A lot of people always remain speechless when asked if masturbation is a sin or not. They keep quiet because if they say “No”, there are people who will object and if they say “Yes”, there are people who will oppose them.
Furthermore, some remain silent because they are unsure of the correct answer.
Meanwhile, what is masturbation? It is the stimulation of one’s own sex organ in order to satisfy one’s sexual desire without meeting the opposite sex.
Why people regard masturbation as a sin
Since there is no explicit Bible verse that can be used to prove the sinfulness of masturbation, those who condemn it use the following points as their reasons:
- It originates from lust.
- It results in a waste of semen.
- It amounts to an abuse of the sex organ.
- It eliminates the desire for one’s spouse.
- It is sexual immorality.
Is It A Sin To Masturbate?
Masturbation is not a sin. The Bible is our standard on every issue. The Bible does not anywhere, from Genesis to Revelation, show that it is a sin.
It is just a natural and normal human response or reaction to a sexual urge. Even in extreme cases, instead of it being a sin, it usually becomes a problem that God eventually desires to solve for the victim.
Yes, when addiction to masturbation assumes an alarming proportions, it becomes a predicament that attracts God’s sympathy and help, for the victim, instead of punishment.
As fact, masturbation is not just all about getting sexual pleasure. Do you know that those whose have an advanced masturbation habit can frequently lose concentration, injure their private parts, withdraw prematurely from social events or gatherings, forget their schedules and even postpone an essential, urgent routines, largely to their own loss, embarrassment and anguish?
Disproving the the above points that people use as a reason for viewing masturbation as a sin
- IT ORIGINATES FROM LUST. False! It stems from the natural and normal sexual urge that everyone else experience. Lust is an excessive sexual desire that someone wants to satisfy at all costs with the opposite sex anywhere and anytime the opportunity arrives. People can masturbate without having lust.
- IT RESULTS IN A WASTE OF SEMEN. False! Why people masturbate is understandable to God who created humans with a sexual urge. Yes, people ejaculate during masturbation but the Bible has neither complained about that nor call it a waste of semen. The problem with some people is that they like going too far to say and do things that God has never authorized them to because they are Mr know-alls. When God killed Onan, it was not because he wasted semen but because he did not want to reproduce children for his late brother. (Genesis 38:6-10)
- IT AMOUNTS TO AN ABUSE OF THE SEX ORGAN. False! God who understands why people masturbate has never said that it constitutes a misuse of the sex organs. This just the figment of people’s imagination.
- IT ELIMINATES THE DESIRE FOR ONE’S SPOUSE. False! The desire for one’s spouse remains intact. After all, it does not provide a greater pleasure than that which comes from real sexual relations with one’s spouse.
- IT IS SEXUAL IMMORALITY. False! Some people vaguely refer to it as a sexual immorality without any Biblical basis. The Bible lists every sexual immorality –fornication, adultery, incest, bestiality, lesbianism, homosexuality, etc– but never once mentioned masturbation. I think we should stop trying to know and do things more than God. Sexual immorality must involve at least two people or parties not just one, as it is with masturbation.
SUMMARY
- God perfectly understands why people carry out masturbation and has never condemned it nor authorize anyone to do so.
- In most cases, masturbation creates problems for its victims. These problems, instead of attracting divine judgement, attracts divine sympathy and willingness to help the victim, if they pray.
FURTHER READING
The Meaning Of I Do Not Permit A Woman To Exercise Authority Over A Man
Is A Woman Permitted To Teach A Man? | Women’s Role In The Church Explained.