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"Last Generation Forums" :: Bible Studies :: Topical Studies :: Got Questions :: "Masturbation - is it a sin according to the Bible  Author Topic: "Masturbation - is it a sin according to the Bible (Read 1 time) Michael James Stone Administrator Site-Administrator member isonline   Joined: May 2012 Gender: Male Posts: 1,005 "Masturbation - is it a sin according to the Bible « Thread StartedToday at 3:16pm »   Question: "Masturbation - is it a sin according to the Bible?" Answer: The Bible never explicitly mentions masturbation or states whether or not masturbation is a sin. The Scripture most frequently pointed to in regards to masturbation is the story of Onan in Genesis 38:9-10. Some interpret this passage as saying that “spilling your seed” on the ground is a sin. However, that is not precisely what the passage is saying. God condemned Onan not for “spilling his seed” but because Onan refused to fulfill his duty to provide an heir for his brother. The passage is not about masturbation, but rather about fulfilling a family duty. A second passage sometimes used as evidence for masturbation’s being a sin is Matthew 5:27-30. Jesus speaks against having lustful thoughts and then says, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” While there are parallels between this passage and masturbation, it is unlikely that masturbation was what Jesus was alluding to. While the Bible nowhere explicitly states that masturbation is a sin, there is no question as to whether the actions that lead to masturbation are sinful. Masturbation is nearly always the result of lustful thoughts, sexual stimulation, and/or pornographic images. It is these problems that need to be dealt with. If the sins of lust, immoral thoughts, and pornography are forsaken and overcome, masturbation will become a non-issue. Many people struggle with guilty feelings concerning masturbation, when in reality, the things that led to the act are far more worthy of repentance. There are some biblical principles that can be applied to the issue of masturbation. Ephesians 5:3 declares, “Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity.” It is hard to see how masturbating can pass that particular test. The Bible teaches us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). If you cannot give God glory for something, you should not do it. If a person is not fully convinced that an activity is pleasing to God, then it is a sin: “Everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). Further, we need to remember that our bodies have been redeemed and belong 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). This great truth should have a real bearing on what we do with our bodies. In light of these principles, the conclusion that masturbation is a sin is biblical. Clearly, masturbation is not glorifying to God; it does not avoid the appearance of immorality, nor does it pass the test of God’s having ownership over our bodies. For further insights on this topic Is masturbation a sin? Ah, the dreaded M word. When a question begins, “I am sorry this is so gross, and I’m sure no one has ever asked you about this before, but…” I can tell what the question about without reading any further. Countless people have asked us, and continue to ask us, if masturbation is a sin. There is an old joke “98 percent of people masturbate--and the other 2 percent are lying.” While 98% is an exaggerated figure, in recent anonymous surveys, over 70% of men and over 40% of women admitted to having masturbated at some point in their lives. With these stats in mind, in continues to surprise me to hear from so many people who think they are the only ones struggling with masturbation. The Bible nowhere directly mentions masturbation or indicates that it is a sin. The one passage many people point to is Genesis 38:9-10, which mentions Onan “spilling his seed.” In some languages, the word for masturbation is a variation of the name “Onan,” such as “onanie” in German. However, in the text, Onan is spilling his seed because he does not want to produce an heir on behalf of his deceased brother. Onan’s act was a sin because of his motives behind the act, not because of the act itself. Further, the passage describes actual sexual intercourse, not masturbation. A second passage people sometimes point to is Matthew 5:27-30, which speaks of lusting after a woman and then states “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” While I can see the parallels between masturbation and what Jesus was talking about, I seriously doubt masturbation is what Jesus was alluding to. Another thing that amazes me about questions related to masturbation is how many people worry that it is such a terrible sin that God will never forgive them. We literally receive questions “Is masturbation an unpardonable sin?” In addition, we receive questions along the lines of “I watched 8 hours of hard-core internet porn and then masturbated. Will God forgive me for masturbating?” The fact that a person could think that masturbation is a worse sin than watching hard-core pornography shocks me. In a situation like that, masturbation is simply the result of extreme overstimulation of the sex drive. The core sin that needs to be dealt with in that situation is pornography. Is masturbation a sin? Yes, in the vast majority of instances, I believe masturbation is a sinful act. It is, perhaps, more precisely, a result of the sin of lust. Masturbation most often occurs when a person is thinking sexual thoughts about someone whom he/she should not be having sexual thoughts. The “lust of the flesh” (1 John 2:16) is the sin. Masturbation is simply the result of the sin. The closest parallel I can think of is an act a violence that results from someone who allows anger and rage to fester and build. Is the act of violence a sin? Of course. But the act of violence would not have occurred were it not for the sinful anger. The question then arises, is there ever a time when masturbation is not a sin? To that, I cannot give a definitive answer. The best I can do is “maybe.” What about a husband/wife who is separated from his/her spouse for a long period of time? What if a man has to masturbate for an infertility test or artificial insemination/in-vitro fertilization procedure? Is masturbation still a sin if it is done entirely without any lustful/immoral thoughts/desires? In situations like these, my answer has to be “it is between you and God (and if married, your spouse).” n   Report to Mod - Link to Post -Back to Top   Logged

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