You mean the one that explains your verse, in context, with references, and using the original language rather than an English translation? The one that's far more scholarly than some guy posting on the internet? Yes, why, I guess I am suggesting you side with the scholarly and study the text.
The article shows how you pulled it out of context. So, once again, if you're only going to reply to half the post, don't bother replying.
"Lust and sexual thought are two different things".....lol you keep telling yourself that
Red herring. For most people, masturbation isn't an obsession. This thread isn't about sex addiction.
I'd like to see you actually address the article rather than dodging around the issue and acting like you know better. False bravado isn't going to convince anyone of anything.
A Bible study isn't something written to justify a position, and it isn't just a lengthy paper. If you have something of substance to post, then do so. Beating around the bush merely wastes our time.
Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
If you aren't married, you shouldn't be thinking about sex. When it eventualy comes down to that, I repent and pray/get prayer from members of my congregation.
Sexual immorality is a sex act which is forbidden. Masturbation isn't condemned, and it isn't sex. Nor is 'thinking about sex' condemned. As my article shows. Therefore, your verse does not address this topic. Nor does your comment about what you do with 'your congregation'.Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
If you aren't married, you shouldn't be thinking about sex. When it eventualy comes down to that, I repent and pray/get prayer from members of my congregation.
Then neither is masturbation sex, sexual temptation, or over-indulgence by itself. You missed his comparison.
Another red herring: This has nothing to do with the discussion. We're not talking about sexuality, or one's sexual preferences. We are also not talking about sex. We are talking about masturbation. Please stay on topic.
Cut the accusations. No one's boasting here and it's quite rude to make false accusations.
Then why don't you refute it, rather than telling me I'm wrong without any reason for why this might be the case?
You opened with 'have you ever read Matthew' implying that the verse disagreed with me. I responded by telling you to address the rest of my post, which contained an article that shows what your verse actually means and noted that I've written a Bible study ON Matthew. You said that writing a long document doesn't prove one's point. I never said it did, so your reply was off topic: A red herring, meant to distract from the actual argument, much as this reply is: You never cited anything from Romans, and simply posting a Bible verse doesn't prove your point in light of a scholarly article that performs an exegesis on the passage you post in English. The actual evidence takes priority over empty claims.
Again, a red herring: Masturbation is not sex, so this reply as well as the last does not address the discussion at hand: Is masturbation a sin?
