Is touching yourself a sin? (2)

[Dyin2live]

OK. The answer is yes AND no. Or rather, the question is ultimately pointless. It could only make sense to a legalist. Just like asking "does God condone lying?" - in at least one instance in the bible, He most definately did. Or, "does God forbid sex?" - there is no one single correct answer to that, and certainly not one that would apply to everybody, forever. In the bible, God specifically says "this is unclean!" in one law, then later declares everything to be clean!

And yet, masturbation, which isn't even mentioned in the bible (while something as absurd as bestiality IS) is supposedly "clearly" against God's will, and for EVERYBODY...

Point being, you have NO grounds to claim that God opposes masturbation. Not ONE single reason. It all boils down to YOUR personal morality. Which you may share, by all means. But don't act as is if your opinion equals the word of God.

 

[Breetai]

OK. The answer is yes AND no. Or rather, the question is ultimately pointless. It could only make sense to a legalist. Just like asking "does God condone lying?" - in at least one instance in the bible, He most definately did. Or, "does God forbid sex?" - there is no one single correct answer to that, and certainly not one that would apply to everybody, forever. In the bible, God specifically says "this is unclean!" in one law, then later declares everything to be clean!

You are mixing up civil law with moral law. They are different types of laws, and are not contradictory. You are not bound to Old Testament civil law (ie. you do not need to marry a girl if you rape her and you are allowed to eat shrimp and pork), but you ARE bound to the moral law! The gospel does not free us of that, it actually convicts us of it so that we may call upon Jesus and be in even more awe of His work on earth and on the cross.

Jesus saved us from our sin, but did not give us a 007 license to sin!

 

[rosiecotton]

You are mixing up civil law with moral law. They are different types of laws, and are not contradictory. You are not bound to Old Testament civil law (ie. you do not need to marry a girl if you rape her and you are allowed to eat shrimp and pork), but you ARE bound to the moral law! The gospel does not free us of that, it actually convicts us of it so that we may call upon Jesus and be in even more awe of His work on earth and on the cross.

Jesus saved us from our sin, but did not give us a 007 license to sin!

But I think that's the point of this thread......IS it a sin?

 

[Floatingaxe]

But I think that's the point of this thread......IS it a sin?

Yes it is.

 

[holo]

You are mixing up civil law with moral law. They are different types of laws, and are not contradictory. You are not bound to Old Testament civil law (ie. you do not need to marry a girl if you rape her and you are allowed to eat shrimp and pork), but you ARE bound to the moral law!

The whole idea of dividing the law into "moral" and "civil" laws etc, is foreign to the bible. The bible operates with ONE law - either you're under it, or you're not. If you're under it, you're under ALL of it.

Jesus saved us from our sin, but did not give us a 007 license to sin!

He set us free FROM sin. The commandment is the power of sin - so being dead to the law is being dead to sin as well. Christ reconciled us with the Father, we're back into the same relationship Adam and Eve had with the Lord before they even knew right from wrong. We are to live as they did - not based on knowledge of right and wrong, but simply by living in, of, with and by Him.

I don't need the law any more than Adam and Eve did. In fact, the law is as destructive for me as it was for them. The commandment is good, by all means, but it only brings death.

 

[Godiswithus]

i am not exactly sure but anything that takes our eyes, hearts and minds away from God is a sin. afterall watching too much TV itself, i believe, can be labeled a sin if it passes a point where it controls our life more than God.

 

[Shiversblood]

Doing anything at all can be considered taking away time from God.

 

[Godiswithus]

Doing anything at all can be considered taking away time from God.

not exactly.

God told us that we have to work hard on this world. he also told us to enjoy the fruits of our work as well. so doing work as well as other things is allowed, if not recommended as a christian.

 

[Dyin2live]

http://net-burst.net/sexuality/masturbation.htm

This changed my views on masturbation and I am seriously thinking about quitting. You know what, I love God and what ever He wants for me Ill do. If He doesn't want me to touch I will try to stop. But the problem is, it is so hard to quit. I would appreciate your help and prayers. Also, Zecryphon, you said you prayed for me in an earlier post, did you really?

 

[holo]

Dyin2live,
don't!

Don't let yourself be enslaved by those senseless "touch not, eat not, handle not" rules. They only serve to satisfy the flesh. It has nothing to do with your life in Christ, and it won't benefit neither you nor God in any way at all.

Don't let YOUR freedom be judged by ANOTHER man's conscience.

 

[Breetai]

Dyin2live,
don't!

Don't let yourself be enslaved by those senseless "touch not, eat not, handle not" rules. They only serve to satisfy the flesh. It has nothing to do with your life in Christ, and it won't benefit neither you nor God in any way at all.

Giving up something in order to focus more in God has nothing to do with your life in Christ?

I hope nobody listens to this rubbish.

Don't let YOUR freedom be judged by ANOTHER man's conscience.

Double standard!!!

 

[holo]

Giving up something in order to focus more in God has nothing to do with your life in Christ?

That sort of thing takes focus OFF God, and moves it over on YOU and your flesh.

Double standard!!!

How so?

 

[InFathersArms]

http://net-burst.net/sexuality/masturbation.htm

This changed my views on masturbation and I am seriously thinking about quitting. You know what, I love God and what ever He wants for me Ill do. If He doesn't want me to touch I will try to stop. But the problem is, it is so hard to quit. I would appreciate your help and prayers.

Aside from the OT verse about not spilling one's seed on the ground, the Bible doesn't directly address this issue.

However, it addresses in other ways, including warnings against sins of a sexual nature, particularly lusting after another to whom you're not married. Jesus addressed that one himself.

Common sense says that indulgence in any pleasure can be a sin if it causes you to neglect other responsibilities, or takes away from your relationship with God, particular if you're thinking unholy thoughts while doing it.

This would apply equally to masturbation as it would to watching secular movies. A good flick is, well, a good flick (The Sound of Music comes to mind). But some flicks are decidedly evil, having no redeeming value, either spiritually, or even socially (Jackass comes to mind...). Furthermore, if you're going to the movies every evening, it's a waste of both time and money, resources God would probably want you to use in ways other than solely for pure gratification.

The bottom line is, "What's your heart say about this?" If you're convicted in your heart of hearts, it's probably a sin, and is best dealt with as a sin.

 

[Floatingaxe]

http://net-burst.net/sexuality/masturbation.htm

This changed my views on masturbation and I am seriously thinking about quitting. You know what, I love God and what ever He wants for me Ill do. If He doesn't want me to touch I will try to stop. But the problem is, it is so hard to quit. I would appreciate your help and prayers. Also, Zecryphon, you said you prayed for me in an earlier post, did you really?

You know what? I will pray for you also, Dyin! you are such a valuable young person whom God loves! He wants what is the very best for you and this behaviour is not the best at all.

One of the best ways to stop, and I know it works, is to confide in someone whom you hold in high esteem. A youth leader or pastor or another strong Christian young man, and ask Him to keep you accountable. He will check in with you regularly and ask how you are doing, and you need to give him an account of that.

Just knowing that there is someone you have to own up to makes you think twice before giving in to those urges!
It works well, along with prayer and actively seeking another activity to occupy your thoughts.

God bless you! You will do well, I am sure!

Check out the website www.xxxchurch.com

 

[Zecryphon]

http://net-burst.net/sexuality/masturbation.htm

This changed my views on masturbation and I am seriously thinking about quitting. You know what, I love God and what ever He wants for me Ill do. If He doesn't want me to touch I will try to stop. But the problem is, it is so hard to quit. I would appreciate your help and prayers. Also, Zecryphon, you said you prayed for me in an earlier post, did you really?

Yes I did and I pray for others who struggle with this as well.

 

[Zecryphon]

Dyin2live,
don't!

Don't let yourself be enslaved by those senseless "touch not, eat not, handle not" rules. They only serve to satisfy the flesh. It has nothing to do with your life in Christ, and it won't benefit neither you nor God in any way at all.

Don't let YOUR freedom be judged by ANOTHER man's conscience.

"Dyin2live,
don't!"

Holo, you really hate it when people tell you how to walk with God, so why do you feel justified in teling Dyin2live how to walk with God?


"Don't let yourself be enslaved by those senseless "touch not, eat not, handle not" rules."

What Dyin2live is experiencing is not enslavement but freedom. He is not willing to live to satisfy his flesh any longer. He's growing in holiness and righteousness.

"They only serve to satisfy the flesh. It has nothing to do with your life in Christ, and it won't benefit neither you nor God in any way at all."

Since when are you the expert on what will benefit him or his relationship with God in any way? All anyone can do is focus on their own realtionship with God and grow in holiness and righteousness with Him. I find it absolutely pathetic that you are terrified of Dyin's wish to give up masturbation. What's the matter? Do you know deep down in places you don't like to talk about, in your conscience, that the Holy Spirit has indeed convicted him of his sin, and is coming for you next? LOL

"Don't let YOUR freedom be judged by ANOTHER man's conscience"

He's not, he's conflicted about this because of his own conscience. Everyone in this thread has come to their conclusions based upon their own consciences, he is doing the same. How dare you try and interfere with the work of the Holy Spirit in this area. Shame on you. You should be ecstatic that he is growing in holiness and cutting off a behavior he is coming to believe is sinful and not benficial to him, from his life, and yet you're not. I'd ask why at this point, but I really don't care.

 

[Gukkor]

*shrug*

Dyin2live shall hopefully go where the Spirit leads him. If that is to a different place than it has led me, so be it. I shall see him in the same light regardless.

 

[Zecryphon]

*shrug*

Dyin2live shall hopefully go where the Spirit leads him. If that is to a different place than it has led me, so be it. I shall see him in the same light regardless.

Exactly. Dyin2live needs to follow the Holy Spirit on this not the words of man. He shouldn't base his decision to quit on something I've said and he shouldn't base his decision to continue on something someone else has said. He has to follow his conscience and the leading of the Holy Spirit on this and all matters.

 

[Shiversblood]

Oh man that guy is bashing Jackass. I watched that movie and I enjoyed it a lot. It was very funny. And the series. Are any of the cast of Jackass Christian? No. But its good that they arent Christian though because the movie wouldn't have been funny at all if they were, cuz they wouldn't be allowed to do any of the pranks. But no the movie wasn't evil at all. Thats just simply silly.

 

[Dyin2live]

Yes I did and I pray for others who struggle with this as well.

This may be the reason why I am starting to see it as a sin.