Masturbation: A Natural Act, Not A Sin

The Bible does not explicitly mention masturbation, but it is a topic that brings out strong emotional reactions in Christians. Some Christians believe that masturbation is a sin because it is a sex thing and is, therefore, tied to lust, which is considered a sin. However, the Bible does not mention masturbation at all, and there is no scriptural evidence that it is a sin. The Bible never says, implies, or even hints that masturbation is a sin.

Some Christians argue that masturbation is a sin because it is a form of self-pleasuring or self-gratification and is, therefore, selfish. They believe that masturbation is about me and does not help fulfill God's greatest commandment to love Him and others. However, others argue that masturbation is not a sin as long as it is done without lustful thoughts or fantasies and does not involve the use of pornography. They believe that masturbation can be a healthy and natural way to release sexual tension and that God gave us our sexual urges.

Some Christians also argue that masturbation can become addictive and, therefore, a sin. However, this argument can be flawed as it is the addiction that is wrong, not the act itself. If people become addicted to masturbation, then it is the addiction that is wrong, not masturbation.

Overall, the topic of masturbation is a complex and controversial one among Christians, with varying interpretations of Biblical teachings.

Masturbation is not mentioned in the Bible

The Bible does not state whether or not masturbation is a sin. Some people take the view that masturbation is a lustful act and is always wrong; others believe it involves a normal bodily function and has nothing to do with sin.

The absence of biblical discussion on a topic does not mean that something automatically is or is not sinful.

Morality is based on harm to others

Morality is based on whether an action causes harm to others. Unless you are using masturbation to hurt someone, it is not a sin.

The harm principle holds that the actions of individuals should be limited only to prevent harm to other individuals. This principle was first fully articulated by the English philosopher John Stuart Mill in his 1859 essay, 'On Liberty'. In it, Mill argues that:

> The sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection...His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant [for society to interfere].

Mill's principle has been echoed in various iterations since. For example, France's 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen states:

> Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else; hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights.

The Bible never says or implies or even hints that masturbation is a sin. The Bible neither condones nor condemns masturbation. It's a non-issue in the Bible. We're never commanded not to do it, and no one in the Bible was ever chastised for doing it.

However, the Bible does say that we should not gratify the desires, cravings, or lusts of the flesh (our sinful nature). But notice that [the Bible] doesn't say that masturbation is a lust of our sinful nature. We need to look elsewhere in the Bible to find out if something is a lust of the flesh or a wrong desire of the sinful nature, and nowhere does the Bible ever say such a thing about masturbation.

Masturbation is never even mentioned in the Scriptures.

The Bible does not mention masturbation by name

The Bible does address a man's emission of semen in Leviticus 15:1-18, which states that the one who has been cleansed after the offense is to present either two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest who offers them as a sin offering to the Lord. However, the word "masturbation" is not mentioned specifically in Scripture.

Some people argue that because the word "masturbation" is not mentioned in Scripture, God does not consider the activity important or a sin. However, this argument can lead one down the wrong path, as there are many activities the Bible does not mention by name. That does not mean that God would condone the action, as the heart and tenor of the Scriptures are clear about one's need for personal holiness and righteousness.

The Bible does talk about sexual immorality, which is any deviation from God's intended design for sex within marital relationships. The Greek root word for sexual immorality is porneía, from which we get the word pornography. However, masturbation is not included in the list of sexual sins such as fornication, adultery, and incest.

The Bible also talks about the need to glorify God with our bodies and to live holy lives. Some people interpret this to mean that masturbation, which is a form of self-gratification, is a sin. They argue that masturbation does not align with the two greatest commandments to love God and to love others, as it is entirely self-focused.

However, others argue that the Bible is silent on the topic of masturbation, and therefore it is not a sin. They point out that the Bible does not explicitly mention other topics such as pornography and privacy rights. Just because the Bible is silent on a specific subject does not mean we have liberty to do as we want, but we must also be careful not to call something a sin when it is not explicitly mentioned as such.

In conclusion, while the Bible does not mention masturbation by name, there are principles in Scripture that can guide us in determining whether it is a sin or not. Some people interpret these principles to mean that masturbation is a sin, while others disagree. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to study the Scriptures and come to their own conclusion.

Masturbation is not a sin if it is done without lustful thoughts

Masturbation is a sensitive topic, and there are varying opinions on whether it is a sin or not. Some Christians believe that it is a sin because it is a form of self-gratification that does not honour God. They argue that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that masturbation elevates sex over spirit. Additionally, they believe that masturbation can lead to lustful thoughts and fantasies, which are considered a sin according to the Bible.

On the other hand, some Christians argue that masturbation is not explicitly mentioned as a sin in the Bible and that God would have included it if He considered it important. They believe that masturbation can be a healthy and natural way to release sexual tension. They also suggest that it can be beneficial for married couples, helping to reduce conflict and enhance their relationship.

Ultimately, the decision to masturbate or not is a personal one, and Christians should seek God's guidance and pray for wisdom in this area. It is essential to be mindful of one's thoughts and intentions during masturbation, ensuring that they do not veer into lustful or sinful territory.

Masturbation can be a way to relieve stress

Masturbation can also help you sleep better. Climaxing releases hormones like prolactin and oxytocin, which get you nice and sleepy. Getting a good night's sleep boosts your libido. Masturbation can also relieve physical pain and reduce stress. Masturbation resulting in orgasm can release chemicals called endorphins, which have pain-killing properties. They interact with the opiate receptors in your brain to alter your perception of pain.

Masturbation is a safe way to explore your body, feel pleasure, and relieve sexual tension. It is a natural and healthy approach to promoting emotional regulation and enhancing your mood. It gives you an opportunity to take a break from the pressures of life to reconnect with yourself.

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