Masturbation
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One important lesson I have learnt from psychology. You ignore your emotional responses and honest motivations at your peril. Suppressed emotion is a hidden force that builds to a point of being uncontrollable when it flows out. It is therefore hard sometimes to recognise you fancy another party, but also you would never get involved with them. It makes it more complex when repressed feelings in another are expressed to you, as if they define something more than inappropriate expression, driven by circumstances and unfulfilled need. We need our fantasies, to understand our desires, and then direct them in healthy ways.
A lesson learnt in the world is when people are given no sexual restraint they express and then get bored. Sex is a biological pressure, but is not a guide to happiness or reality. I know of a pastor who married young, and later fell for another woman, but could not cope with this contradiction, and why he had married in the first place which created so much conflict he had a nervous breakdown. Once he had recovered he divorced his wife, and had an affair with the woman in question, and I think may now have finally married her.
What was so unreal, was the hurt and pain he caused, which took over the situation. This is the reality of repressed emotion, rather than working it through. There are many who find this all too hard and would rather just go with the flow, which is why sin prevails...
A lesson learnt in the world is when people are given no sexual restraint they express and then get bored. Sex is a biological pressure, but is not a guide to happiness or reality. I know of a pastor who married young, and later fell for another woman, but could not cope with this contradiction, and why he had married in the first place which created so much conflict he had a nervous breakdown. Once he had recovered he divorced his wife, and had an affair with the woman in question, and I think may now have finally married her.
What was so unreal, was the hurt and pain he caused, which took over the situation. This is the reality of repressed emotion, rather than working it through. There are many who find this all too hard and would rather just go with the flow, which is why sin prevails...
J
If/since you "admit to that sin", then why don't you both confess it and forsake it before the Lord?
Either hand, eye or foot, whether right, left or both, when used in relation to sin, has the potential for leading to damnation whether or not anybody still believes the words of Jesus Christ nowadays:
Mark chapter 9
[43] And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
[44] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
[45] And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
[46] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
[47] And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
[48] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Here is the "unquenchable fire" of which Jesus spoke:
Isaiah chapter 66
[22] For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
[23] And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
[24] And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
That many here don't recognize the severity of sin is evidence to me that they've not been spending time in the Presence of a Holy God. Jesus "loves righteousness and hates iniquity" (Psalm 45:7, Hebrews 1:9) and He will ultimately tell all impenitent "workers of iniquity" to depart from Him (Matthew 7:23).
That makes no sense whatsoever. IOW, one's spouse is never going to be the means by which one is "cast into hell" in that we're all accountable for our own actions and not the actions of others.
You're certainly entitled to your own opinion, but the context is that of adultery. One's "eyes" certainly come into play in relation to looking lustfully upon another and one's "hand" could come into play in relation to masturbation in that many who masturbate do so as they're thinking upon another. Is this the only possible meaning? No, but it's certainly plausible. IOW, one's "hand" could come into play by merely touching/caressing/fondling/etc. somebody who isn't their spouse. In any case, could you ever imagine Jesus Christ masturbating? He brought His Own body into subjection unto the Father's will and we have the power to do the same via the grace of God and/or via the Spirit of grace.
I don't think that the focus here was upon whether or not the woman was married or single, but rather upon the man who was lusting after her in his heart. IOW, I believe that Jesus was addressing married men who lust after women, whether married or single, who are not their wives. Yes, I believe that Jesus was clearly teaching that fantasizing after a woman who isn't one's wife is sufficient to be sinful behavior. Similarly, Jesus had just finished explaining how hatred in one's heart constitutes "murder"...whether or not the actual physical, outward act was ever carried out. God "desires truth in the inward parts" (Psalm 51:6) and, according to Jesus Christ, adultery proceeds forth from the heart:
Matthew chapter 15
[16] And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
[17] Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
[18] But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
[19] For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
[20] These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Anyhow, if one cannot get their own heart to the point where adultery ceases, then it would be better for the same to lose either an eye or a hand to curb the same as opposed to having their whole body eventually "cast into hell". This isn't a game, friend (s), and, again, Jesus' words aren't merely "filler" in our Bibles.
Either hand, eye or foot, whether right, left or both, when used in relation to sin, has the potential for leading to damnation whether or not anybody still believes the words of Jesus Christ nowadays:
Mark chapter 9
[43] And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
[44] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
[45] And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
[46] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
[47] And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
[48] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Here is the "unquenchable fire" of which Jesus spoke:
Isaiah chapter 66
[22] For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
[23] And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
[24] And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
That many here don't recognize the severity of sin is evidence to me that they've not been spending time in the Presence of a Holy God. Jesus "loves righteousness and hates iniquity" (Psalm 45:7, Hebrews 1:9) and He will ultimately tell all impenitent "workers of iniquity" to depart from Him (Matthew 7:23).
That makes no sense whatsoever. IOW, one's spouse is never going to be the means by which one is "cast into hell" in that we're all accountable for our own actions and not the actions of others.
You're certainly entitled to your own opinion, but the context is that of adultery. One's "eyes" certainly come into play in relation to looking lustfully upon another and one's "hand" could come into play in relation to masturbation in that many who masturbate do so as they're thinking upon another. Is this the only possible meaning? No, but it's certainly plausible. IOW, one's "hand" could come into play by merely touching/caressing/fondling/etc. somebody who isn't their spouse. In any case, could you ever imagine Jesus Christ masturbating? He brought His Own body into subjection unto the Father's will and we have the power to do the same via the grace of God and/or via the Spirit of grace.
I don't think that the focus here was upon whether or not the woman was married or single, but rather upon the man who was lusting after her in his heart. IOW, I believe that Jesus was addressing married men who lust after women, whether married or single, who are not their wives. Yes, I believe that Jesus was clearly teaching that fantasizing after a woman who isn't one's wife is sufficient to be sinful behavior. Similarly, Jesus had just finished explaining how hatred in one's heart constitutes "murder"...whether or not the actual physical, outward act was ever carried out. God "desires truth in the inward parts" (Psalm 51:6) and, according to Jesus Christ, adultery proceeds forth from the heart:
Matthew chapter 15
[16] And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
[17] Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
[18] But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
[19] For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
[20] These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Anyhow, if one cannot get their own heart to the point where adultery ceases, then it would be better for the same to lose either an eye or a hand to curb the same as opposed to having their whole body eventually "cast into hell". This isn't a game, friend (s), and, again, Jesus' words aren't merely "filler" in our Bibles.
Ignorance and guilt. Many talk about sexual desire and control, and yet we have a society full of uncontrolled and intimate relationships, inside and outside the church, with children being created in difficult situations, yet we say masturbation is a sin and a problem. No the problem is being honest and open about desire, commitment, respect and love.
It is not a problem to realise you hate certain situations, you are angry about what has happened and want things to be different. It is a problem when all that feeling is buried and destroys the very foundations of faith and reality that Jesus brings.
How broken and how lost are those who feel they are despised because of their desires, and want to hide and appear good in case people see the truth. This leads to hypocracy, adultery and loss of all we hold dear.
I once asked a group about emotional openness and their response was did I want to know about the anger and sexual desires they had, or for these desires to be set free. I hope you understand they have made a fundemental mistake. We all have desires, in contexts that are not appropriate, but they rot if we hide and do nothing with them, or do not redirect them in healthy directions. But hypocrites would rather deny, condemn and cause more repression which just magnifies the issues.
It is love that helps us put things in context, which bring the emotions into line, not openly expressed to others but to ourselves. If we do not express how we feel to ourselves, the person we think we are is just our own creation.
It is not a problem to realise you hate certain situations, you are angry about what has happened and want things to be different. It is a problem when all that feeling is buried and destroys the very foundations of faith and reality that Jesus brings.
How broken and how lost are those who feel they are despised because of their desires, and want to hide and appear good in case people see the truth. This leads to hypocracy, adultery and loss of all we hold dear.
I once asked a group about emotional openness and their response was did I want to know about the anger and sexual desires they had, or for these desires to be set free. I hope you understand they have made a fundemental mistake. We all have desires, in contexts that are not appropriate, but they rot if we hide and do nothing with them, or do not redirect them in healthy directions. But hypocrites would rather deny, condemn and cause more repression which just magnifies the issues.
It is love that helps us put things in context, which bring the emotions into line, not openly expressed to others but to ourselves. If we do not express how we feel to ourselves, the person we think we are is just our own creation.
I asked the same question and so did somebody else besides you.
I'm not interested in a reference to some book or CD lacking credible scientific information.
I am interested in links to scientific studies, preferably from reputable scientific journals.
Can anybody furnish any of those? Particularly those who have said addiction to porn causes brain damage?
I'm not interested in a reference to some book or CD lacking credible scientific information.
I am interested in links to scientific studies, preferably from reputable scientific journals.
Can anybody furnish any of those? Particularly those who have said addiction to porn causes brain damage?
Saying I was addicted to fantasy baseball was a joke. I only have two teams not ten like some people do. But it was a joke with a point.
The point is, addiction to anything can lead to sinful behavior. Being addicted to fantasy baseball could be sinful behavior, for example, if you ignored the responsibility to provide for your family. If you quit your job and spent all day watching baseball games and following your teams.
Same thing with masturbation, in my opinion. If you obsessively masturbate instead of being intimate with your wife, then that could be sinful behavior.
What about masturbation as part of foreplay between a husband and wife? Or for example, what if the wife wants to please her husband but . . . Aunt Flo is knocking at the door?
Same with porn to some extent. Is everyone who read Fifty Shades of Grey or watched the movie guilty of sinful behavior?
Some posts like yours have sexual repression written all over them.
The point is, addiction to anything can lead to sinful behavior. Being addicted to fantasy baseball could be sinful behavior, for example, if you ignored the responsibility to provide for your family. If you quit your job and spent all day watching baseball games and following your teams.
Same thing with masturbation, in my opinion. If you obsessively masturbate instead of being intimate with your wife, then that could be sinful behavior.
What about masturbation as part of foreplay between a husband and wife? Or for example, what if the wife wants to please her husband but . . . Aunt Flo is knocking at the door?
Same with porn to some extent. Is everyone who read Fifty Shades of Grey or watched the movie guilty of sinful behavior?
Some posts like yours have sexual repression written all over them.
You might find leads to some research in This Article
Yes, and additional research leads you to another article on the very same site entitled "Neuroscience research fails to support claims that excessive pornography consumption causes brain damage" that refutes the article you cited.
Neuroscience research fails to support claims that excessive pornography consumption causes brain damage
The article you cited mentions other addictions such as overeating and drug abuse that cause similar brain activity.
So, my question to you and anyone else is it the addiction that is the sinful behavior or is it the specific act of masturbation?
Neuroscience research fails to support claims that excessive pornography consumption causes brain damage
The article you cited mentions other addictions such as overeating and drug abuse that cause similar brain activity.
So, my question to you and anyone else is it the addiction that is the sinful behavior or is it the specific act of masturbation?
You should ask Today's Christian Woman.
And here is an interesting Q & A from same entitled "Is Masturbation a Sin?"
Is Masturbation a Sin? | Today's Christian Woman
So do all the sexual repressionists posting on this tread disagree with the Answer presented here?
And here is an interesting Q & A from same entitled "Is Masturbation a Sin?"
Is Masturbation a Sin? | Today's Christian Woman
So do all the sexual repressionists posting on this tread disagree with the Answer presented here?
My problem is your interpretation of what Jesus said.
One of the comments on that Q & A "Is Masturbation a Sin?" at Today's Christian Woman is this one made by Tanya Roberts:
"As an honors graduate of Christian Theology, I feel that the vast majority of Christians are missing a vital point on this issue. Matt. 5:27-28 had nothing do with pornography. The word rendered 'lustfully' was transcribed from the Koine Greek 'epithumia' - meaning 'desire to possess'. It is a re-iteration of the 10th Commandment - though shalt not covet thy neighbor's property - his wife! (Ex. 20:17.) Note the use of the term 'adultery' and not fornication. Romance, as we know it today, was an invention of the Troubadours in the 12th century. In the 1st century, a woman was sold into marriage to become her husband's property.
Matt: 5:27-30 is concerned with ancient Jewish proprietary rights, and has no relevance to contemporary teenagers masturbating to porn. This is purely a bodily function which lowers the overwhelming build up of semen and androgenic activity, and should be frowned upon no more than using the lavatory should. Cruelty has no place in modern western civilization."
She has a much more credible interpretation of what Jesus said than you do.
One of the comments on that Q & A "Is Masturbation a Sin?" at Today's Christian Woman is this one made by Tanya Roberts:
"As an honors graduate of Christian Theology, I feel that the vast majority of Christians are missing a vital point on this issue. Matt. 5:27-28 had nothing do with pornography. The word rendered 'lustfully' was transcribed from the Koine Greek 'epithumia' - meaning 'desire to possess'. It is a re-iteration of the 10th Commandment - though shalt not covet thy neighbor's property - his wife! (Ex. 20:17.) Note the use of the term 'adultery' and not fornication. Romance, as we know it today, was an invention of the Troubadours in the 12th century. In the 1st century, a woman was sold into marriage to become her husband's property.
Matt: 5:27-30 is concerned with ancient Jewish proprietary rights, and has no relevance to contemporary teenagers masturbating to porn. This is purely a bodily function which lowers the overwhelming build up of semen and androgenic activity, and should be frowned upon no more than using the lavatory should. Cruelty has no place in modern western civilization."
She has a much more credible interpretation of what Jesus said than you do.
D
I personally think that masturbation isn't a sin. Certainly isn't a commandment. I agree that lusthe and porn and sexually explicit thoughts are sinful, however what if your husband masturbates you because it pleasureseems you?, is that a sin? Or NAVY Wives Who Are Without THEIR Husbands for Months and years? Or husbands who have adulterous wives and won't have s3x with them out of fear of a disease?, I think we all should use good judgment and our personal relationships with God, if you truly have one you know what pleases god and what doesn't! I Also feel that, if you masterbate alone, with lust and desire fir your wife, or husband it's okay. Because I'd feel better knowing my hubby master bated while I was out of town rather than watched porn or worst committed adultery. ..
S
This woman RememberTheSabbathDay is posting this stuff from Ellen G. White's writings.
By the way, Ellen G. White taught that masturbation was caused by eating meat. In addition, she didn't recommend eating hot cereal because it, too, aroused animal passions.
I wish this woman would quit posting Ellen G. White teachings and not attributing the source.
Here is a link that proves the source of her posts:
https://books.google.com/books?id=M..."Moral principle is exceedingly weak"&f=false
By the way, Ellen G. White taught that masturbation was caused by eating meat. In addition, she didn't recommend eating hot cereal because it, too, aroused animal passions.
I wish this woman would quit posting Ellen G. White teachings and not attributing the source.
Here is a link that proves the source of her posts:
https://books.google.com/books?id=M..."Moral principle is exceedingly weak"&f=false
S
Another thing that is pretty weird about Ellen G. White is that she taught amalgamation..which is the idea that men had sex with animals and that this is why certain species of animals resemble human beings, and vice versa. Never mind that it is scientifically impossible for this to occur.
She also mandated the wearing of a weird combination of pants and dresses for women in the Seventh Day Adventist churches. The combination was so strange that Seventh Day Adventist women would often avoid going out in public due to the odd dress. She claimed that God told her they should wear this clothing.
If you want to look up details on this incident, use google to and look for the phrase "reform dress" and Ellen G. White. God somehow "inspired" her command for SDA women to wear it, and then "uninspired" it not long afterwards.
This is the kooky world of legalism.
She also mandated the wearing of a weird combination of pants and dresses for women in the Seventh Day Adventist churches. The combination was so strange that Seventh Day Adventist women would often avoid going out in public due to the odd dress. She claimed that God told her they should wear this clothing.
If you want to look up details on this incident, use google to and look for the phrase "reform dress" and Ellen G. White. God somehow "inspired" her command for SDA women to wear it, and then "uninspired" it not long afterwards.
This is the kooky world of legalism.