Masturbation

[k-bug]

i read maybe 4out of 15 pages...I vote its ok. I really dont see much of a problem in it unless its taking up so much of your time a day that then MB starts to cause a problem in completing your daily tasks.

 

[SonicBOOM]

I think it's DIS honorable. I think there's something better that we could be doing, other than MB.

like what? Burn with passion?

 

[SonicBOOM]

If you go to Google and search "Porn-Again Christian" you should find a short online book by Mark Driscoll, the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, about sexual sin. A word of caution is that it was written for men but he has a section of this mini-book that specifically addresses masturbation. It's pretty good.

I would be very intrested to see what he says. He is honestly the most honest and truthful, but at the same time real guy I think I know when it comes to this issue. He's not the type to cover up truth, but he also isn't unreasonable.

 

[andy212]

I think its ok , but not watching porn purely for pleasure its wrong and leads to wanting more and more, few lies here and there next its the full thing you want and it leads to upset its a powerful thing that leads to distuction of live, friendship and guilt.

 

[Kiwicee]

I voted its not ok.

I don't like it in any way. I don't do it and my husband used to struggle with it from time to time. When we began seriously dating I expressed my views (while we were on the topic...not just randomly bombarding him). It is not to be done. It takes away from what I can give him. Whenever it happens I feel like I wasn't good enough for him to come to, or I wasn't important enough for him to wait for. Basically its me being selfish for my husband, but I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

 

[YoDude]

Masturbation, what an ugly word. Yes, we guys do it a lot. But, I believe trying to make it into an extended experience is wrong. Just get it over with and avoid impure thoughts. I wouldn't spend a whole lot of time worrying about it, I am sure there are plenty of other 'sins' that you could be focused on. Pornography, on the other hand, is gross and sad - sex is beautiful, but should be private, showing the world your sex act demonstrates deep personal issues IMO, and watching and supporting these lost souls is also disturbing. There is nothing funny about Porn, guys like to joke about it, but the people involved in it are most likely hurting about their actions and want to get out.

 

[Kristin E]

Masturbation, what an ugly word. Yes, we guys do it a lot. But, I believe trying to make it into an extended experience is wrong. Just get it over with and avoid impure thoughts. I wouldn't spend a whole lot of time worrying about it, I am sure there are plenty of other 'sins' that you could be focused on. Pornography, on the other hand, is gross and sad - sex is beautiful, but should be private, showing the world your sex act demonstrates deep personal issues IMO, and watching and supporting these lost souls is also disturbing. There is nothing funny about Porn, guys like to joke about it, but the people involved in it are most likely hurting about their actions and want to get out.

True True I agree

 

[amesylou]

I actually just read all 16 pages of this thread and found it very interesting. I struggle with knowing the right answer to this question, and in all honesty i dont think it is possible to know for SURE. All i can judge on is the things God has revealed to me in my quiet times.
Before i was a christian I did touch. And after coming to know God I have still done so quite a few times. But I have always felt convicted - and strongly. I dont know if it is right or wrong to touch in the eyes of God, all i know is that when I do - i feel distant from God and guilty. Hence my wanting to avoid it - I long to be in a close relationship with God and when things make me feel distant from him I avoid them.

A verse I have found helpful is this:
"Ephesians 5:3"
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

Now this verse to me doesnt answer the question of whether masturbation is a sin because it is jumping to the conclusion of masturbation being sexual immorality and impurity.
However it helps in that for me PERSONALLY - masturbation did lead to lust. And it was a greed thing because I was doing it for nothing but pleasure. And PERSONALLY i was doing it for comfort at times - before and instead of going to God.

I still really struggle with the overall answer though and dont claim to have any real idea.

 

[FireLily]

I don't think it's a sin. I think when you are thinking of what you want to do while masturbating is the real issue. If you're just doing it because it feels good, then I don't think it's a sin.

 

[Spirit_Star]

Interesting thread. The bible is not to clear on it. People have desire to have sexual pleasure. Take someone who has chosen to wait for marriage would it be better for them to touch sometimes or just not wait for marriage? If someone gets addicted to it can be unhealthy just like any other addiction. There are known health benefits as others have said.

I voted dont know.

 

[Rhamiel]

Interesting thread. The bible is not to clear on it. People have desire to have sexual pleasure. Take someone who has chosen to wait for marriage would it be better for them to touch sometimes or just not wait for marriage? If someone gets addicted to it can be unhealthy just like any other addiction. There are known health benefits as others have said.

I voted dont know.

now i will say that touching yourself is less of a sin then having sex outside of marriage, but being the lesser of two evils still leaves you with an evil

 

[Kiwicee]

There is no lesser version of sin...all sin is equal according to the Bible. There is only one unforgivable sin. Other than that...they are all the same.

 

[Rhamiel]

There is no lesser version of sin...all sin is equal according to the Bible. There is only one unforgivable sin. Other than that...they are all the same.

all sin is horrible and all sin leads to spiritual death
but we can say it is worse to murder someone then steal $10 from someone who has a lot of money
both are evil, both are sins, both lead to hell
but, one is worse then the other

 

[Kiwicee]

In our eyes, yes.

In God's eyes, no.

 

[armyman_83]

I voted that it is not ok. It tends to always come with lust.---And if you can get off without thinking about the opposite sex then you have more things to worry about.

 

[Thunder Peel]

I voted no. I've always felt that it leads to lust and is itself a selfish act. It's pleasure and attention that you're giving to yourself instead of to your spouse. I once heard a pastor say that you can't touch and sing Amazing Grace at the same time, which perfectly sums it up for me. I'm not claiming to have all the answers to this but if you're having questions or feeling convicted about it then I'd stay away. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit and asking God to help you in that area can go a long way.

 

[Paulie079]

Re:Lit | Porn Again Christian | eBook by Mark Driscoll
Everyone should go and read that link and then come back and discuss. Everything that's written there is very wise and very Biblical.

 

[Michael J]

Also, I know this answer will not fly for most of you folk on here but even though it is not spelled out in the Bible I still think it is a sin because I trust the Catholic Church, this is just my personal justification

Pshh, I'm not Catholic at all, but I fully agree it's a sin.

And whoever said picturing a sexual image in your head but weren't thinking of anyone specific that said that wasn't lust, I don't know what you're smoking.

Have I done it before? Yes. It's one of those things I hate about myself. I wish I could take back every time I've done it.

So maybe in itself it's not wrong, and you just have to do it without lust anywhere in the picture. Like that's ever gonna happen.

Big picture: NOT okay.

 

[charmaineisnt]

*twitch* Obviously lust is a sin. The only loophole I can think of would be if it were a release valve to keep from falling into sin with another person.....

 

[JCgirl4eternity]

I didn't vote because I believe it's all in an individual's convictions. If you feel guilty doing anything, then you need to stop doing it. If you don't, however, then I don't believe it would be considered a sin.
For example, everybody has different convictions about numerous things such as: drinking wine, listening to secular music, watching secular movies, dancing in church, cursing, etc.
So it is very important that we be honest with ourselves about what we feel is wrong and what we feel is right. We must continue to grow in our relationship with God and learn His word so that we can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit clearly in all situations.