need to repent and nothing to overcome.

I feel ashamed at first because these nocturnal emissions are accompanied by sexual thoughts. I'm doing all that I can do to rid my life from all sources such as television, books, magazines and hanging out with the wrong people at the wrong places. I'm doing all that I can to cut off anything that would cause these thoughts to come into my mind. The bible says that we are to renew our minds daily. I'm putting forth a serious effort in doing so by staying in the word of God and prayer. Please if anything, pray for me that God will send forth his delivering power on this issue. Thank you and God bless.

You are a young adult whose body is producing hormones. The only way to stop the nocturnal emissions and sexual thoughts would be to try to alter your biochemistry. I really would not advise tampering with an endocrine system that appears to be functioning properly. Besides, from what you have written…I can’t see that you have done anything wrong.

 

[OGM]

Moderator,

I tried to correct a technical issue I made while quoting. Once the post is approved will I be able to correct?

 

[Criada]

Moderator,

I tried to correct a technical issue I made while quoting. Once the post is approved will I be able to correct?

Fixed