Masturbation

[Antoinette.Marie]

I disagree.
Why not just fornicate because it makes for a less suffocating environment?
Do we not have a higher standard than the world? i hope so!

If everyone were to fornicate outside of marriage, would it really help our environment??

 

[built4life001]

First off, I don't think it's exactly ignored... I was at a conference that had a small bookstore set up. There were about 7 tables set up and one of them was devoted to sex, romance, marriage, etc. I bought Every Young Woman's Battle there.

One of the things that book pounds into your brain is that purity is more than physical. It's physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Some people think masturbation will have curb their desires but it just exacerbates them. Masturbation makes you feel dirty and you know you've done something wrong.
There's also a selfish side to masturbation. It's like saying to God, "I don't need you or a future husband!" Not that's our intention when we do it but actions speak louder than words, as they say...

props. good message.

 

[Ivy]

its a matter of WHAT is the MOST BENEFICIAL choice you can make for your life? ......

I think that is pretty much the crux of the matter Paul also wrote "when I became a man I put away childish things."

I think on the whole it's better to abstain from it....the point is well taken that it needlessly drains away physical and spiritual energy.

 

[BDSaint13]

I could be wrong, but how I see it is that you are subjecting yourself to temptation. Even if you can do it without lustful thoughts you are tempting yourself with it.

Why would you touch? Is it to relieve stress, for the simple pleasure, or is it a substitute for the Holy Spirit that is absent in a part of your life? Ive done this test on myself and I don't see anything Godly about it. Same reason why you shouldn't drink/smoke, you don't need to because God is enough for you to be at peace.

I think you are completely correct, GREAT POINT

 

[CptCitrus]

This is my first post, hopefully far from my last.
CoveredByWings, (I didn't want to quote.. it was pretty long) I know what you said wasn't your own words, but you've convinced me. I've been struggling with masturbation for a while now, going clean a week here a couple there, then going straight back. It was always so easy to go back, largely because I'd never heard a good argument against it. I knew something was wrong, I could feel it, but I'm a thinker. I listened to the logical argument that there was no scripture against it, so I just let it continue. I'm going to try to go clean now. Thanks!

I hope this moment of willpower isn't just some stupor brought on by late night homework. That assignment was 12 pages long, I wouldn't be suprised if I was delusional.

 

[SandCrab]

Ok heres what doctrine has to say about Masturbation:

2352 By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. "Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action."137 "The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose." For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of "the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved."

Taken out of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Now i know that most, if not all, of you are not Catholics, however the Catechism of the Catholic Church can be used by all as an informatioin guide to almost all your questions

Blessings
Lg3 and Gweni

 

[MeekOne]

Ok heres what doctrine has to say about Masturbation:

2352 By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. "Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action."137 "The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose." For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of "the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved."

Taken out of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Now i know that most, if not all, of you are not Catholics, however the Catechism of the Catholic Church can be used by all as an informatioin guide to almost all your questions

Blessings
Lg3 and Gweni

No offense intended, but we are talking about the REAL Bible here, you know the Holy Word of God in which one is not to add or take away. It says nothing in there about touching yourself.

 

[Dondi]

The Question: Is touching yourself a Sin?

Im going to take a different approach to the whole situation because I think alot of people just give yes or no answers and honestly I am sick of the debate... Hopefully this will present a NEW standard for you, and further encourage your sexual purity...
"Is it a sin? Is it not a sin? I dont want it to be a sin! I dont think it is a sin. Is it ok when you are married? Is it ok when you are single? Why do we produce so much if we arent supposed to get rid of it?" These are questions that even Christian guys ask...

Heres the oppinion of a 21 year old single guy who's hormones are raging like a 18 wheeler inside of him...

I dont think we should be asking questions like "is it a sin?" as often as we do... Let me show you what I mean.

1 Corinthians 6:12
"Everything is permissible for me", but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me," but I will not be mastered by anything.

Ok lets see... Everything is permissible? -BUT- not everything is beneficial? So Paul hits a deeper issue here. We stand around all the time and like to make rules and laws like --- touching yourself=SIN (on tuesdays and if you are lusting) to throw a little comedy in there --- I mean we are getting as stupid about things as the religious Jews of Jesus' time. Its not about it being a sin or not. The real issue here is what is MOST beneficial for our lives! I recently commited myself to a new standard... No masterbating... Its out of the question to me right now, it doesnt mean that I dont struggle with it, but I look at my life and say "How is masterbating BENEFICIAL to me?" Its not! As a single guy who used to touch daily I can tell you, it wastes time, energy, and honestly it was affecting my relationship with women because I wasnt respecting them. I am an artist and have a very wild imagination... I could be sitting talking to a girl on a date and in my mind I was undressing her. Almost constantly I was struggling with these things. I began reading 1 Corinthians and took an honest look at myself... In my mind I was a sick perverted person that should be locked up with sex offenders. I had imagined all sorts of things that I cant even talk about and keep this PG-13... But on the outside I was leading worship at a growing church, running the college ministry, working with the youthgroup, and working at a Christian book store... I had it all together, but reading 1 Corinthians tore me apart. I couldnt view touching yourself as natural anymore, I remember the first time I actualy realized how sick my mind was I ran to the bathroom and was dry heaving over the toilet. Not everything is beneficial, and when we are blinded by lust and our sexual cravings we miss the bigger picture. The life Paul talks about is not simply following the rules... Its living life to the fullest extent! Check this out:

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified from the prize.

This is not an encouraging word for a 21 year old unmarried (yet dating) guy...
"Wait STRICT TRAINING? are you kidding me? BEAT MY BODY INTO SUBMISSION?" We get freaked out and right about now just trying to slide by is sounding alot better than going into strict training. Like I said the issue is alot bigger than "To SIN or not to SIN? that is the question!" No, no, no.... Thats where Christianity is falling into religiosity... We are becoming like the Pharisees each time we ad another little rule... Instead of SIN/NO SIN begin asking God what is MOST beneficial for your life!

Personal story, then I will stop rambling...

I have gone over a month now without masterbating and let me tell you... It is terrible... -now here me out- I went from masterbating at least once a day to nothing, AT ALL. I have more erections throught the course of the day than I have the patience for... I have had more wet dreams than you can imagine, forget that whole month fact stated before, I only lasted 2 days without a wet dream. They are starting to decrease now but it hasnt been easy. I cannot help the fact that some of the things I have looked at in the past are popping up in my dreams. What I can do is not add anymore thoughts, and strive to have a pure mind. Let me tell you something about quitting touching yourself, you feel it... You feel the full swing of testostrone (spelling?) hit you like a 24 pack of mountain dew... I have lost alot of weight over the past month and my muscles are toning and I am not really doing a thing to help... I spend most of my time writing a book, speaking at church, and leading worship... I am not the big sports fanatic... But my body is cycling all the testostrone back into my system and I feel alive like never before. That is just a physical aspect of the benefits... Get this- although I struggle, lie awake at night battling temptation, have to change sheets, ect. I have noticed my respect for women, more importantly my girlfriend, raise to a whole new level. I never knew that I could look at a woman like I look at her. It used to be all sex apeal and lust with previous relationships. But when I look her in the eyes I desire her more than any other girl I have looked at, I see her... I believe the way Christ wants me to see her. I could really go on all day about this topic because since I have had victory over it I have felt like an entirely more whole, pure, focused person.

Let me close this out with a challenge, and I commend you if you read this far... Please make it all the way to the end. I challenge you to STOP looking for loopholes. Because really its not a matter of SIN, its a matter of WHAT is the MOST BENEFICIAL choice you can make for your life? I challenge you to try a little personal sacrifice and see what I am talking about. Set up some accountability partners and tackle touching yourself head on. I garrenty that you will see which life is MORE beneficial. Go into strict training and life the beneficial life!

-Dan

I did not write this, it is from a prevous debate.

Excellent post, CoveredByWings. I would like to add some scripture to this:

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." - Galatians 5:16-25

tem·per·ance n.

1. Moderation and self-restraint, as in behavior or expression

'Nuff said.

 

[MeekOne]

hmmm....lets read that again, shall we?

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like...

Not a thing in there about self-gratification. Didn't the Lord say through John not to add or take away from His Word. Yes, I believe He did.

Moderation - yes, my first post says that exactly.

 

[Dondi]

hmmm....lets read that again, shall we?

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like...

Not a thing in there about self-gratification. Didn't the Lord say through John not to add or take away from His Word. Yes, I believe He did.

Moderation - yes, my first post says that exactly.

las·civ·i·ous adj.

1. Given to or expressing lust; lecherous.
2. Exciting sexual desires; salacious.

 

[MeekOne]

las·civ·i·ous adj.

1. Given to or expressing lust; lecherous.
2. Exciting sexual desires; salacious.

What dictionary are you using?

Mirriam-Webster says the following:

Main Entry: las·civ·i·ous
Pronunciation: l&-'si-vE-&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Late Latin lasciviosus, from Latin lascivia wantonness, from lascivus wanton -- more at [SIZE=-1]LUST[/SIZE]
: [SIZE=-1]LEWD[/SIZE], [SIZE=-1]LUSTFUL[/SIZE]
- las·civ·i·ous·ly adverb
- las·civ·i·ous·ness noun

Main Entry: lewd
Pronunciation: 'lüd
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English lewed vulgar, from Old English l[AE]wede laical, ignorant
1 obsolete : [SIZE=-1]EVIL[/SIZE], [SIZE=-1]WICKED[/SIZE]
2 a : sexually unchaste or licentious b : [SIZE=-1]OBSCENE[/SIZE], [SIZE=-1]VULGAR[/SIZE]
- lewd·ly adverb
- lewd·ness noun

Main Entry: lust·ful
Pronunciation: 'l&st-f&l
Function: adjective
: excited by lust : [SIZE=-1]LECHEROUS[/SIZE]
- lust·ful·ly /-f&-lE/ adverb
- lust·ful·ness noun

Main Entry: lech·er·ous
Pronunciation: 'le-ch&-r&s, 'lech-r&s
Function: adjective
: given to or suggestive of lechery
- lech·er·ous·ly adverb
- lech·er·ous·ness noun

Main Entry: lech·ery
Pronunciation: -rE
Function: noun
: inordinate indulgence in sexual activity : [SIZE=-1]LASCIVIOUSNESS[/SIZE]

Main Entry: in·or·di·nate
Pronunciation: i-'nor-d&n-&t, -'nord-n&t
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English inordinat, from Latin inordinatus, from in- + ordinatus, past participle of ordinare to arrange -- more at [SIZE=-1]ORDAIN[/SIZE]
1 archaic : [SIZE=-1]DISORDERLY[/SIZE], [SIZE=-1]UNREGULATED[/SIZE]
2 : exceeding reasonable limits : [SIZE=-1]IMMODERATE[/SIZE]
synonym see [SIZE=-1]EXCESSIVE[/SIZE]
- in·or·di·nate·ly adverb
- in·or·di·nate·ness noun

If you see it as wicked, it will be. Again, it is in moderation no matter how you read it. That's the way it comes up. Besides, the Bible still does not say anything about self-gratification now, does it? Who's parade are you trying to rain on here anyway, and you may want to ask yourself, why.

According to your definition, a man would be sinning if he lusts for his own wife. Not what the Lord was intending in His Word at all.

 

[Dondi]

What dictionary are you using?

If you see it as wicked, it will be. Again, it is in moderation no matter how you read it. That's the way it comes up. Besides, the Bible still does not say anything about self-gratification now, does it? Who's parade are you trying to rain on here anyway, and you may want to ask yourself, why.

According to your definition, a man would be sinning if he lusts for his own wife. Not what the Lord was intending in His Word at all.

According to your definition, a man would be sinning if he lusts for his own wife.

In a manner of speaking, yes. There is a world of difference between having sex and making love. There is a deep connection between a husband and wife when making love involving the emotional, psychological, and spiritual as well as the physical. It is a shared experience. A man ought never force himself on his wife when she is not in the mood, for then he is only looking at her as an object for his desire.

Furthermore, when a couple makes love, their ought to be the desire to please the other person. The deep special bonding that comes when pleasing the other person brings each to a higher sense of love and affection and heightened sense of pleasure.

It's nice of you to provide all those definitions. You can split hairs all you want, but it all amounts to the same thing: lust of the flesh. What is touching yourself but acting on an image set in your mind as an object of lust? And when we act on lust, we are feeding the flesh. Our spirit becomes distorted and diminished because we are acting on our own desires. The Spirit is quenched. We become weak in the flesh and it can result in a downward spiral that leads to more lusts.

Sex is not wicked. What is wicked is the lust of the flesh. Lust will cause us to look at people as objects of desire rather than people God has created.

Have I struggled with this? You betcha. but I recognize the dangers in allowing this thing to control me and bring me down. It is a fight.

Walking in the Spirit is an exercise. And just like exercising, the more you do it, the stronger you become. God's grace is sufficient when you fall, but He also wants you to get up and keep on exercising.

 

[messengerfrumabove]

i dont think it's wrong! i guess if you pray to God about it and try to get a answer then maybe he'll help you out! the way i know if something is wrong is are you ashamed, would your parents feel strongly about it, would you have a problem if youre caught1 that's the questions i ask myslef!

 

[MeekOne]

In a manner of speaking, yes. There is a world of difference between having sex and making love.

This is true.

There is a deep connection between a husband and wife when making love involving the emotional, psychological, and spiritual as well as the physical. It is a shared experience. A man ought never force himself on his wife when she is not in the mood, for then he is only looking at her as an object for his desire.

Good to know you feel that way.

Furthermore, when a couple makes love, their ought to be the desire to please the other person. The deep special bonding that comes when pleasing the other person brings each to a higher sense of love and affection and heightened sense of pleasure.

Yes, all true, but not on subject.

It's nice of you to provide all those definitions.

You are most welcome, my pleasure.

You can split hairs all you want, but it all amounts to the same thing: lust of the flesh. What is touching yourself but acting on an image set in your mind as an object of lust? And when we act on lust, we are feeding the flesh. Our spirit becomes distorted and diminished because we are acting on our own desires. The Spirit is quenched. We become weak in the flesh and it can result in a downward spiral that leads to more lusts.

And that is your opinion and you are entitled to it. I can tell you that it is very possible for one to gratify themselves and not have lustful thoughts in the least. It is possible, no matter what someone has said on here, it is possible.

Sex is not wicked.

I thought making love was not wicked.

What is wicked is the lust of the flesh. Lust will cause us to look at people as objects of desire rather than people God has created.

Yes, to some, it may.

Have I struggled with this? You betcha. but I recognize the dangers in allowing this thing to control me and bring me down. It is a fight.

Hope you don't lose.

Walking in the Spirit is an exercise. And just like exercising, the more you do it, the stronger you become. God's grace is sufficient when you fall, but He also wants you to get up and keep on exercising.

I agree with you there.

 

[Utah Knight]

my answers in red



Why is the topic so ignored in the Christian community?morality issues I’m 16 months celibate and I plan to stay pure until marriage. Kind of failed at first but I was never thought the importance of your temple and keeping your self pure sexually.

Masturbation, Is it a sin?yes it is Lust of the flesh I heard of some Christians who think it’s a sin because they that person is lusting. What if they are not lusting after a man/woman? it is still lust What if they just do it to relieve tension/stress? still lust for bodily pleasures there are other ways to relieve tension and stress

As Christians we know our flesh has a mind of its own. Since having a sexual nature is something God has blessed us with is it wrong to experience it on your own without impure thoughts?yes sex is to be done out of love and through marrage only If you think it’s wrong, give me scripture please, and tell me why? ] Sorry i did not quote scripture but i cannot recall what scripture is about lust of the flesh

 

[Dondi]

my answers in red



Why is the topic so ignored in the Christian community?morality issues I’m 16 months celibate and I plan to stay pure until marriage. Kind of failed at first but I was never thought the importance of your temple and keeping your self pure sexually.

Masturbation, Is it a sin?yes it is Lust of the flesh I heard of some Christians who think it’s a sin because they that person is lusting. What if they are not lusting after a man/woman? it is still lust What if they just do it to relieve tension/stress? still lust for bodily pleasures there are other ways to relieve tension and stress

As Christians we know our flesh has a mind of its own. Since having a sexual nature is something God has blessed us with is it wrong to experience it on your own without impure thoughts?yes sex is to be done out of love and through marrage only If you think it’s wrong, give me scripture please, and tell me why? ] Sorry i did not quote scripture but i cannot recall what scripture is about lust of the flesh

I John 2:15-16

 

[LJSGM]

Colossians 2
20Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

My only point here is that if you have a lust problem, don't blame it on masturbation. You have a heart problem. If you try to stop masturbating to get rid of your heart problem, you'll fail. Perhaps if you ask God to heal you, you will be healed.

If you have died to the sinful nature, then masturbation would not be an issue.

John 12:40 (New International Version)


40"He has blinded their eyes
and deadened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them."[a]

 

[mark53]

my answers in red



.

Masturbation, Is it a sin?yes it is Lust of the flesh I heard of some Christians who think it’s a sin because they that person is lusting. What if they are not lusting after a man/woman? it is still lust What if they just do it to relieve tension/stress? still lust for bodily pleasures there are other ways to relieve tension and stress

So to relieve stress and tensions I have a cuppa teaor coffee, I read a book, go for a walk, watch TV, or anything else; using this argument these are ALL sinful!

 

[simonjandrews]

so what if you touch when you think about your girlfriend.Is that still sinfull

 

[Dream]

Since when is sex supposed to be about self-gratification? Sex is holy because it so closely unifies a man and a woman together that they become one flesh, which imitates not only The Father and the Son's unification, but also Christ and the Church. Sex by oneself leads to no unity, but just mindless indulgence in pleasurable feelings..