First of all, I understand that the comment I am about to make does not philosophically address the issue, but as far as I'm concerned it addresses the spirituality of it. We, as Christians, often ask "is this wrong," "is it a sin for me to," and so forth...that is fine and well, but we are working backwards...if we are truly believers. As believers, and thus FOLLOWERS of Christ, we should be seeking to grow continually closer to Him, not simply avoid closer and closer adherence to the world and the doctrines of it established by the prince and power of the air. We should be seeking to glorify Christ, and this process includes our bodies, being Paul tells us that the believer's body has now become the chosen dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. If we began sifting through our lives by asking the question, "Does this glorify my Father?," rather than asking, "Is this tearing me father from my Father?" I think we will find many of these "gray" areas become much clearer. "Whether you eat, drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Paul states in
Romans 6:12-14 (NAS)
"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the ead and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace."
So the questions a believer should ask themselves concerning an action then become this concerning masturbation...
"Does this action honor the Lord?"
"Am I enslaved to this action?" (or is it habitual, do i feel it necessary, however you want to word it.)
If as a believer I realize that the answer to the first is no and/or the answer to the second is yes then I know I am in sin, because I am not supposed to be slave to anything, but Christ and I am held to a higher standard as a believer which James words like this...(4:17)
"Therefore, to one who konws the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin."
And while I am sure I will hear disagreement concerning this view, I believe that what Paul states in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 could be made into a case concerning sexual self-gratification...
"Flee immorality. Every other sin tha ta man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body."
(the last part of that "glorify God in your body" is obviously what I was eluding to earlier and confirms my earlier point about what our focus should be as a believer.)
Anyway, hopefully that helps you with your question.
I'd love to hear any feedback or rebuttle.
Much love in Christ!
