Masturbation

[BoogityBogart]

Masturbation in itself is not a sin. In the Bible, it is never referred to as a sin, and it does not necessarily go hand-in-hand with lust - it's certainly possible to touch without lusting after other people.

no pun intended?

 

[Kencj]

no pun intended?

Good one!
How did I miss that?
And the point is a good one too.

 

[Kencj]

If I don't end up marrying, oh well. I guess I will have to be self-controlled.
...
And so what if two people marry if they don't love one another at first. Is it such a big deal.

I don't understand this either -after you're married you can abandon self-control? It only applies to unmarried people? Masturbation is not something that only happens with unmarried people by any means.

Also, you realize that most Christians refuse to marry without love being involved, mostly because it says things like "husbands, love your wives". That's why quoting "it's better to marry than to burn" as an assumed preventative for masturbation seems so facile.

 

[Eurasia]

Basically I had the same question for a long time when I was participating until I always felt guilty after I was done. I myself felt convictions after mastubating. So I asked questions about it, prayed and one day I got my answer. I was told that mastubation is fornication because of the thoughts that causes you to get to the arousal state and you're not with your spouse in the process. After that, I repented and ask God to give me the strength not to do this again and to learn from this. I still struggle with this but also I think of a hymn or gospel song whenever the urge pops up or I'll start praying to let God know what I'm feeling and I also remember that the bible says that we are not our own, we've been brought with a price and our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit so that stops a lot of my activites as well. Just go to the Lord, as for guidance as well forgiveness. He knows what's going on but wants us to admit and come correct with him. Good luck to you.

Thanks for sharing this.

 

[jeson000]

Listen to the inner voice of GOD in every one's soul and act/behave accordingly...!
HIS voice can be different to each according to each one's situation. Am I correct?

 

[Kencj]

Two scenarios:

Person 1 masturbates, it's all good, and thanks God for it or doesn't touch, it's all good, and thanks God for it, but most of all thanks God for his undeserved favor which was purchased on the cross by Christ.

Person 2 may have masturbated in the past, but scrupulously avoids it now, condemns it publicly, and, if Person 2 slips ups and "sins" again, feels condemned, prays about it, and promises never to do it again.

Question; which person is living under the law and which is living under grace?

And you can substitute "eats meat" or "drinks" or any number of things for "masturbates" in the above scenario.

 

[david_x]

Two scenarios:

Person 1 masturbates, it's all good, and thanks God for it or doesn't touch, it's all good, and thanks God for it, but most of all thanks God for his undeserved favor which was purchased on the cross by Christ.

Person 2 may have masturbated in the past, but scrupulously avoids it now, condemns it publicly, and, if Person 2 slips ups and "sins" again, feels condemned, prays about it, and promises never to do it again.

Question; which person is living under the law and which is living under grace?

And you can substitute "eats meat" or "drinks" or any number of things for "masturbates" in the above scenario.

Faith without works, it's not happening. One can not follow Christ and avoid his commands.

 

[Johnnz]

All your recent statements are predicated of your belief that masturbation is wrong. That's OK if that's your view. But where others because of no indication that scripture does in fact condemn masturbation then your position mustfoolow the biblical principles set out in Romans and 1 Corinthians where Christians can differ over less clearly defined matters. In those days it was sacred days and food. Have you own opinion but don't make that mandatory for those who differ summarised in Paul's instructions.

John
NZ

 

[david_x]

All your recent statements are predicated of your belief that masturbation is wrong. That's OK if that's your view. But where others because of no indication that scripture does in fact condemn masturbation then your position mustfoolow the biblical principles set out in Romans and 1 Corinthians where Christians can differ over less clearly defined matters. In those days it was sacred days and food. Have you own opinion but don't make that mandatory for those who differ summarised in Paul's instructions.

John
NZ

That is so off topic. I'm not forcing anything on them. If they don't want to listen that's fine, we don't even go to the same Church so VOID.

 

[Kencj]

Faith without works, it's not happening. One can not follow Christ and avoid his commands.

This only begs the question of where Christ commands anything against masturbation so I could say VOID here too.
You've already admitted it's not a sin.

And actually in my scenario above it should be more like;
which one is under faith and which is under legalism?
Since the law, as we've already established, says nothing about it.

And this is the same law that requires the death penalty for disobeying parents, forbids mixing two fibers in the same fabric and condemns shrimp as an "abomination".

 

[Kencj]

Faith without works, it's not happening. One can not follow Christ and avoid his commands.

This is also, by the way, a complete misrepresentation of what the verse "faith without works" is talking about. "Works" in James aren't not doing this or not doing that but actively doing good for others, something legalist Christians have no time for, since they're so busy NOT doing things

14What good does it do, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith but does not prove it with actions? This kind of faith cannot save him, can it? 15Suppose a brother or sister does not have any clothes or daily food 16and one of you tells them, “Go in peace! Stay warm and eat heartily.” If you do not provide for their bodily needs, what good does it do? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it does not prove itself with actions, is dead. James 2 ISV

 

[ChristFollower2009]

I personally see nothing wrong with masturbation. It is a healthy activity and can prevent one from engaging in fornication which is a sin.

 

[david_x]

This only begs the question of where Christ commands anything against masturbation so I could say VOID here too.
You've already admitted it's not a sin.

And actually in my scenario above it should be more like;
which one is under faith and which is under legalism?
Since the law, as we've already established, says nothing about it.

And this is the same law that requires the death penalty for disobeying parents, forbids mixing two fibers in the same fabric and condemns shrimp as an "abomination".

One should avoid these types of impure thoughts, that is not debatable.

 

[david_x]

This is also, by the way, a complete misrepresentation of what the verse "faith without works" is talking about. "Works" in James aren't not doing this or not doing that but actively doing good for others, something legalist Christians have no time for, since they're so busy NOT doing things

14What good does it do, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith but does not prove it with actions? This kind of faith cannot save him, can it? 15Suppose a brother or sister does not have any clothes or daily food 16and one of you tells them, “Go in peace! Stay warm and eat heartily.” If you do not provide for their bodily needs, what good does it do? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it does not prove itself with actions, is dead. James 2 ISV

You assume that doing something is separate from not doing something.

Can you love without not hating? Can be peaceful without not being war hungry?

 

[Zebra1552]

Desire for what does not satisfy, in this case wanting sexual things that are of superficial quality.

If it's SOO superficial, then why is sexual sin so serious in the Bible? And for that matter, seeing as it's so serious, why wouldn't masturbation be completely left out? And why would the passage in Matthew be so vague?

I suppose one could say the same for 'loving homosexual relationships' but it by no means makes it right.

No, one really couldn't. The sex acts would make the relationship not okay in the long run... unless they abstain, which would kinda defeat the point of BEING homosexual... I mean, aren't you SEXUALLY attracted to the same sex? Not that I'd know.

 

[Kencj]

One should avoid these types of impure thoughts, that is not debatable.

According to Jesus, impure thoughts themselves are unavoidable, and have nothing to do with what you do or don't do.

 

[Kencj]

You assume that doing something is separate from not doing something.

Can you love without not hating? Can be peaceful without not being war hungry?

Sorry, but you need to think more about your argument because so far this makes no sense at all.

 

[cowboysfan1970]

This makes me think of something else that's sort of related to this. There are Christians who are very convicted that drinking alcohol in any amount is sinful, and some that take it as far as sternly proclaiming that drinking alcohol in any amount will result in your condemnation. What really makes me laugh hard are those that promote this theory of Christ turning water into grape juice and not wine at the wedding at Cana. That one is really funny. It's also not a Christian theory either. It was started by the Women's Temperance Movement in the 19th Century. They were strongly opposed to alcohol in any shape or form and sought to bring about total prohibition. They knew they couldn't get their ideas accepted unless they got it preached from the pulpits on Sunday mornings. They got that and we got Prohibition. Prohibition, instead of "cleaning up America's moral decay," really resulted in the rise of powerful organized crime and made the career of Al Capone. There's no Biblical condemnation of drinking. It does speak out against drunkeness but not drinking itself. That's just another example of some people trying to make something a sin unto itself without scripture backing them up. They won't hesitate for one minute though to either misinterpret scripture or even change it to make their point. That's very similar to what this topic is about. Some people will also include dancing in there too. Either way it's their own personal agenda that they are wrapping up in scriptural righteousness and selling it like a used car.

 

[Kencj]

It was started by the Women's Temperance Movement in the 19th Century. They were strongly opposed to alcohol in any shape or form and sought to bring about total prohibition. They knew they couldn't get their ideas accepted unless they got it preached from the pulpits on Sunday mornings. They got that and we got Prohibition. Prohibition, instead of "cleaning up America's moral decay," really resulted in the rise of powerful organized crime and made the career of Al Capone.

Ah, I was wondering where that came from!
By the way, it was also called the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the WCTU.

 

[Zebra1552]

One should avoid these types of impure thoughts, that is not debatable.

Then why are we debating it?