“What does the Bible say about masturbation?” is one of our most frequently asked questions. Many Christians have found it difficult to answer this question according to the Bible, because the Bible never mentions masturbation specifically. To understand how God feels about this subject, we must examine other verses that deal with issues such as lust, self-control and purity. Also, we must examine its fruit to see if it is from God. We have tried to address this issue by answering some of the most frequently asked questions. Our prayer is that God will use this page to bring freedom and deliverance.
“Does God care about what we do in the privacy of our bedrooms?”
Sex is God’s invention. He is the mastermind behind it-and His creation is worth far more to Him than it is to us. This beautiful expression of love was created out of His own heart, as a gift to be experienced between a husband and wife. It is only in marriage that this manifestation of intimacy can be fully enjoyed in the depth for which it was created.
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4, NIV).
“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4, KJV).
The more beautiful and unique something is (like sexual intercourse), the more power it holds over our lives, either for good or bad influence. That is why it is so easy for the devil to corrupt the most precious of God’s gifts. When we become more in love with the gifts than the One who endowed them, the things that were designed to bless us begin to destroy us instead. Yes, God cares about what we do with our bodies, in public or in private. He doesn’t want us to abuse ourselves in any way.
In fact, an older definition of masturbation is “self-abuse.” Although more modern dictionaries may no longer carry this definition, they are still linked together under self-abuse:
Self-abuse noun:-
1. Abuse of oneself or one’s abilities
2. Masturbation
1 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV) further confirms this, saying that unlawful sexual relations defile our own bodies. “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.”
“Isn’t it still better to masturbate than to commit fornication?”
The easy answer to this question would be, “Yes, it is better to masturbate, because at best it corrupts only one person. It certainly is the lesser of two evils.” However, why would a loving, holy, all-powerful God abandon you to a situation in which you have to choose any evil, whether it be “lesser” or “greater?” To really answer this question, we must again go back to God’s original plan for sex.
First of all, masturbation will not truly relieve the sexual pressure that one may feel. It may for a short moment, but in the long run it only creates a deeper desire and capacity for sex, which will lead to more masturbation. If you let yourself become enslaved to a sexual high, you will find that you need to go to increasingly extreme acts to maintain the same degree of excitement. There are even ungodly sex therapists who recommend masturbation as a way of increasing sexual desire, not lessening it. This creates a vicious circle, like the junkie who craves a “fix,” but is only temporarily satisfied. The more he indulges in his dependency, the more ensnared by addiction he becomes. This is the nature of all sin. That is why Jesus declared that all who sin become a slave to sin (John 8:34).
Furthermore, masturbation usually involves fantasy, visualization, and often pornography. The Bible is very clear as to what God expects of us in these areas of fantasy and lust. It teaches that we must not look lustfully at each other nor should we behave in such a manner as to entice others to lust after us.
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a girl. I know full well that the Almighty God sends calamity on those who do” (Job 31:1-3, The Living Bible).
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).
While the above verses refer to men lusting after women, all women know that it can very easily be reversed to apply to themselves as well. Men may be more easily visually stimulated than women, but women can be just as vulnerable to sexual fantasy in the emotional realm. Both are sin in God’s eyes, and both can be brought into subjection by controlling our thoughts through Christ’s power.
All sexual immorality begins with a thought. A lustful thought not taken captive, will eventually lead to other perversions, because sin reproduces itself in increasingly greater measures. If we do not deal with our evil thoughts, they will take root in our hearts.
It is for this reason that God is so concerned with our thought life. Jesus came not only to deliver us from our “outward” sins, but also from wickedness that begins in the heart.
“Isn’t God unreasonable to demand sexual purity after giving us sexual drives that seem to overwhelm us at times?”
Our loving God never demands from us what is impossible for us to do. We are so weak within ourselves that it may seem impossible, but He will equip us with His holy power to overcome any sin, if we ask in faith.
Of course, sexual urges in and of themselves are not wicked. They are natural. God created us that way. He desires that we get optimum pleasure out of them by using them the way they were created to be used. However, many desires for physical gratification (whether it be food, sex, etc.) stem from a deeper need that is unfilled deep inside us. Gorging our flesh can never fill a hunger that grows out of our spirit. Only intimacy with God can fill the deepest needs inside of us. No other created thing has that power.
God is no more unreasonable than any caring parent who lovingly disciplines their child. It is only because He knows what is best for us. He sees a mighty potential in each one of us that far supersedes our wildest dreams, and He loves us enough to do all He can to bring it to pass.
“I agree with all the theory, but living it out on a day to day level is another story.”
This is the place where we need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. The Holy Spirit is not a vague “force,” but the very power of God to comfort you and strengthen you against the sins that used to rule you before you were born again. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the very ability that Jesus had to resist temptation. He depended completely upon the Father and so must we.
Something you must know is that God is not the one who is tempting you in this area to “test” you. God is on your side and wants to set you free from these things, not lead you into them! “When tempted, no one should say “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed” (James 1:13-14).
God wants us to overcome every sin and temptation in our lives. Please slowly read the following verses and let their message seep deep inside your spirit.
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
“For though we live in the world we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
“In the same way count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:11-14).
“For we have not a 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” (Hebrews 4:15-16, King James Version).
“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
“Can I really be set free?”
“In (this) freedom, Christ has made us free-completely liberated us; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery-which you have once put off ” (Galatians 5:1 Amp).
If you are in a real struggle with any form of sexual sin, we do not believe it was by accident that God led you to this teaching. He wants to set you free, starting right now! We would like to share several things that you can do to break loose from this stronghold:
1. Confess this sin first to God, then go to a committed Christian you trust, such as your pastor. Ask God to lead you to someone that you can be accountable with, who will be faithful to pray with you and for you. This will take humility on your part, but it will lead to life. James 5:16 says: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (You may not feel “righteous” but if you have admitted your sin to God and received His forgiveness, you are! That means your prayers are powerful and effective!)
2. Flee from and reject anything that aggravates this sin. For example, you may need to get off the Internet for a season or purchase software that blocks out pornography. This may sound too drastic, but it certainly is mild compared to Jesus who said, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to go into Hell” (Matthew 5:30). His point was that we must be willing to part with anything that causes us to sin-even if it hurts temporarily.
3. You may need to seek healing and deliverance from qualified Christians who are anointed in this area of ministry. If you have been deeply involved in sexual sins, the devil probably has a stronghold in that area of your life. If you can, find some people who can help you stand against the devil, for he is the one who seeks to lead you into temptation, and whispers lies of hopelessness and shame into your ears. If he drops a filthy thought into your mind just when you are trying to pray (he has used this tactic on even the holiest saints of God), tell him to leave in the name of Jesus! Recognize his voice for what it is, and submit yourself to God. As you do this and resist the devil, he will flee from you! He is deathly afraid of those who are submitted to God in brokenness and humility.
4. Don’t give up! Deliverance might take time. Self-control takes effort. You may slip occasionally-or even a lot. But remember that God loves you and He will be faithful to perfect His character in you as long you keep submitting to Him. Eventually you will win-and not because of your best efforts, but because of God’s mercy (Titus 3:5). Just as salvation is received in faith, so deliverance must be received in faith. This has nothing to do with our character, strength, or failings. The only thing it is dependant upon is you receiving it in humility. If you should fail, recognize it quickly, ask God to forgive you-and then receive His forgiveness! He is faithful to do that which He promised, not just in a select few mighty men and women of God, but in all who are willing to come humbly before Him. That includes you! We want to encourage you to hold on to this scripture as your anchor:
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
Prayer:-
“Father, I thank you for bringing this person into my website. I know that it was your Holy Spirit that led them here and I thank you for your faithfulness to them! I lift them up to you now and ask that You fill them with a desire for You that transcends every other desire they have ever known. Let them know your cleansing love and power. I thank you that he whom the Son has set free, is free indeed. I speak this freedom into the life of this one whom the devil has bound in shame. We speak healing and deliverance and we break every tie that has kept them under a spirit of addiction and perversion. We stand against the Evil One and his every plan to bring destruction in this one’s life. We commit them to Your care and we loose Your Holy Spirit to minister to them at this very instant. We ask these things in the precious name of Your son, Jesus Christ.”
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1. Masturbation
2. Over Masturbation and The Liver
Masturbation is a grooming behavior. In other words, it’s nature’s way of cleaning your thingy. Most people don’t know this and think they are being evil or something.
“Old Guy”,
“Nature” doesn’t need any help to “clean your thingy”. She can and does, do it all by herself without any external help from you.
I do think we need to qualify exactly what we mean by masturbation. If we’re using it in the sense of seeking sexual gratification/release, then it can be very harmful in the long run. Sexual gratification is a two person deal. When taken out of it’s normal environment and propagated by one individual upon himself/herself, it can eventually lead to a sense of loneliness or even worthlessness (ie, “I have to do this, because I don’t have anyone to do it with…I’m all alone…no one wants me”). Everything God gives to sustain us, comes from the outside. When we are hungry we eat a peach or soup, we don’t eat our arm. When we are thirsty, we grab a lemonade, we don’t drink our sweat or blood. The sexual urge is the human body calling out for someone else, something it can latch itself onto, it’s a hunger and thirst like any other. When we use one body part (even our minds) to satisfy another, we have turned inward on ourselves in no less a way than if we were to eat our own fingers to satisfy our stomach.
Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not one to jump on the masturbation is against the rules and you’re going to hell if you don’t stop, band-wagon (I have yet to meet a person who hasn’t struggled and/or succumbed to masturbation…I’d say it’s pretty universal). But I do consider it a sickness, the people who engage in it, just as much the victim as the perpetrator, it’s one of the most saddest things I can think of.
Cheryl,
Some people try not to believing it’s bad or wrong. They
turn to cigarettes or drink. That’s when they get sick.
I was watching a male cat once. It was cleaning itself
the way all cats do, using its tongue as a flannel. As
part of its routine, this one began cleaning its member.
Suddenly it became clear to me. It’s for cleaning.
When the elders say not to, it reminds me of a story by HG Wells:
Dr. Moreau: “What is the law?â€
Sayer of the Law: “Not to eat meat, that is the law. Are we not men?â€
Beasts (in unison): “Are we not men?â€
Dr. Moreau: “What is the law?â€
Sayer of the Law: “Not to go on all fours, that is the law. Are we not men?â€
Beasts (in unison): “Are we not men?â€
Dr. Moreau: “What is the law?â€
Sayer of the Law: “Not to spill blood, that is the law. Are we not men?â€
Beasts (in unison): “Are we not men?â€
– Island of Lost Souls (1932)
-OldGuy
“Old Guy”,
Some people try not to believing it’s bad or wrong. They
turn to cigarettes or drink. That’s when they get sick
Masturbation (in the adult sense of the word), can cause severe psychological issues for the reasons I gave above.
Too, there may be a misunderstanding here.
I understand masturbation to be:
“the stimulation or manipulation of one’s own genitals, esp. to orgasm; sexual self-gratification.” –Dictionary.com
I don’t understand how “cleaning oneself” is masturbatory.
Cheryl
Any kids reading this and worrying because of the fear that these ignorant fools seem determined to spread at all costs, DON’T.
YOUR BODY IS BEAUTIFUL, YOUR URGES ARE HEALTHY AND NATURAL, YOU ARE NORMAL AND MASTURBATION IS 100% NOT A SIN.
Check your history books to learn how the church has repeatedly revised its opinions and ‘policies’ over time due to being shown unequivocal evidence again and again that its views were WRONG (not to mention stupid and childish).
Cases in point: the sun revolves around the earth, women who read books are witches, and the violin is the devil’s instrument.
Oh, don’t forget touching yourself is a sin, and the devil is making you do it.
Find something better to do with your inordinate money and power you hypocritical, despicable worms, other than tormenting children and others with unjustified and unsubstantiated guilt. Maybe try helping people? Bringing a bit of light into people’s lives? Will that ever be part of the job description??
“Hypocrisy Stinks”
Wow. You sound really…really angry. Who exactly are you lashing out at..Greg, Me, the Roman Catholic Church?
Cheryl
Angry?
Yes well stupid, illogical, immoral, narrow-minded actions – whether in the name of religion or not – tend to raise my ire. But what’s the point eh? I get angry, the world keeps burning.
Again, who are you angry at (ie whom are you addressing)? Greg (the original poster), me…who?
in the first place god didnot create Sex… its the devil that deceived eve and introduced the Sex and then we are perishable … try serpent seed in google might be sth worth to know ……
in the first place god didnot create Sex
Gen 1:28: God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.â€
If you feel that masturbation is bad!
How does it differ from an intercourse?
What is the abnormal physical change occuring during masturbation than intercourse?
It is the safest sexual act.
– No requirement of a partner
– No fear of Pregnancy
– No fear of STD / HIV
pls search SEX,LOVE,MARRIAGE by Br.ZAC POONNEN
Dr A Charavarthy:
Your bulleted list is correct in saying masturbation is safe, however the reason it is best for followers of God to abstain from masturbation is because it can turn into a needy, enslaving habit that’s difficult to stop. This is a problem because God doesn’t want us to worship (aka focus on, or put a lot of time into) anything before Him. How does that connect to masturbation though? Let’s read Matthew 6:24 which talks about worshipping money and God:
Matthew 6:24 24″You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.”
When a person–let’s say a Christian–worships money, he is putting his time, love, effort, and so many other things into getting wealthy. There’s little time and love left for God. Thus you can only really love one or the other, but not both. The same goes for ANYTHING. We are not to worship/idolize clothes, people, sexual desire, etc because the focus becomes those thing, thus derailing focus from God. There’s a verse in John 14:15 that says “If you love me, keep my commandments.” God commands us to not sin sexually, so we are to abstain from sinning sexually. Masturbation creates lustful thoughts, and since lustful thoughts are sinful, masturbation can be considered sinful. Even if it didn’t create lustful thoughts, it could become a sin because so many people crave it like a drug. They are ensnared by it. Maybe those are harsh word to hear, but my point is that if you’ve ever regularly masturbated and tried to stop completely, you know it’s incredibly hard to stop! I know not everyone agrees with this article, but I encourage you to be open-minded, whether you are a Christian or not, and ask yourself if masturbating makes you feel lonely, unfullfilled, or enslaved. If it doesn’t, ok, but it does not hurt to honestly ask yourself these things.
Hi my name is David an I’m 15 years old.My deteremination from reading all these post tells me that masturbation is ok but never get too attached to it because it can become a sinful obsession leading to physicological problems an lustful thoughts.I conversate with God about these things, my conclusion!!! DONT BECOME AN OBSESSED LUSTING FREAK, JUST BE COOL WITH WAKING OFF AN DO IT LIKE TWICE A WEEK, AN PRAY TO GOD TO CLEANSE YOUR MIND..AS LONG AS THE PORN IS BETWEEN A MALE AN FEMALE(lovers) its ok..dont be freakish an lonely.Forgive my writing(typing) just being a little free expressive with it hah been on summer vacation havent wrote all vacation..God bless us all!!!
I think that masturbation is your own choice but that becoming A habit it can make one feel impure and mad at oneself for not adding up to what God wants, I feel bad and usually regret the feelings that I’ve lost when I give in to this I really want to stop and hope you all will pray for me and I want to ask Jesus to forgive me in any way for doing this because I do not understand, I am just addicted to it and it makes me feel bad so I’m sorry Jesus please help me also I’m just wondering I’ve always thought fornication meant masturbation that is what is said In the bible I believe if you are addicted like I am talking to someone about it will help like I hope this article will lead to helping me as I pray. Please pray for me Amen