Is masochism a sin?

[Merciel]

I have a serious question. Is masochism a sin? And if it is, then why do Christians love to get into arguments on the Internet over matters that might not be trivial, but will definitely not be resolved through strawmen, hardheartedness, and condemnation?

 

[DZoolander]

I have a serious question. Is masochism a sin? And if it is, then why do Christians love to get into arguments on the Internet over matters that might not be trivial, but will definitely not be resolved through strawmen, hardheartedness, and condemnation?

An idle mind is the devil's playground..

Throw a bible into that mix, and add the self-satisfaction of "righteous judgment", and you get a nasty combination

 

[ContentInHim]

Well, masochism might not be a sin, but it surely is a lost cause and waste of time!

 

[Taylor43]

I do not think it is a sin, but it takes up allot of time on your part

 

[holo]

Someone said that "arguing on the internet is like competing in the Special Olympics. You may win, but you're still a retard." I don't completely agree, but it's a good point.

Where's this complete list of sins, by the way. I'd love to have it on my shelf.

 

[kevin36]

Hey, I just learned something...!

I had always thought that "masochism" was only defined as taking pleasure from pain- usually sexually- but after reading the replies tothis post I actually tried... thinking.

I looked it up in the dictionary, and found that yes, technically it can also be deriving pleasure from being offended, dominated, or mistreated, or the tendency to seek that kind of treatment. No requirement for it to be physical.

Also, it can be the turning inward of any sort of destructivee tendency.

Those non-sexual applicatons seem to be the focus here, and in that light, I would have to say that even if it isn't a sin, taking pleasure in being berated certainly brings a person's state of mind into question.

Personally though, there have certainly been many times where it would appear that I wanted to argue with someone, or that I was taking pleasure from our conflict, when all that was happening was that I was taking a stand for what I believed in, and not letting someone else speak poorly of it.

The Bible says that we aren't supposed to let someone speak wrongly of what we know is right, and I don't. The freedom that I have gained in Christ allows me to step outside of what many "mainstream" Christians and their overly up-tight sensabilities find comfortable, so I occasionally have to take a moral stand. That might look like I want to get into an arguement or enjoy it, when I'm simply standing up for what I believe in, and not backing away from that position.

God Bless
Kevin

 

[Chie]

It might not be so much as having the need to be offended or dominated but the need to feed the emotional pride in one self. To be right and others to be wrong is what most debates hinge on, to a point it becomes emotional pride in ones heart.

 

[kevin36]

I agree that pride is a big reason that many people want to be "right", but I try very hard to take my own needs out of it.

I don't need to be right, but when I feel that something IS right, I am very out-spoken about it.

Kevin

 

[Chie]

I agree that pride is a big reason that many people want to be "right", but I try very hard to take my own needs out of it.

I don't need to be right, but when I feel that something IS right, I am very out-spoken about it.

Kevin

Agree. We should stand and hold to what is right with Love as our motive. The approach in how we do that is just as important as standing.

 

[Solidlyhere]

Is masochism a sin?

With all of the REAL sins out there, masochism sits in another place.

Most people are a little masochistic.
I know I have beat myself up over many small errors.
This is a form of masochism.

If the masochism discussed is sexual (and with a marriage partner), then I surely know it's not a sin.
Hubby and wifey should be able to do whatever "games" they want to do.

Look at most of the martyrs.
Some are told: "Deny your Faith, or we will beat you."
They don't deny, knowing they are going to be injured.
They are beaten. This is a form of masochism (maybe).

Or: "Deny your faith, or I will beat you to death."
They refuse to deny their Faith.
Many of these people are savagely beaten, and smile through the process.
Many martyrs die, while smiling and praying.

 

[kevin36]

If the masochism discussed is sexual (and with a marriage partner), then I surely know it's not a sin.
Hubby and wifey should be able to do whatever "games" they want to do.

As long as it's consentual on both sides, and not for the purpose of demeaning or humiliating anybody, I agree.

Kevin

 

[freyajem]

I agree that pride is a big reason that many people want to be "right", but I try very hard to take my own needs out of it.

I don't need to be right, but when I feel that something IS right, I am very out-spoken about it.

Kevin

Would you say what you believe IS right once? If the person you are talking to believes something else IS right, would you say yours TWICE? If the person you are talking to continues to disagree, would you say it THRICE. How far is outspoken? How far is senseless argument? How far is it to be masochism?

How many times must I let someone tell me that I am wrong? Never? Once? Twice?

Touchy subject.

 

[david_x]

I have a serious question. Is masochism a sin? And if it is, then why do Christians love to get into arguments on the Internet over matters that might not be trivial, but will definitely not be resolved through strawmen, hardheartedness, and condemnation?

These are not always idol arguments, peoples minds can change. Strengthening our stance is definiently not bad either.

 

[kevin36]

Would you say what you believe IS right once? If the person you are talking to believes something else IS right, would you say yours TWICE? If the person you are talking to continues to disagree, would you say it THRICE. How far is outspoken? How far is senseless argument? How far is it to be masochism?

How many times must I let someone tell me that I am wrong? Never? Once? Twice?

Touchy subject.

Good question... and one that I don't have a good answer for.

As a Christian I believe that I am "right" when what I say is in agreement with what scripture says. Otherwise, I give myself maybe 50/50 odds...

Anyway, yeah, if the other person isn't a Christian there's little to no common referance as to correctness, and both can be equally assured that they are the one in the right.

As an ex- Sunday School teacher, and in life in general, I have to remind myself that I can't expect non-Christian to live up to Biblical expectations. They just don't mean anything to them...

To answer your question as to how many times... well, it depends on the person(s) and the subject. Usually when I realize that it's getting nowhere, that I won't change their view no matter what I say, or when I'm deciding to beat my own head or theirs against the wall is when I call it done. At least they've heard my view on things, for whatever worth they consider it, and I always at least try to "discuss" in a way that isn't overly aggressive, in the hopes that I can always talk with them again. Sometimes that works, sometimes not...

God Bless
Kevin

 

[freyajem]

Good question... and one that I don't have a good answer for.

As a Christian I believe that I am "right" when what I say is in agreement with what scripture says. Otherwise, I give myself maybe 50/50 odds...

Anyway, yeah, if the other person isn't a Christian there's little to no common referance as to correctness, and both can be equally assured that they are the one in the right.

As an ex- Sunday School teacher, and in life in general, I have to remind myself that I can't expect non-Christian to live up to Biblical expectations. They just don't mean anything to them...

To answer your question as to how many times... well, it depends on the person(s) and the subject. Usually when I realize that it's getting nowhere, that I won't change their view no matter what I say, or when I'm deciding to beat my own head or theirs against the wall is when I call it done. At least they've heard my view on things, for whatever worth they consider it, and I always at least try to "discuss" in a way that isn't overly aggressive, in the hopes that I can always talk with them again. Sometimes that works, sometimes not...

God Bless
Kevin

Good thoughts.

I generally will say what I believe IS right once and if it is rejected with some force, I will not repeat for the words are lost, not wanted. I am not good at that sort of thing anyway,

 

[Merciel]

Good thoughts.

I generally will say what I believe IS right once and if it is rejected with some force, I will not repeat for the words are lost, not wanted. I am not good at that sort of thing anyway,

That's what I do these days. I use to be persistent, but then I realized I wasn't doing my cause any favors.

 

[freyajem]

That's what I do these days. I use to be persistent, but then I realized I wasn't doing my cause any favors.

You must be my friendI find that my behavior, and how I treat people speaks far louder than my words ever could anyway

 

[Blake4000]

Yes. It is a sin, there is no need for a debate on it. God as said it is a sin plain and clear.

 

[freyajem]

Yes. It is a sin, there is no need for a debate on it. God as said it is a sin plain and clear.

Where does God say it is a sin. Quote.

 

[infaile]

Look at most of the martyrs.
Some are told: "Deny your Faith, or we will beat you."
They don't deny, knowing they are going to be injured.
They are beaten. This is a form of masochism (maybe).

Or: "Deny your faith, or I will beat you to death."
They refuse to deny their Faith.
Many of these people are savagely beaten, and smile through the process.
Many martyrs die, while smiling and praying.

Err... I feel some clarification is needed.

Masochism is when the objective you seek is the pain, or the mistreatment, offense, etc.

I sincerely doubt the martyrs of the Bible WANTED to be killed in horrendously inhumane ways, or tortured. The Roman Empire wasn't quite as soft about corporal punishment as we are! :o I imagine it hurt quite a great deal, and I REALLY doubt that that was what they were taking pleasure in.

What helped them to smile, and to meet their deaths with peace and prayer, was the Person in Whom they were professing their faith by being subjected to such treatment. For HIM, they would do it. Not for themselves, and certainly not for their own pleasure.

Of course, there may have been exceptions, if one or two of them were really into horrible violent deaths, but somehow I think the majority of them were in it for God, not the pain.

If someone caught me at gunpoint on the street today and said they'd shoot my right leg off if I didn't disown Christ (and assuming I was brave enough to do this, which I'd certainly hope I was), I would choose to have my leg shot off. Not because I wanted the pain - I have a very low pain threshold - but because I know Christ is my Saviour, and He put up with a lot worse for me. If the gunman then shot off my right leg and repeated the request with my left leg and all my other limbs - again, I wouldn't be putting up with it for the fun of it - it would be for my God.