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First off, many here have made the comment that it is impossible to refrain from masturbating, but I have to ask doesn't that denigrate God's ability to help us overcome anything? Very rare is the story of a person trying to orgasm for medical purposes. Most of the time it is for the pleasure of self. Can people be brought to orgasm without lusting? I'm sure it is possible, but what is the reality of the situation? Most people masturbating for self-gratification are probably thinking about something that sexually arouses them, and the multi-billion dollar porn industry is probably a pretty good indication that masturbation isn't something God wants people doing. Far too many times people want to say that because it is "natural" and "not hurting anyone" that it is perfectly fine, but they tend to forget that ever since Eden, sin has felt "natural" to us. I read an article once that pointed out that masturbation is so focused on self-gratification, that those who do it too much tend to find it harder to be gratified by others. Like someone said earlier, this is ultimate a personal matter between the person and God because it really centers around the thoughts during the act and the motivations behind it. No human being should be thinking sexually about another who they are not married to. I'm not saying that is an easy task at all because like I said sin feels natural to us, but as hard as it is, I must refrain from mentally undressing an attractive woman just because it feels natural to me. I think the whole struggle with puberty and adolescence is about learning self control. I still struggle myself, but I know God can help me overcome every sinful inclination I have. Far too often young single people are just told that masturbation is bad without any discussion on why it's bad. The parent who mentioned earlier that they had a son who was convinced that masturbating was a sin, might want to delve a little deeper into what is going on there, because as a former 17-18 year old male I can almost guarantee that his mind has been bombarded by sexual thoughts that are far from sinless, and I'd bet money that the reason he is so adamant about viewing his masturbation as a sin is because there has probably been a lot of sinful thoughts running through his head while doing it. Sure if he is just thinking about having sex with a hot girl at school, it seems natural enough, but is what he is fantasizing about sin? Last I checked having sex out of marriage is fornication and fornication is sin. People should never forget that Satan has spent the last 6000 years trying to make sin look as benign as just eating a piece of fruit, I mean what could be more natural than eating, yet look where that got us.
The fact is we are all sinners ... No matter what. Sin is in the members of our bodies. Christ said if you even think it, you have done it. I find is very interesting how Christians are so concerned about and preoccupied with sin, when there is nothing we can do about it. If we are in Christ we are dead to sin already, though we yet be mortal and corruptible in the flesh with sin in the members of our bodies. Our faith justifies we the ungodly. Christ died for the unrighteous. His righteousness is considered to be our own, not our own righteousness. When will Christians realize that all things are lawful though all things are not expedient? How hard is it to understand? All things are permitted, but we should not be brought under the control of anything. Whatever your particular weaknesses may be, only that you do not allow your weaknesses to come between you and Christ, or to cause your brother to stumble. know that nothing can come between you and the love of God in Christ our lord(Rom 8:38-39). We have our sin and our shame in it, but we have our strength and our glory in him in whom our faith is placed, even Christ our lord. He is a happy man who does not judge(krinō - seperate) HIMSELF in what he approves ...
Rom 14:13-23
no longer, therefore, may we judge one another, but this judge ye rather, not to put a stumbling-stone before the brother, or an offence. I have known, and am persuaded, in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself, except to him who is reckoning anything to be unclean -- to that one it is unclean; and if through victuals thy brother is grieved, no more dost thou walk according to love; do not with thy victuals destroy that one for whom Christ died. Let not, then, your good be evil spoken of, for the reign of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; for he who in these things is serving the Christ, is acceptable to God and approved of men. So, then, the things of peace may we pursue, and the things of building up one another; for the sake of victuals cast not down the work of God; all things, indeed, are pure, but evil is to the man who is eating through stumbling. Right it is not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything in which thy brother doth stumble, or is made to fall, or is weak. Thou hast faith! to thyself have it before God; happy is he who is not judging(krinō - separating) himself in what he doth approve, and he who is making a difference, if he may eat, hath been condemned, because it is not of faith; and all that is not of faith is sin.
God bless ...
Granted, in regards to calling certain meats unclean or clean is the subject of Romans but obviously there is something of the flesh that is unclean.
Masturbation in the Old dictionary was defined as self abuse. Later it dropped that definition in present day dictionary.
So I would ask if masturbation is not the uncleanness that is being spoken here, then what is? All I read as an unclean person is one that serves the flesh by masturbation. Now for believers as in christians, this is relating to the topic. The emboldened is the reference as the rest is keeping it in context.
Ephesians 5: 1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
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Addressing OP and all readers
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If anyone is going to ask a christian about masturbation in a christain forum, the Bible is the only answer that can be given if anyone wants to know why some christians will say that whereas others will say something else.
As much as the protest that uncleanness could be anything: I think not because it is placed inbetween lasciviousness and fornication in the list of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5.
I know that some people will disagree, but that is the answer as to why I see it as a work of the flesh listed as uncleanness in the Bible whereas now they just call it masturbation in everyday modern man's language, but of course, they do not see it as uncleanness in the Bible.
Ask Jesus then. The fact that you are asking the question in the christian forum means you really want to know what God says about it, right?
The absurdity of religion is clearly demonstrated that this is even a topic or discussed in regards to some gods disapproval. It ain't no big deal, and if you think your god thinks it is, you have more serious hangups than just masturbation.
The absurdity of religion is clearly demonstrated that this is even a topic or discussed in regards to some gods disapproval. It ain't no big deal, and if you think your god thinks it is, you have more serious hangups than just masturbation.
Thank you, Asheville Native! I felt like I was in some kind of bizarro world while reading this thread.
If people actually believe that God disapproves of someone masturbating, it's no wonder we have so many people in our society with mental health issues.
but they tend to forget that ever since Eden, sin has felt "natural" to us.
Nothing about murder, stealing or force feels natural to me.
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10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
