Masturbation... is it wrong?

[sparklecat]

Our bodies belong to God. We should use them only to His glory. If you were suddenly made aware that God was standing at the other side of the room while you were masturbating how would you react?

Private and wrong are not the same. I wouldn't want God (or most anyone) watching me shower, either. My reactions in the two situations would probably be pretty similar, as well.

Someone mentioned the performing of this act as a stress reliever. If you do it to relieve stress you tend to only think about whatever it takes to "get the ball rolling" (I apologize to the ladies in the thread for the term, lol) After that starts, you tend to only think about the stimulation, the thoughts go out the window. Doesn't have to be a perverted thought like people having sex or anything. It could be a thought of someone you made up in your mind that is "the one" it could be about your g/f or spouse.

Precisely. Fantasies cover a wide range of possibilities; to unilaterally declare that every time a person masturbates, they are thinking x and it is wrong is a little foolish. One person's experience will not be the same as another's, and we should be careful not to judge what everyone else does as wrong based only on the knowledge of what we ourselves do.

 

[iconmaster]

Do you apply this standard to everything?

I believe it ought to be applied to all of life, yes.

Is eating ice cream an aid in moral development? Why or why not?

I think there are periods in Christian history where the consuming of "luxurious" foods would have been regarded as a sign of indulgence, certainly.

 

[Lostangel8807]

I'm specifically stated personal development, because I believe you need a whole person to have a morality to develop.

This is the specific example I was thinking of:

A female child is brutally, sexually assaulted. She grows up believing she has a "dirty part" that boys/men will use - it isn't really a part of her and it doesn't belong to her - it is just on her body for their use. She becomes an addolescent - and the clumbsy attempts made by boys who want her body only reinforce her beliefs. Her nether regions are off limits in her own mind - and she kindof hates them for making her feel vulnerable and receptacle-like. She goes through therapy - she knows what happened to her is not her fault. She still feels dirty.

Many woman in this position will not truly feel healed until they can accept that parts of themselves that were used and abused. That means self-exploration at least and often self-pleasure so that they can re-teach themselves that pleasure can come from a place that only brought pain before. Can you understand what I mean here?

I understand excatly what you mean, and I agree 100%. I also don't see how masturbation can be in any way bad or how it can bring guilt. I get the over all sense that alot of people are ashamed of their human natures and desires, but why should we? Pleasure and arousal and sexual feelings are all natural and no different from happiness or sadness. I believe its very healthy to have sex every now and if you can't have sex or dont want to, then by all means, touch. It's healthy for you.

 

[flicka]

It also has to do with knowing your body, how it works, and what it's capable of. I think everyone would agree that is important stuff to know! Does anyone here really think it's improper for someone else to know about 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]?

I don't know why people debate this stuff. It's not like anyone is saying you have to do it or anything. I don't care if someone does or doesn't. Everyone is different in regards to their sexuality and their sex drive. Thats why it's nuts for someone to make blanket statements as to what is OK and what isn't. A 17 yr old virgin girl who doesn't have much of a sex drive has no business telling a 25 yr old male with a drive thru the roof that it's sinful to take care of himself. He knows what he needs to do, we all do. And it's different for everyone. I say it's better to deal with things than bottle them up (or try to 'pray them away') and struggle on a daily basis with guilt, frustration, etc.

When you look at it from a purely biological POV it just makes sense. It's only when you introduce the concept of 'sin' (which is vague at best) that you make it such a huge issue that books, tapes, sermons, accountability groups, and threads like this are necessary! We have actually taken a simple bodily function and turned it into an entire industry because people can't keep their mind of sex. I find that very telling.

 

[iconmaster]

Many woman in this position will not truly feel healed until they can accept that parts of themselves that were used and abused. That means self-exploration at least and often self-pleasure so that they can re-teach themselves that pleasure can come from a place that only brought pain before. Can you understand what I mean here?

I do understand what you mean, and I'm sympathetic. However, as naive as it might sound to us, I think earlier Christians would have prescribed faith as a treatment for that shame rather than self-indulgence. After all, the woman's moral development doesn't hinge on her learning that her genitals can be a source of pleasure.

This is what I meant by our concept of "personal development" being different from what it used to be. Today, we believe in a balance between social awareness and self-indulgence (Calgon, take me away!). In another time, mortification, sacrifice and struggle would have received the most attention. From the modern perspective, the treatment program you describe makes some sense. In the ancient perspective, it doesn't jibe much at all.

 

[Ninja Turtles]

It also has to do with knowing your body, how it works, and what it's capable of. I think everyone would agree that is important stuff to know! Does anyone here really think it's improper for someone else to know about 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]?

I don't know why people debate this stuff. It's not like anyone is saying you have to do it or anything. I don't care if someone does or doesn't. Everyone is different in regards to their sexuality and their sex drive. Thats why it's nuts for someone to make blanket statements as to what is OK and what isn't. A 17 yr old virgin girl who doesn't have much of a sex drive has no business telling a 25 yr old male with a drive thru the roof that it's sinful to take care of himself. He knows what he needs to do, we all do. And it's different for everyone. I say it's better to deal with things than bottle them up (or try to 'pray them away') and struggle on a daily basis with guilt, frustration, etc.

When you look at it from a purely biological POV it just makes sense. It's only when you introduce the concept of 'sin' (which is vague at best) that you make it such a huge issue that books, tapes, sermons, accountability groups, and threads like this are necessary! We have actually taken a simple bodily function and turned it into an entire industry because people can't keep their mind of sex. I find that very telling.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I chuckle when I look at the Sudan thread and then compare it to this thread. Even the Sudan thread had a slight diversion into homosexuality. Seriously, Christians have become obsessed with purity.

 

[BOJAX]

i'm still on the back pages and as i am reading i see people comparing self-gratification to muder, etc...
but doesn't the bible teach that a sin is a sin
it doesn't matter because if you repent you will forgiven?

help me out here?

-Jamie

 

[Seeking...]

I do understand what you mean, and I'm sympathetic. However, as naive as it might sound to us, I think earlier Christians would have prescribed faith as a treatment for that shame rather than self-indulgence. After all, the woman's moral development doesn't hinge on her learning that her genitals can be a source of pleasure.

This is what I meant by our concept of "personal development" being different from what it used to be. Today, we believe in a balance between social awareness and self-indulgence (Calgon, take me away!). In another time, mortification, sacrifice and struggle would have received the most attention. From the modern perspective, the treatment program you describe makes some sense. In the ancient perspective, it doesn't jibe much at all.

Well, we live in modern times and not in ancient ones. I also maintain that someone who is wounded and not whole can't really pursue good in all things. They try - but their wound cripples them if it is not cared for. This is part of why we don't have the ancient perspective - forsaking our personal needs to benefit some concept of good all the time doesn't always work.

 

[Chavez]

Why is this thread still alive??

Yeh I agree with ya Jamie..
sin is a sin
when you repent you turn away from the sin and try yor best not to repeat that again.
However when you do sin again..it doesn't mean God won't forgive you cos He will.

We mustn't abuse His mercy though.

 

[Lostangel8807]

I'm confused though. How is masturbation in any way a sin?

 

[Lokisdottir]

I do understand what you mean, and I'm sympathetic. However, as naive as it might sound to us, I think earlier Christians would have prescribed faith as a treatment for that shame rather than self-indulgence. After all, the woman's moral development doesn't hinge on her learning that her genitals can be a source of pleasure.

So if a woman goes through life not knowing what 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] is, thinking that sex is just a pleasure for her husband to enjoy while she stares at the ceiling paint, that's acceptable?

 

[invisible trousers]

Seriously, Christians have become obsessed with their own and everyone elses' sexuality

Fixed.

 

[Chrysalis Kat]

Couldn't have said it better myself. I chuckle when I look at the Sudan thread and then compare it to this thread. Even the Sudan thread had a slight diversion into homosexuality. Seriously, Christians have become obsessed with purity.

Perhaps someone needs to start a 12-step recovery type program for folks that are obsessed with SEXUAL SIN.

 

[Salubri]

I have noticed if you so much mention sex or...dun dun DUN, Homoexuality, most Christains go on the war-path o.o

 

[Angel4Truth]

Perhaps someone needs to start a 12-step recovery type program for folks that are obsessed with SEXUAL SIN.

There are already programs in place for people who are obsessed with sex , isnt that funny?

 

[Salubri]

uhh...I dun think thats the route she was taking that >.>

 

[Angel4Truth]

uhh...I dun think thats the route she was taking that >.>

There is a two way street to most things isnt there?

 

[Salubri]

seems so


funny how human language works. Everything has a double meaning and other connotaions.


Like murder.

 

[BOJAX]

There is no piety in having sex, nor should there be. Married couples are not putting God first in their sex lives (unless they have a sad, sad, life). Sex between loving partners involves lust just as much as masturbation can. If you have a problem with masturbation - the problem lies within you and not the act.

Judge not...

-Jamie

 

[Ninja Turtles]

Sexual Sin Anonymous.

Hello. My nam is Pam.

Hi Pam.

And I'm a Sexual Sin Addict. The other day I saw two boys playing leap frog and then I went crazy as I was screaming verses of Leviticus at them. They had me arrested that day. And then there was the time...