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ORIGINAL: W.O.F.

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I do believe that if masturbation was a sin, God would have made sure to put it in the Bible.

Abortion is not listed in the Bible, yet it is sin..... Drug abuse is not listed in the Bible but it is sin...so to use that last sentence to defend something as not sin is not valid.

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Another argument against masturbation is that it is a self-centered activity rather than a God-centered activity. For some Christians, there is a belief that an orgasm actually brings a person closer to God. However, a majority of Christians believe that “pleasuring oneself” is about the self rather than God. Most Christians see their faith as having a God-focus, and that every act should be a way of edifying God. Thus, if masturbation is not helping to develop a relationship with God, it is a sin.

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Another argument against masturbation is that it is a self-centered activity rather than a God-centered activity. For some Christians, there is a belief that an orgasm actually brings a person closer to God. However, a majority of Christians believe that “pleasuring oneself” is about the self rather than God. Most Christians see their faith as having a God-focus, and that every act should be a way of edifying God. Thus, if masturbation is not helping to develop a relationship with God, it is a sin.

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There are so many things in life that we put before God, this statement is not a valid argument to prove that masturbation is a sin. We eat, we watch TV, we put our husbands and children first, we work, we clean house, we do more things than I can name that is put before God.

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By the way, I believe that Christians know that life begins at conception and therefore abortion is murder, but we can't discuss that here. We also know that taking drugs is damaging to our bodies, which is the temple of the Holy Ghost, so therefore it is wrong. These are obvious sins. If anything, God allows us to masturbate to release the natural feelings that we have because HE made our bodies to have these feelings and learn ways to live stress-free lives as much as possible. Otherwise people would be more tempted to commit fornication.

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ORIGINAL: Gail7364

Personally this satisfaction is not a sex act . . .

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ORIGINAL: Gail7364

Otherwise people would be more tempted to commit fornication.



How do you reconcile your two statements that I've quoted above? If it's not a sex act, then why would people need to masturbate to prevent being tempted to commit fornication - which most definitely is sexual.

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However, I stand by my statement that Masturbation is not sex. How in the world could it be sex when the person is alone? It takes two people to perform the sex act. Even if the person is alone, but watching porn on the internet. There are two (or more) people involved.

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Masturbation is a natural release for the body the same as waking up while having an orgasm when you haven't done a thing to cause it. Your body needed that release and was able to spontaneously. There shouldn't be any guilt or sinful feelings if that happens either.

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The bottom line is, I do not believe that I am having sex when I masturbate.

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Wow, the part about the orgasm bringing a person closer to God...almost made me choke on my spit. You have got to be kidding. I have never in my entire life ever heard anyone say that having sex was a way to get closer to God. Never. Except here. Again wow. How in the world can anyone having sex be thinking about God? Because honestly, God was the farthest thing from my mind when I was having sex. I have got to ask my sisters and friends about this. Of a truth, coming to this site has enabled me to hear things I have never heard nor read and I am just astonished. Man, that through me for a loop. Sex getting closer to God...hmmm....okay, you said that pleasuring oneself is just about self, right? Well that is a little bit biased, don't you think? I mean you make it seem that all married couples are worshipping God or singing hymns as they have sex and that single people who masturbate are only about pleasing themselves. You can't speak for all married couples because I can guarantee you that the married couples I know are not thinking about God or even trying to get close to God while they are having sex.

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ORIGINAL: truthrevealed

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Wow, the part about the orgasm bringing a person closer to God...almost made me choke on my spit. You have got to be kidding. I have never in my entire life ever heard anyone say that having sex was a way to get closer to God. Never. Except here. Again wow. How in the world can anyone having sex be thinking about God? Because honestly, God was the farthest thing from my mind when I was having sex. I have got to ask my sisters and friends about this. Of a truth, coming to this site has enabled me to hear things I have never heard nor read and I am just astonished. Man, that through me for a loop. Sex getting closer to God...hmmm....okay, you said that pleasuring oneself is just about self, right? Well that is a little bit biased, don't you think? I mean you make it seem that all married couples are worshipping God or singing hymns as they have sex and that single people who masturbate are only about pleasing themselves. You can't speak for all married couples because I can guarantee you that the married couples I know are not thinking about God or even trying to get close to God while they are having sex.

I thought this response was too cool and totally classic!!!!! At 36, having been a christian since age 7 I can say I've never sang a hymn during sex with my husband but I MOST CERTAINLY believe that sex can be viewed as an act of worship(on so many levels). God doesn't shun, or turn His back for the few seconds....or minutes that a MARRIED couple is engaging in an act of consumation, the ultimate expression of oneness and intimacy that HE created---by the way. But I do get viewing sex thru the eyes of carnality and based upon the worlds perception-----the enemy has done a good job of making filthy and obscene one of God's greatest expressions of love. It's one of the reasons why I see masturbation as sin----because it's all about I, I, I!!!!!!! What further prove is needed

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Once you've become accustomed to manipulating your own sexual pleasure it's MUCH too easy to resort to that system because you've learned what pleases you and no one can do it like you (notice all of the "you's??). You'll run to it to relieve stress and sexual tension if issues arise in the marriage---thereby denying your partner. And by issues, I don't mean fighting or arguing.

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I don't believe anyone, who masturbates, when they say no sexual thinking is involved. It is a sexual act, with the intention of scratching a "sexual itch." Something must be present to (further) stimulate arousal, be it something that is seen, felt or thought.

I've always thought of something "natural" as it concerns our bodies, like urinating, or when a woman gives birth because it doesn't involve manipulation---it will happen whether you will it to or not . Masturbation is a willful action and is therefore not "natural."

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Masturbation may be excused by some as a way to relieve/satisfy sexual tension while being single but it's sure to bite you in the butt once you're married. Once you've become accustomed to manipulating your own sexual pleasure it's MUCH too easy to resort to that system because you've learned what pleases you and no one can do it like you (notice all of the "you's??). You'll run to it to relieve stress and sexual tension if issues arise in the marriage---thereby denying your partner. And by issues, I don't mean fighting or arguing. Sex in marriage(as God intended) is about intimacy. SOOOO many men/women have issues with intimacy that you won't even know exist until you've been married and are led by God to "go deeper." How easy it is to run to that easy and familiar satisfaction(via masturbation) than to open yourself up and become vulnerable to your partner as God will certainly lead you to do. It's much too profound for me to explain here but someone knows what I'm talkin' about

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ORIGINAL: Gail7364

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I don't believe anyone, who masturbates, when they say no sexual thinking is involved. It is a sexual act, with the intention of scratching a "sexual itch." Something must be present to (further) stimulate arousal, be it something that is seen, felt or thought.

I've always thought of something "natural" as it concerns our bodies, like urinating, or when a woman gives birth because it doesn't involve manipulation---it will happen whether you will it to or not . Masturbation is a willful action and is therefore not "natural."

Well...everybody is different. Personally, I know that a woman CAN masturbate and NOT have the first sexual thought. It's a need of the body - a natural need - and there are ways to fulfill that need without sinning. A woman does NOT have to have something to help her along such as sexual "tools" and such.

What about women who wake up and are having an spontaneous orgasm? They wasn't anything present to stimulate arousal - nothing seen, felt or thought of. In my opinion a woman who has an orgasm while sleeping is just her body fulfilling a need. How could it be otherwise? I have had that happen to me since in my late teen years. I was a virgin, had no idea of what sinful thoughts were (as I was brought up with on sexual educations whatsoever), and had no idea what the feelings were to being with. I would just wake up and be having an orgasm. I later learned, after I got married, what was happening to my body.

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In the same line of thought, it IS definitely possible to masturbate to relieve the need that one feels in that area of her body, WITHOUT having sexual thoughts or using any type of device for assistance. I once knew a woman who would be dancing with her husband to a romantic slow song and actually have an orgasm. I thought that was pretty neat, but I was never able to get to that point. It was kinda funny in a way - she said that her husband would just "hold on" for a few seconds! ha-ha!

As a single woman who has been married and has no plans to ever remarry, I will continue to maintain a stress-free and healthy life in whatever ways that I can. Be it exercise, walking, eating correctly, using lotions for my face, arms, and neck, taking vitamins, and so on - all which take efforts but are all good things for the body's health and are good for the heart, blood pressure and general sense of well-being. (Exercise DEFINITELY takes effort and DOES NOT come naturally). I put masturbation into the whole package of taking care of my body (which is a Biblical commandment, BTW) to the best of my ability.

A person has to separation masturbation from all sexual activities. It ISN'T sex. I guarantee you that. I have been married and had wonderful, mind-blowing sex. Masturbation is like comparing steak to dirt. No comparison. It is only a bodily relief of a natural function that helps are bodies be healthier.

Now if a person uses porn, or thinks wrong thoughts, or uses equipment of a sexual nature (I think they are called dildos ??), I would certainly think that is wrong and sinful. The mind is going where it shouldn't go.

There is a great difference which I think needs to be separated to rightly discuss this issue. Probably in most minds, the word masturbation is associated with all the "dirty" things. Perhaps there needs to be another word to describe the act of satisfying one's sexual needs when there are no sexual or impure thoughts, or "tools" to help that person get to the desired effect.

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Masturbation may be excused by some as a way to relieve/satisfy sexual tension while being single but it's sure to bite you in the butt once you're married. Once you've become accustomed to manipulating your own sexual pleasure it's MUCH too easy to resort to that system because you've learned what pleases you and no one can do it like you (notice all of the "you's??). You'll run to it to relieve stress and sexual tension if issues arise in the marriage---thereby denying your partner. And by issues, I don't mean fighting or arguing. Sex in marriage(as God intended) is about intimacy. SOOOO many men/women have issues with intimacy that you won't even know exist until you've been married and are led by God to "go deeper." How easy it is to run to that easy and familiar satisfaction(via masturbation) than to open yourself up and become vulnerable to your partner as God will certainly lead you to do. It's much too profound for me to explain here but someone knows what I'm talkin' about

This is totally wrong. I can only see a woman preferring masturbation over sexual (love-making) with her husband when the marriage is in trouble anyway. I can NEVER see a woman preferring masturbation over good, loving, close intimacy with her husband. NEVER!

If a woman knows her body and knows what will turn her on and cause greater enjoyment, it will only increase her pleasure with her husband. Most men like to know what makes their wives feel good and most men like a woman who is in touch with her body and her pleasure points. AND most men sure can't find them on their own. He needs and wants his wife to tell her what makes her feel good. How is she going to know unless she has found out? A man could spend hours and hours going over his wife's entire body asking her "Does this feel good? How about here? No? Well, how about here?" Until the woman is worn out and the excitement and desire is totally gone.

Wives - you want to make your husband happy? Find out on your own where your pleasure spots are and what will "get your there!" Then tell your husband and see how much more enjoyment your relationship will become. Guarantee you that he will enjoy it more.

As for us single woman who want to stay away from sin, but keep our bodies stress-free and in good health, masturbation is as natural as any other bodily function and desire. It's good for the heart and soul in more ways than one.

Be set free from the guilt of something that is NOT a sin, and enjoy life!

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Sorry, again not holding water. Now don't get me wrong, God has seen fit to help me overcome what was a stronghold for me and I say thank You Jesus!! But I do not think that born again believers are living in a sinful state. So much so that they will go to hell. I believe that God and God alone will judge them according to His standard and not man's futile attempt to pass judgment on another. I believe that it is not written in the Word for a reason. Reasons unrevealed unless God unfolds it to His dear child. You point out the I's but it is very naive to think that most married couples are thinking about God and trying to get closer to Him during sex. I have been married so I know. And it was all about pleasing my husband as it is written by Paul, 1 Cor 7:34--but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.(my emphasis). If I got something out of it, fine. But for the most part, wives are seeking to please their husbands, and I understand that yes, there may be those who think they may get closer to God through sex but there isn't chapter or verse that alludes to this. Indeed, Paul says 1 Cor 7:5--that they should abstain for a time--So do not deprive each other of sexual relations. The only exception to this rule would be the agreement of both husband and wife to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time, so they can give themselves more completely to prayer. Afterward they should come together again so that Satan won't be able to tempt them because of their lack of self-control. That to me sounds like couples get closer to God when they are apart rather than during intimacy and that the intimacy is so that they will withstand the enemy.


Now as far as those who seek deliverance in this area--Paul also says this--There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: 1 Cor 7. Paul says in both body and spirit. I assume that he means that our bodies are to be sanctified, set apart to be holy unto the Lord. Which is why, I think a lot of us feel/felt guilt or shame. I believe that God wants us to be like virgins even after being in a marriage. Why? So that temptation will not overcome us and lead us into sin through lust of our flesh. Paul also says in 1 Cor 7-- The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Well those of us who are single by choice or made single(widow) have power over our own bodies. We have no one to relinquish that power to which is probably why it is harder to overcome this vice. Where there are two in a marriage, there is only one with the single, but praise God for His working power through His Spirit Who helps us in our weakness.

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I strongly disagree with this. There is a substantial difference in 'doing it yourself' and having sexual relations with a spouse. A person cannot substitute one for the other.