Someone asked this question on another site that I visit here's his answerMasturbation, does the Bible speak against it? A reader writes:"Hi Nick. ... My question has to do with pornography and its relation to the question you answered regarding masturbation [Is sex within marriage only for having children?]: Since the Bible makes no mention of pornography, what is your opinion on the subject? It's obviously not a sin to masturbate, as you have pointed out, but could it be a sin to masturbate from the use of pornography. Many of us guys (myself definitely included) grew up sneaking those occasional peaks of Playboy magazine and using this as a way to masturbate. The same question I ask about any form of pornography, such as strip clubs, etc. In other words, since most men are visual creatures, we crave the visual stimulation in order to masturbate. Long-winded question I know, but it's something I've always been curious about. Thanks again for your website."Answer:WBSG Note: The content in this answer is of a mature nature. If you are not eighteen or do not have your parents permission, or are easily shocked by natural sexual matters, do not continue reading this answer (though I am not naive enough to believe that anyone will stop reading here because of this advisory, but for conscience sake I include it). You have been warned. WBSG Note #2: Also, please understand that this answer is written to the greater public, and not everything is addressed to the specific asker of the original question. So, many times when you read me say, "You ...", it doesn't necessarily mean the person who asked this question. I don't want to hurt feelings when I intended not to hurt feelings. I always answer questions to everybody, not just to the person asking. First please allow me to re-post a portion of another question/answer that I feel relates directly too your situation/question:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Excerpt from above (question #3) Sexuality, Marriage, and Pornography: "...allow us to supply a simple guideline regarding all pornography viewing. Many men indulge in this activity, so many wonder where to draw the line. Understand this first, there is a great difference between looking at pictures of a nude woman, compared to looking at pictures of graphic sex scenes. Below we explain some of the many pitfalls with viewing hard-core pornography. But the viewing of the human nude is not a sin unto itself. However, the viewing of pornography may or may not be a sin depending upon the individual content. Understand that when you buy, rent, or view pornography you are enabling it. You become partakers in it. 2 John 1111 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. KJV So if it is sinful activity, i.e., adultery (Wanton Wives or Wife Swapping type content), then you are a partaker in that adultery; the penalty for that in the Old Testament is death (Leviticus chapters 18 & 20 have the morality and sexuality laws). And if it contains Lesbianism (which most do―this is the greatest pitfall to men―men ever like to watch this type of content), then you are a partaker in the sin of homosexuality; the penalty for that is also death. Now since in our modern-day diverse society we do not execute the ungodly, God shall deal with them as He sees fit when they pass-away and meet Him for their trial on Judgment Day. Homosexuality (yes this includes so-called Bi-Sexuals!)Lev 20:1313 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. KJVLesbianism (yes this includes so-called Bi-Sexuals!) also included in the offence of HomosexualityRom 1:26-2826 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; KJVAdulteryLev 20:1010 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. KJV The list goes on and on...things unimagined by the un-possessed mind go on in these pornographic movies: Incest themes―outlawed in the Bible (Lev 18:6); Bestiality themes―outlawed in the Bible (Lev 20:16); Rape-fantasy themes―also outlawed in the Bible (Deut 22:25).... And I don't want to appear to be some kind of porn expert, but I am a man, have lived on this good Earth for forty-four years, and I do know what is going on within it, as do most of you readers.(End of excerpt)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Masturbation Hi, this is something that many people, men and women, wonder about, but are too embarrassed to ask. I have left your name off, not because you asked, you did not, but because this subject is uncomfortable to many, and I wasn't sure if you knew that the questions sent to the Editor here (me) many times end up on a Question & Answer page for all to see. So I am very careful about using people's names, and I often edit out information that it is personal. I think that you would greatly benefit from reading the Q&A directly above this one, first, as it lays a lot of groundwork that I am not going to repeat in this answer. Anyway, what it comes down to is this: Is masturbation against the Bible? If we masturbate are we sinning? No we are not sinning if we masturbate. In Is sex within marriage only for having children? we covered the Scriptures that people often misconstrue into being against masturbation, but are not. In Sexuality, Marriage, and Pornography we covered illegal Porn (kiddy-porn and other forms of Bible-banned activity). But your question is more directed at legal "Porn," actually not Porn, per sey, but the female nude. I perceive that you are speaking of, say, a Playboy magazine or something of that nature, and not hard core porn that goes into areas that are forbidden by the Bible (such as Lesbianism, and even worse lately, the Jewish porn masters are of late throwing bestiality in as porn―they have such sick minds). Both of the previous two things are forbade in the Bible, so that if one where to engage in viewing them, he would become part of the act. If a consensual adult allows herself to be photographed in provocative poses, freely of her own will, and then you look at those pictures for mental stimulation―you have not sinned (by any Bible verse that I ever saw). But remember, it is not too becoming for a Christian to become obsessed by these things.Col 3:5-65 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: KJV1 Thess 4:1-54:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: KJV Is it that I am some kind of advocate for masturbation? No, it is just that I know from letters that many Christians (male and female) do or have done it, and they want to know where they stand with God on the matter. They want to know if this is something that they should be be repenting of, or just doing in silence not mentioning it to Him. I think that it is a mature realistic question.Guilt Well, if it is not a sin, which it isn't, then why repent of it? And if you feel like repenting of it, them maybe it isn't something that you should do, because it separates you from God. I know that the churches (especially the Catholic Church) teach that it is a sin. But what has the priest-craft of the Catholic Church replaced it with? Pedophilia. So we see that when one tampers with the Commandments of God, and adds onto them like the Catholics and the Pharisees have, we see all kinds of perversion spring up. As far as girly pictures, well, men are visually stimulated, they get exited sexually by what they see. Women are different, they are emotionally stimulated, they get exited at what they think and feel inside. That is why most porn is directed at males and most romance novels directed at women. And don't be fooled, women can tell you those so-called romance novels, and also the women's magazines, can get pretty steamy (just looking at the covers, and reading the article headings, in the supermarket check-out line is enough to make me ask why they are on display in public where children are present.) Yet they will read them and frown at you for looking at a Playboy centerfold. Women generally, regarding sexual matters, are quite the hypocrites, and not at all honest. There is another dimension that I feel needs be mentioned regarding masturbation. Often times masturbation can relieve the sexual need that would otherwise be relieved by a sinful activity. What I mean is that when we are, what, how do I say this decently, "horny," or perhaps better worded, "amorous," or "in the mood" so to speak, we will do things that we know are wrong to satisfy a drive that is temporarily overpowering us. The sex drive is very powerful in some people, in male and female alike, but the more powerful seems to be in the male. What do I mean when I say that often times masturbation can relieve the sexual need that would otherwise be relieved by a sinful activity? Observe the below example of what I mean (this of course is directed to men, but women can easily adjust the below for how it would apply to them). Women, work with me here.Example: Suppose that you are attracted to your neighbor's wife, and she is flirting with you, and you suspect that she is willing to become an adulteress and have sex with you. Now suppose that You #1 have not had a sexual release in a long time; and suppose that You #2 has masturbated whenever they felt the need built up. Which "you," You #1 or You #2, do you think has the best chance at not committing the sin of adultery with this whorish woman? Every guy out there knows the correct answer. And I suspect that the women are not ignorant to this. Guys understand that we do things that seemed like 'bright ideas' when we are "horny," but that we are ashamed of after we ejaculate. Sorry to be so blunt, but reality is reality. You asked a mature question, you get a mature answer. Likewise, women do things that they aren't proud of. What I am saying is that when people are "horny" (or amorous kinder said), they are susceptible to lowering their moral values momentarily (which is why the enemy bombards us with so much sexual imagery). There are many sexual sins that people do when they are amorous, to satisfy a drive that is temporarily overpowering them, that could be alleviated by keeping "the need" at bay. After people have an orgasm, they tend to get back to normal thinking, so to speak. Is there anything in the Bible that prohibits masturbation? No. Is there anything that in the Bible that prohibits looking at naked pictures while masturbating? No. Does that mean that a Christian is to become some little pervert? No, of course not, look what happened to the Christian husband in question #3 above (Sexuality, Marriage, and Pornography). As a Christian you have a operating conscience and good judgment instilled within you―exercise them wisely, and you shall be fine. It is best, though, for a man (or a woman) to marry. And it is acceptable for a man and his wife to engage in all forms of consensual one-on-one sex in the marriage bed (need I elaborate?). So, find a wife; women find a husband; then you won't have to burn with passion all the time:1 Cor 7:99 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. KJV And for those who are unmarried, and yet burn with desire, ...well...you read the article....[For questions on sexual matters, see our: Is sex within marriage only for having children? and Masturbation, does the Bible speak against it? and Sexuality, Marriage, and Pornography and "Suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man," was God just kidding? Also: Feminism/Lesbianism/whoredom/abortion and Does the Bible prohibit birth control?]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After having posted the above question/answer, a reader from a Christian talk-forum wrote us the below question:[A reader] asks:Hello there, I am sent as an ambassador requesting ... this is going to seem strange to you ... We were talking about a touchy subject. And, please know that it was not in a raunchy, chat room kind of way, but in a true, "what does the Bible say?" kind of way....We were discussing pre-marital sex and that led to ... discussing masturbation. ... I hope you don't think I am a loony, they really wanted me to ask you this. .. We did a search on your site because we know that you handle these uncomfortable questions. We found this:
http://www.biblestudysite.com/answers27.htm#4 and also the pages linked therein. [name withheld] brought up Leviticus 15 and it does seem to be in conflict with my views and those you expressed. Here is the portion he referenced: Lev 15:16 And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. Lev 15:17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even. Lev 15:18 The woman also with whom man shall lie [with] seed of copulation, they shall [both] bathe [themselves] in water, and be unclean until the even. How would you explain those verses? I am sure you have seen them, so I wonder if there is something we are missing. Anyway, I hope you don't find this inappropriate. No one else had the guts to ask, lol.Anyway, thanks.God bless,[A Reader] Answer: Hi [Reader]. No problem...mature subject...no problem. I just love those hypocrites who drop a jaw when topics like this are mentioned, then go home and do it. You might be surprised how many people write in and ask about this. It seems that most people have done/do this thing. Anyway, masturbation is not a sin. I have searched high and low throughout the Bible and have not found one Scripture that even refers to the act, much less frown upon it. There is not one. If you find one, I will respect the Scriptures and examine it. I believe the Scriptures to be the operating instructions that come with man. The Bible is God's words to man on how he is to be operated safely. It is also a warrantee. But as with any warrantee, we must register the product; we register by believing. All Christians are registered, all non-Christians are not covered by the warrantee: when they break (die) they are discarded. But when the Christian dies he is renewed forever. Why? Because they have the guaranty from God through Christ Jesus. An immutable warrantee on life, and that life eternal. Say hello to all for me. OK, in your letter, [name withheld] said:"[name withheld] brought up Leviticus 15 and it does seem to be in conflict with my views and those you expressed. Here is the portion he referenced: Lev 15:16 And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. Lev 15:17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even. Lev 15:18 The woman also with whom man shall lie [with] seed of copulation, they shall [both] bathe [themselves] in water, and be unclean until the even. How would you explain those verses? I am sure you have seen them, so I wonder if there is something we are missing." The above has absolutely nothing to do with masturbating. The very fact that a second party (the woman) is mentioned should had directed him, in context, away from a solo act. It is referring to the male ejaculate; and that both man and woman are to wash it off of them and any clothing, etc. It does not say at all how it (semen) "got there." Contact with semen made one unclean, no matter if it was during the marital act, masturbation, or even as in the below--what we today refer to as "a wet dream": Deut 23:1010 If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp: KJV A woman was unclean while she was menstruating, that did not mean that she had sinned:Lev 15:19-2119 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.20 And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.21 And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even [end of the day]. KJV There were many ways to become unclean:Lev 22:4-64 What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;5 Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;6 The soul which hath touched any such shall be unclean until even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he wash his flesh with water. KJV As you see, masturbation just simply isn't the topic. Why do Christians want so desperately to make masturbation a sin? Probably from the good of their hearts, masturbation just seems naughty to them. We are told from an early age that it is wrong. We make jokes about men who do it getting hairy palms. It's just that it is embarrassing, and people feel that every embarrassing thing must be wrong, and therefore a sin. Christians like to make everything a sin, things are not a sin they like to make a sin; like smoking cigarettes, drinking alcoholic beverages (in some semblance of moderation), etc. Regarding drinking alcohol, because I know that the pew-warmers, those Christians who go to church but entertain themselves with false made-up doctrines of vain men―instead of studying God's Bible, love to chastise a Christian who takes drink: even the Priests of Israel were allowed to drink alcohol, EXCEPT when they entered into the Temple to do service. Jesus had a drink or two in His time, His first miracle was to turn water into wine at the wedding reception, when they ran out of wine (not grape juice, like the pew warmers say it was - see John chapter two and see that alcohol is the drink, not Kool-Aid.). Pew warmers say that drinking alcohol is a sin, the Bible only admonishes against excess, drunkenness. God knows that when man or woman are falling down drunk they are easily led into sin, such as inappropriate sexual conduct, violence, thievery, slander and irresponsible gossip, etc. When we are drunk we are not at out best Christian selves, and satan has an easier time leading us astray when our inhibitions are lowered due to alcohol influence. When drunk, men tend to get rotten, and women tend to play the *****. So God's people are instructed, if they so desire, to imbibe in alcohol in moderation and with control of their faculties. Ironically, it was the Kenites who had the tradition of not drinking any alcohol whatsoever, not the Israelites. But today's Christians admonish us, God's children through Christ, like the Kenites admonished their children:Jer 35:66 But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab [a Kenite] our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever: KJV [I suppose that the pew-warmers think that Kenites were to abstain from grape juice? Sorry, I just couldn't resist that "shot."] Such is the way whenever man tried to place his own thoughts into the Scriptural thought. Hey, there are enough ways to sin, why invent more? Did not also the Pharisees overburden the people with so many laws that no one could know which way to turn without the Talmud? Jews and Judeo-Christians, traditions of man, making void God's Word, oh my! This leaves a final question: Why did all these things make one unclean? There two kinds of uncleanness, one spiritual, one fleshly; we shall concern ourselves here with the flesh. So why the time of separation? Because you will notice that the time of separation correlates with the safe-time that the sperm can live outside the human body. Also with the time that bacteria can live outside the body. God knew nature long before man figured it out. It wasn't until W.W.I that we even knew about bacteria. During W.W.I, the Doctors would wash their hands in a common bowl of water, dry them with the same towel, as they went from patient to patient in the battlefield operating tents. Thus, most died from infection, not from their accual battle wounds. Observe below how God knew about infections millennia before man's greatest minds figured it out. I include this for the dull-heads who do not believe that the Bible is the written word of God, and who incessantly babble about how that it was just some men who wrote the Bible thousands of years ago, and who then claimed that God had told them what to say. Below, observe God teaching about bacteria, infectious disease, and biological contamination―and all this written circa 1490 BC. That's 3500 years ago that God spoke of bacteria; man didn't figure it out till not even a hundred years ago from today. Yet dimwits don't believe the Bible.Lev 15:2-82 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.4 Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.5 And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.6 And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.7 And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.8 And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. KJV Of special note, observe that in verse eight above, that not only were we not to touch the puss or whatever that came out of a sore, nothing that came in contact with the infected, but that even the spittle of that infected man was contaminated. The Bible knew 3500 years ago that infection spreads from the wound or sore, through the bloodstream, and contaminates everything, even all manner of bodily fluids. Man knew nothing of bacteria for another 3400+ years after that writing of God. Yet foolish men (which includes most of our so-called greatest Scientists) doubt and deny the Bible as being the written word of God. Go figure! If I had the time, I could present a Bible study that documents, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the Bible knew about DNA. I just don't have the time. (Actually, to date this, Oct 2004, and to document that I am not back-engineering science to make it look like the Bible knew it first before man did―let me simply say that women have a portion of their DNA that is blank, men do not have this. "Married" women do not have this. When a woman is inseminated she is forever a new creature. Our genius Geneticists shall stumble upon this in a couple of years. Please, no more on this for now. Our greatest minds in Genetics are nothing more than the naughty school boy who copies another's work. They are men who simply look into God's code of life, and then claim to create, when they simply mimic and alter; man can create nothing living, he can only corrupt the seeds and building blocks of life from God. Only God can CREATE) And for those who deny the Written words of God in the Bible: someday the Word of God is going to deny them. Then they will be crying 'foul,' begging God for a second chance to believe. There is to be a foul all right―them―they are foul. And like the foul ball in a baseball game, they shall be hit off the playing field, no longer mattering in the game, no longer participating, forgotten, replaced, gathered by another not in the game, cast down; never again to be a big-league ball. What a price to pay for straying off course. You may share this correspondence how you see fit. Peace to you and God bless.______________________________________________________________________God bless the study of His Word, in Jesus Christ's name!Nick Goggin