IS MASTURBATION A SINFUL PRACTICE?

Can you hold hands with God if you practise masturbation and did not repent?

What is Masturbation?

Cambridge Dictionary defines masturbation as the act of touching or rubbing your sexual organs in order to give yourself sexual pleasure.

This means that masturbation brings about sexual orgasm which is produced by self-stimulation for self-sexual arousal and pleasure. This shows a marked difference between masturbation and love making which is a shared activity.

The sin of Masturbation

There are many who chant the benefits of masturbation but these are deceptive benefits. We must understand that it is just as sinful as any other sexual sins. Although persons tend to present it as normal and give many excuses for its practise we need to examine the topic from a godly perspective. In addition, there are no known medical reasons for one to practise masturbation.

God made us sexual beings but we have taken the good which was given to us and to a great extent turn it into depravity. Genesis 1:26-27 -  So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

²⁸ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

As we observe the far reaching sexual engagements of humans and the directions in which we are going sexually there ought to be great concern from those who know what God desires from us.

What are some of the sexual sins which are permeating the society? I will list a few: common law relationship (living together without marriage/shacking up), bestiality, lesbianism, homosexuality and masturbation. Yes, we are living in a world that is overtaken by sexual cravings and the irony is that some of us who say that we are believers in Christ, sit contentedly by or do not see anything wrong in what is happening. Despise the diversities in opinions true believers in Christ must arise and give glory to God by abstaining and speaking out against the evils in society.

 Is Masturbation a Sin in Christianity?

Is it possible for one to experience sexual orgasm without a sexual image in the mind? No. Jesus expounded on the issue of the sexual sin of adultery in Matthew 5:28. He said, But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. This means that previously the act would have to be committed for it to be adultery but today the thoughts become adulterous.

What is the difference between nocturnal emission and lusting? Nocturnal emission is a release which occurs naturally. It is a built-in mechanism for reducing sexual pressures. Your body was built with this mechanism. It is innocent and helpful. It is not brought about by lusting, yearning and depravity. While it is evident that God has made a connection between sexual orgasm and sexual thought in such a way that the force and pleasure of orgasm are dependent on the thought or images in our minds, He has tempered such in nocturnal emissions (wet dream).

If in your subconsciousness images are linked with sexual orgasm how much so when you are conscious. In order to masturbate, it is necessary to get vivid and exciting thoughts or images into the mind. This can be done by impacting imagination or by pictures or movies or stories or real persons. For this reason, many are hooked to pornography and for this cause also the sex industry is booming. The images of whatever sort are objects that arouse your sexuality. These objects can destroy the pureness of your mind and lead you into depravity. They are objects whether technological, physical or imaginary because only when you relate or respond to the opposite sex in real flesh and blood and soul can that individual be a subject. God did not create us to relate sexually to self or objects but to the opposite sex.

Masturbation is carnality. It begins in the mind and the Scriptures tell us, “They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh.”  “For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” “The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God; neither indeed can be.” So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 5:5-8.

We are also admonished by Apostle Peter in 1^st Peter 1:13, “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober.”

 There are many reasons why masturbation is wrong.

Masturbation produces real and legitimate guilt and stands in the way of obedience. I know that there are many men and women who lack self-control and have raging hormones and are finding it difficult to remain pure spiritually. This is so because in every society, people are being bombarded with sexual content. I encourage you not to fall into the snare of sexual uncleanness because God has not forsaken us. He is the one who designed and made us; He is intimately familiar with what we are going through.

Hebrews 2:17-18 reminds us, “Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”

For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.”

Hebrews 4:15-16 tells us, “For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”

Jesus faced every temptation yet He never sinned! He had females about Him yet He never lusted!!! He did not come to earth as a super human He came as a normal man who had an intention to obey God, His Father and live righteously. He lived in obedience to God and knew that everyone could do the same so He told us to follow His example. If He was a super human would he have asked us normal humans to follow His example or would we be condemned for not following His example. Matthew 5:48 tells us that Jesus said that we should be perfect even as our Father in Heaven is perfect. Yes, it is possible to live a clean and holy life without lusting and masturbation.

The purpose of Christ’s life is to glorify His Father. Thus, I will pose a question which some may find difficult to answer but your understanding of the principles which guided Jesus will colour your response. Do you believe that Jesus practised masturbation? Here is Jesus' statement in John 5:19, Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” According to this passage, Jesus did what He saw His Father do. Therefore, in order for Jesus to have masturbated, He must have first witnessed His Father masturbate! So, did Jesus see God the Father masturbate? Who could ever have conceived that God could have been engaged in such an action? Do you see how this whole subject is blasphemous? God the Father does not masturbate and neither did Jesus! He also said, "For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of him that sent Me.” (John 6:38).

Christians are followers of Jesus and as His followers we cannot act or speak differently? We ought to follow the example set by Christ because only by doing so can we become Children of God. How does Apostle Paul respond in 1 Corinthians 10:31? "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Does masturbation bring God glory? No!!!! It does not. Masturbation gives a form of self-gratification and sends us farther from God and does not glorify God. It is a sin.

James 4:17 states, Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Ponder these things and seek God earnestly in prayer and fasting if you are in the bondage of sexual immoralities or any other sins. God can cleanse and purify you if you repent and turn to Him.  Psalm 51:10- Create in me a clean heart, O Lord and renew a right spirit within me. Do not listen to those who are telling you about benefits derived from the activity. The final benefit is that you will end up in the midst of hell fire with Satan and his demons due to your impure mind.

I know that some persons may be asking what about those persons whose partners are living in foreign countries what should they do? If a couple allows the Scriptures and the Spirit of God to guide them, they would not have been willingly separated from each other for such a long time that sexually frustrated sets in. When you allow your cravings for material things to supersede common sense you must bear the consequences with righteous dignity. Either go where the spouse is or the spouse comes to you. Think and act wisely. God bless you.

Writer - A. E. Fisher

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