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M
Wow. You really need to hit your knees and find out who God truly is. You can't base your actions off of the actions of people in the world. Remember we are in this world not of it. You are walking on dangerous ground and I suggest you strongly seek God to find out who he is. To say that you are a Christian and don't believe the totality of God's word is blasphemous.
S
God did tell us in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8:
1Thessalonians 4:3-8 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1Th 4:4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
1Th 4:5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;
1Th 4:6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.
1Th 4:7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
1Th 4:8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
1Thessalonians 4:3-8 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1Th 4:4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
1Th 4:5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;
1Th 4:6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.
1Th 4:7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
1Th 4:8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
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S
Here's a good rule of thumb..
If it feels good... its probably a sin
If it feels good... its probably a sin
St Maximos the Confessor (died 13 August 662)
Four Hundred Texts on Love
Third Century
I highly advise any Christian to read his 400 Chapters on Love.
S
This is a sin but like all sins it can be forgiven. This sin, being one of the flesh is very dangerous. It has the ability to darken the soul and lead it away from God and communion with him.
Also, to indulge in such a sin (of the flesh) is to build up the selfishness inside of a person. The selfishness becomes like shackles on a person.
St Maximus the confessor says that selfishness is a mindless love of one's own body. This may sound strange at first but when you think about how are souls are intricately connected with our bodies you will understand.
He said this,
59. Guard yourself from that mother of vices, self-love, which is mindless love for the body. For it gives birth with specious justification to the three first and most general of the impassioned thoughts. I mean those of gluttony, avarice and self-esteem, which take as their pretext some so-called need of the body. All further vices are generated by these three. You must therefore be on your guard, as we have already said, and fight against selflove with great vigilance. For when this vice is eradicated, all the others are eradicated too.
Also, to indulge in such a sin (of the flesh) is to build up the selfishness inside of a person. The selfishness becomes like shackles on a person.
St Maximus the confessor says that selfishness is a mindless love of one's own body. This may sound strange at first but when you think about how are souls are intricately connected with our bodies you will understand.
He said this,
59. Guard yourself from that mother of vices, self-love, which is mindless love for the body. For it gives birth with specious justification to the three first and most general of the impassioned thoughts. I mean those of gluttony, avarice and self-esteem, which take as their pretext some so-called need of the body. All further vices are generated by these three. You must therefore be on your guard, as we have already said, and fight against selflove with great vigilance. For when this vice is eradicated, all the others are eradicated too.
Can anybody tell me how masturbation makes you a selfish person?
A hot bath when you are tired from a day at work (or school) is nice to the body and relaxing - so that must be sinful as well?
Or that you spoil yourself with a really well cooked meal and perhaps a glass of your favourite drink?
That is also selfish.
The real thing about why masturbation is such a big deal is that sexuality is looked upon with great shame. And that person are actually touching and playing with their private parts (esp young people) just freak out some moralists (the same moralists that say that slavery is not so bad since God says its okay).
A hot bath when you are tired from a day at work (or school) is nice to the body and relaxing - so that must be sinful as well?
Or that you spoil yourself with a really well cooked meal and perhaps a glass of your favourite drink?
That is also selfish.
The real thing about why masturbation is such a big deal is that sexuality is looked upon with great shame. And that person are actually touching and playing with their private parts (esp young people) just freak out some moralists (the same moralists that say that slavery is not so bad since God says its okay).
S
Read my first quote again. It said that only misuse of things is evil. To satisfy your sexual appetite without any concrete purpose, like procreation or marital boding, is a misuse of creation because it serves no ultimate purpose other than self indulgence / satisfaction. Good food, and a hot bath after a hard day, these are not harmful because they serve an ultimate, concrete purpose that is according to nature. However, drinking sugary drinks (soft drinks) and other addicting, useless, and potentially enslaving pleasures (masturbation), serve no other purpose other than the fulfillment of the ego. This is to be "carnally minded", which the Apostle Paul said was "death". "For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (Romans 8:6).
If you were an Orthodox Christian you would understand better.
Its bad because it enslaves and darkens the minds of people. Any kind of addiction to pleasure (hedonism) can and may lead someone into the pits of destruction. I became a hardcore drug addict because my own hedonism (love of pleasure). Before then, I had learned how to masturbate when I was just 7. Food, sex, and other things contributed to my drug use, but I was too tired of food and sex as pleasure and wanted something more intense, more mind altering and lasting. So I turned to drugs...
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B
It now seems that emotions and the diverse understanding & interpretations of the Bible is ruling over the masturbation issue, thus diverting us from the core of the matter. I think the best thing could be to put this diverse knowledge for a good cause and not fight the Word of God that would never change no matter how hard we try or fight.
See... there... a very good example of what I am trying to say. "Any kind of addiction to pleasure (hedonism) can and may lead someone into the pits of destruction."
Of course it can. It is just like alcohol. Some people can't drink alcohol. If they have one glass they are addicted and they let it rule their lives. That is of course a sin. But most people don't have that problem at all. They have a glass of wine at supper because it pleases them.
The same thing with masturbation. Sure there are those who get addicted to masturbation and porn and cannot function in normal life. Then it is a sin. But most people... well for them it is the same as a glass of wine to supper. Something pleasing but nothing more than that.
Of course you should look for sin. But some things are just not sin in others... While it might be sin for you since you cannot control it.
I am glad you got out of the drug using bit though... that is bad for you.
Of course it can. It is just like alcohol. Some people can't drink alcohol. If they have one glass they are addicted and they let it rule their lives. That is of course a sin. But most people don't have that problem at all. They have a glass of wine at supper because it pleases them.
The same thing with masturbation. Sure there are those who get addicted to masturbation and porn and cannot function in normal life. Then it is a sin. But most people... well for them it is the same as a glass of wine to supper. Something pleasing but nothing more than that.
Of course you should look for sin. But some things are just not sin in others... While it might be sin for you since you cannot control it.
I am glad you got out of the drug using bit though... that is bad for you.
S
So what you are saying, that the Bible condones or condemns it?
It says in Romans,
Romans 1:24 "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of the own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies among themselves, "
"Dishonor their own bodies among, (that is, with )themselves. What does that sound like to you? Masturbation. Masturbation is having sex with one's self, it is dishonoring your own body by yourself.
It says in Romans,
Romans 1:24 "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of the own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies among themselves, "
"Dishonor their own bodies among, (that is, with )themselves. What does that sound like to you? Masturbation. Masturbation is having sex with one's self, it is dishonoring your own body by yourself.