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Masturbation: Is It A Sin or Not?

By Debbie Adebayo
Discusses how single adults address masturbation.

 


Masturbation is stimulating yourself sexually by manipulating your sexual organs.  There are no specific references in the Scriptures to masturbation, but we can make some sanctified conclusions about masturbation by looking at God's original purpose for sex and sexual stimulation.  The first mention of sexual intercourse was in Genesis 4:1.  In the Living Bible it says:  1.  Then Adam had sexual intercourse with Eve his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son, Cain (meaning ``I have created''), and she said, ``With God's help, I have created a man!''   Based on this portion of Scripture, we can see that God created sex as the method by which humans create offspring.  Proverbs 5:19-20 says:  Be happy, yes, rejoice in the wife of your youth.  19.  Let her breasts and tender embrace satisfy you. Let her love alone fill you with delight.  From these verses we can see that physical pleasure is also derived from married couples having sex. Notice that these two verses describe activity occurring between a husband and wife.  There is also a uniting of two fleshes to become one during sexual intercourse, as the Apostle Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 6:16-17.  Consequently, although the word masturbation does not appear in the Scriptures, we can rightfully infer that this form of sexual stimulation is not God-ordained. 


 


Some single adults fantasize with masturbation.  They create mental images that they are with the lover of their dreams and this creates an atmosphere for sexual gratification to occur when there is a longing for sexual fulfillment.  Others equate the human sexaul drive with the human appetite.  These people believe food satisifes the human appeitite and masturbation satisifes the human sexual drive.  They believe it is a normal biological function.  The Scriptures, however clearly contradict this type of reasoning.  Looking again at 1 Coriinthians 6:12-20.  Paul makes it perfectly clear that you cannot make a parallel comparison between food and stomach and sexual intercourse and genitals.  In this comparison, when a person is hungry, he eats and whe he is sexually aoursed--wheter married or unmarried, he has sex.  This could not be the case, as verses 15-17 indicate.  Sexual intercourse is more than a mere biological expereince; it involves a communion of life.  Paul also reminds us that the Holy Spirit dwells in our bodies and our redemption was purchased at a costly price, the Blood of Jesus.  Therefore, we should seek to glorify God in the things in which we permit our bodies to participate.  Masturbation does not glorify God, because it misuses His gift of sexual stimulation.


 


Another danger associated with masturbation is that it can become addictive and compulsive behavior.  In this situation, the individual is unable to control the desire and it progresses into an entrenched habit that becomes a driving force in his or her life.


 


For those single adults that struggle with masturbation, I would like to offer the following advice:


 


v     Grow in your ability to trust God to take care of all your needs, including your sexual longings and passions.  Because you have the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit, you have access to the supernatural power of God working in you.    God can and wants to supersede your natural cravings and preserve you and keep you happy and content in His own miraculous way.  1 John 4:4 says:   ….….because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. 


 


 


v     Don't live under guilt and condemnation.  Receive God's forgiving mercy when you succumb to the temptation to masturbate.  1 John 1:9 (NKJV) says:   9.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


 


v     Pray to receive God's grace to help during times of temptation.  God's grace and mercy are available during these times when you are tormented to satisfy sexual cravings through masturbation, and Jesus understands and sympathizes with all your temptations.  Hebrews 4:15-16 says:  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  16.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,  that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 


 


v     Remember your times of greatest weakness are actually the times when the strength of Christ is most readily available to you.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says:  And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  10.  Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 


 


v     Avoid activities that stimulate you sexually, for example, movies and videos with vivid love scenes.


 


v     If your masturbating is addictive and compulsive, seek deliverance, because this could be indicative of demonic activity. 


 

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