Causes of Masturbation and other sins

Well! I'm glad you didn't talk about Onan because that was coitus interuptus; something completely different.

Here's a video that might amuse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0kJHQpvgB8

Seriously though! I don't think it is a sin, if anything it is a way of controling urges and dealing with stress. Perfectly natural and nothign to be ashamed of,. I tonly becomes asin if you get addicted.

umm....raging hormones?

It's like a drug or alcohol, it can be used but it has a medicinal purpose. Some people are by nature very sexually driven or aggressive and if there is a way of curbing this without drugs then I see no problem with the occaisional emission to help control urges. There are people for whom it is a sin; those who are married and those who have taken vowes of chastity.

Templar81 said:

Well! I'm glad you didn't talk about Onan because that was coitus interuptus; something completely different.

Here's a video that might amuse

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0kJHQpvgB8

Seriously though! I don't think it is a sin, if anything it is a way of controling urges and dealing with stress. Perfectly natural and nothign to be ashamed of,. I tonly becomes asin if you get addicted.

Click to expand...

I agree. The straight-laced ones will use that bible passage and the fate of Onan to warn others of the subject at hand. But the real sin was he did not want to reproduce, and as such God had promises to keep to the royal lineage of bearing seed, and Onan was thwarting it. The real punishment was because he would not perpetuate the lineage of Judah. But the church gets so wrapped up in making people feel guilty about "personal sins" that they miss the broad side of a barn in its true meaning.

There are two thoughts I would like to share on the topic of masturbation:



1.) The act itself may or may not be frowned upon, but where your mind goes during the act can be sinful.

Fantasies, sexual activities, picturing activities with a specific person (not your spouse) etc. put you in the realm of sin.

If you lust in your heart you are obviously sinning. THAT, I believe is where the issue is.

If you feel the urge to "toss one off" (as my British friends call it) you have to ensure your mind is in neutral or - I would assume - be thinking about your married mate.

If not, you could be committing a sin by your thoughts.




2.) I once heard someone say, "Anything you turn to in your time of need or trouble, THAT is your God."

If this is how you handle stress, difficult times, or use it as a diversion for a difficult day, as a means of escape, etc....God would like to have a conversation with you.

There may be nothing specifically relating to masturbation, BUT, there are verses which DO apply to it. (Thanks to one of the members over on my forum for posting this. )

Verses on Selfishness:
“Rather,clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think abouthow to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Romans 13:14
“Putto death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexualimpurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Colossians3:5
“But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he isdragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it givesbirth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”James 1:14-15

Verses on Mental Images:
“Wedemolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against theknowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedientto Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
“But among you there must not be evena hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed,because these are improper for God’s holy people.” Ephesians 5:3
“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28

Verses on Heart Issues:
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
“Whatcomes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean’. For from within, out ofmen’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality... adultery, greed…all those evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’.” Mark 7:20-23

Secret activity and isolation are to be avoided:
“Havenothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather exposethem. For it is shameful to even mention what the disobedient do insecret.” Ephesians 5:11-12
“Now all has been heard; here is theconclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for thisis the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment,including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13-14

God offers escape from sin and gives blessing:
“Sincewe have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves fromeverything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness outof reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
“No temptation has seizedyou except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not letyou be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, Hewill also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1Corinthians 10:13

One reason that God designed marriage was to alleviate problems of lust. Save your body for the mate whom God will give you:
“Nowfor the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. Butsince there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife,and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his maritalduty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s bodydoes not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way,the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.”1 Corinthians 7:1-4

We must discipline ourselves to have right thinking:
“Therefore,prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fullyon the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter1:13
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever isadmirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about suchthings.” Philippians 4:8

Thinking as God thinks should be our standard. Put evil thoughts aside:
“Letthe wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turnto the LORD, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He willfreely pardon. ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are yourways my ways,’ declares the LORD.” Isaiah 55:7-8
“You were taught,with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, whichis being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in theattitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be likeGod in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22.

The link I posted pokes fun at Onanism, which is very different from masturbation. Onan had a specific job to do and he wadisobeying God. THis doesn't mean that coitus interuptus in its self is sinful but because God commanded Onan and he disobeyed, then Onan had to be punished.

So Christians should never talk about what a number of them may still be dealing with?

If the "sins of my youth" are still present in their adulthood...

I speak with Christians still dealing with this. Also with those still dealing with alcohol and drugs.

Even those who simply cannot quit smoking.

Pretending it isn't there is of zero assistance to those in need.

Please note that the majority of posters in this thread have specific on-topic comments and suggestions.

If scripture said it was a sin then I would agree but scripture has nothign to say at all aobut it and the closest thing is Onanism which is a totally different issue. The only thing I can say is that like any drug masturbationc an be missused and peopel can become addicted, prisoners for example. In the middle ages; if a monk was known to be inudulging in amsturbation, he was doused in feezing cold water and publcially flogged at the orders of his abbot or prior. I'm mentioning this becaue a monk takes a vowe of celibacy, but us ordinary lay people do not, we are human beings with real human urges and masturbation is a great way to curb them as long as it isn't abused and indulged in.