Is masturbation dishonoring to God? Is it a sin?

[Sasja]

I know that there's no verse that really forbids masturbation, but the Bible does teach us that our body is not our own, that it belongs to God:

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)"

and that we need to honor God with our body.

So, is masturbation dishonoring to God? Is it a sin?

 

[Depleted]

Matt. 5:[FONT=&quot]27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.[/FONT]


So, if you can masterbate without lusting, I don't think it's a sin. (On the other hand, I also don't know how to do it without lusting.)

 

[Sasja]

I see. But doesn't adultery mean to have sex with someone other than your husband/wife? So I don't get how that applies to me, a single guy ...

 

[Spurgeoncy]

So what are men supposed to do if they don't have a wife....go crazy?

I think if a man is not lusting after women, he has a hormonal problem.

If God intended us to be desireless, he would have made our women moslem, and stuck them in Purdah.

No normal male can walk down the street without lusting after women.

 

[Corbinscam]

I see. But doesn't adultery mean to have sex with someone other than your husband/wife? So I don't get how that applies to me, a single guy ...

You're totally missing Jesus' point. He was technically speaking of adultery but He did so because His audience understood. His point was that sin begins in the heart not with just an action itself. So yes this applies to anyone, imo.

To the original question...I feel confident that you know the answer or you wouldn't bother asking the question. If you didn't feel in your heart it was wrong you wouldn't be bothered enough to go looking for answers.

My question would be do you want an excuse to continue to do it or to start doing it or are you looking for why and how you can overcome it?

 

[Corbinscam]

So what are men supposed to do if they don't have a wife....go crazy?

I think if a man is not lusting after women, he has a hormonal problem.

If God intended us to be desireless, he would have made our women moslem, and stuck them in Purdah.

No normal male can walk down the street without lusting after women.

With all due respect I disagree. There is something wrong with a man if he has zero sex drive. There is also something emotionally and spiritually wrong with a man who can't control himself. And a huge portion of what is wrong is that society excuses it as a "boys will be boys" type thing and it justifies the actions that in turn make any christian man feel like crap.
Will a normal guy think about it, sure. Does he have to walk around drooling and lusting after every female he sees, don't think so.

 

[Spurgeoncy]

Drooling? Speak for yourself.

 

[Depleted]

I see. But doesn't adultery mean to have sex with someone other than your husband/wife? So I don't get how that applies to me, a single guy ...

Oh. You might be that guy. (I always wanted to meet that guy. lol)

Is there no image in your head when you're masterbating? Is there no lusting going on? Even if your imagining some starlet or athlete or musician you know you will never ever meet, it's still lusting. It's still adultery.

What Jesus was saying is key there. It's not just action that is sin. It's thought of sin that is sin. (Keeping the law is that deep.)

If you're really that guy, then nothing to worry about.

And it really is a conundrum (for both men and women.) I have no idea what we're supposed to do instead, other then focus on God. And, even there, do know at least 99% of us fail at that. (Probably more, but I keep holding hope for that guy. lol) Jesus died on that cross because of masterbating too. He really did understand how deep sin is woven in us. The guilt is really there because it's supposed to be. But at least we have a firmer appreciation that we all sin.

 

[Sasja]

You're totally missing Jesus' point. He was technically speaking of adultery but He did so because His audience understood. His point was that sin begins in the heart not with just an action itself. So yes this applies to anyone, imo.

To the original question...I feel confident that you know the answer or you wouldn't bother asking the question. If you didn't feel in your heart it was wrong you wouldn't be bothered enough to go looking for answers.

My question would be do you want an excuse to continue to do it or to start doing it or are you looking for why and how you can overcome it?

I'm looking for a way to overcome it really...

 

[Corbinscam]

Drooling? Speak for yourself.

Alrighty then

 

[Yonah]

Seems to me this is very simple, yield your members to righteousness (Romans 6:13) also see Romans 12:1, if we are not our own but are bought with a price how ought we behave? and as for those who mistakenly believe that men "need" some sort of release in this way, I say to you: Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. now either we choose to believe this or not, that's each ones choice, 1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Now as to the question of whether it is sin or not... ask yourself this: (as we must do when these questions of right or wrong arise) if our Savior were there with you, would you even ask Him such a thing? and if so, what to you suppose His reply would be? pray about this and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, we have this promise as well.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

And if any man's semen go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening.

And every garment, and every skin, where on is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.

The woman also with whom man shall lie and have an emission of semen, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Leviticus 15:16-18 NKJV

 

[Sasja]

Oh. You might be that guy. (I always wanted to meet that guy. lol)

Is there no image in your head when you're masterbating? Is there no lusting going on? Even if your imagining some starlet or athlete or musician you know you will never ever meet, it's still lusting. It's still adultery.

What Jesus was saying is key there. It's not just action that is sin. It's thought of sin that is sin. (Keeping the law is that deep.)

If you're really that guy, then nothing to worry about.

And it really is a conundrum (for both men and women.) I have no idea what we're supposed to do instead, other then focus on God. And, even there, do know at least 99% of us fail at that. (Probably more, but I keep holding hope for that guy. lol) Jesus died on that cross because of masterbating too. He really did understand how deep sin is woven in us. The guilt is really there because it's supposed to be. But at least we have a firmer appreciation that we all sin.

What do you mean with "You might be that guy"?

 

[Spurgeoncy]

I'm looking for a way to overcome it really...

Join a monastic order and wear sackcloth.

When they exhume skeletons from Monastery Graveyards they are often riddled with the evidence of std's and then they find secret chambers to the Nunnery and so on and so on.

 

[dcontroversal]

I'm looking for a way to overcome it really...

Then quit...end of story.....I am assuming your brain controls you appendages..........if you know Jesus, just pray and quit.

 

[Sasja]

And if any man's semen go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening.

And every garment, and every skin, where on is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.

The woman also with whom man shall lie and have an emission of semen, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Leviticus 15:16-18 NKJV

Ok I see, thanks for the advice! GBY

 

[Sasja]

Join a monastic order and wear sackcloth.

When they exhume skeletons from Monastery Graveyards they are often riddled with the evidence of std's and then they find secret chambers to the Nunnery and so on and so on.

With all due respect, but I'm not really thinking about becoming a monk atm.

 

[Depleted]

So what are men supposed to do if they don't have a wife....go crazy?

I think if a man is not lusting after women, he has a hormonal problem.

If God intended us to be desireless, he would have made our women moslem, and stuck them in Purdah.

No normal male can walk down the street without lusting after women.

Not masterbating does not cause Psychosis. Although it is sure to feel like it.

And you're right, no normal man can, (nor normal woman.) We aren't called to be normal. We are called to rise above to God's level of good.

And, you're right. We really (really reaallllly) can't do it. (Or in this case, cannot not do it.) But then again can we do a single thing for God's true good on our own?

We are called to love God fully and to love others as ourself. Here's the thing, when we do something nice/good/kind/sweet for someone else, our very reasoning for the act is called up on the carpet. If any part of it is to feel good about ourselves, then poof! It is sin. It is not good. We failed! THAT is how hard it is for us to do anything good, even as Christians. That's the line, and not one of us can do that either without God truly working through us.

So, yeah. I truly get it. I fail too. None of us go far when we try on our own. And yet love God and love others is all we're supposed to do. All we can do as "normal" people. Once we get how far we've fallen from what God calls "normal" (his good), then we see how how his standard is, how unable we are to meet that, and remember the most important part -- "through God in us."

That's how. It's usually a moment by moment thing. It's not even that without God through us.

In the famous words of Luke Skywalker, "You ask too much of me." Yeah. God knows that, so he has given us his way.

And, let's face it, if we can take it to masterbation, we really get how incapable we all are! (I wish I grew up back in the days women didn't even know they could masterbate.)

 

[Depleted]

I'm looking for a way to overcome it really...

God! Keep your focus on him. Keep seeking after his will, instead of what you want. Let him work through you.

I have no idea if you will ever overcome it in this body, but keep doing that and you can't go wrong.

 

[Spurgeoncy]

Jesus was talking about Pornography when he said that:

Matthew 5:28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

In everyday life lust is the normal reaction to an attractive member of the opposite sex