A while back, my friend and I were discussing what it meant to be a Christian. He excitedly told me that he now had a working definition: a Christian is a person who is actively striving to strengthen his or her relationship with God. Next, he proudly shared with me his latest achievement: he had not masturbated in months. (uhhh... what?
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Naturally, I was amazed. Behavior like that... well, it certainly isn't common.
He went on to explain the logic behind his decision.
According to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21, God states, "You shall not commit adultery." The typical Protestant view interprets adultery to include lustful thoughts. Therefore, if you're not married and you're thinking about having sex with someone, you've committed adultery.
Okay, let's be practical. Who masturbates without thinking about another person? Whether it's a significant other or an anonymous Internet porn star doesn't matter... the fact is that the person isn't your spouse. But I'm not trying to condemn anyone who masturbates because they've committed adultery. It's totally normal. The awesome thing is that this is just another example of how humans are sinful in nature, and gives us another reason to ask God to make us holy.
To answer the question, I think my friend is right, but of course everyone interprets the Bible differently. What do you think?
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Comments (213)
@thebeautifulcynic@xanga -
You're correct that man is also for woman. But woman was created for man; man preexisted woman.
God describes Himself as being male, just as you describe yourself as being female.
I'm sorry that you see belonging to someone as a bad thing. Perhaps someday you will change your mind, and be glad for the protection, love, provision, and intimacy that comes along with belonging to a good man.
My God is sexist - He designed and created male and female, and intended them to be different and complimentary to one another. They have equal standing, but different roles.
@His_maidservant@xanga - God describes Himself as being male, just as you describe yourself as being female.
Prove it. Because I really can't imagine God with a penis. Which is the basic definition of being male.
I have all of that now, thank you.
And sexism has nothing to do with recognizing that males and females are different, yet equal. It is that equality which becomes lost in it. So if you claim your God to be sexist... That is equivalent to admitting your God does not see men and women as equal beings.
iIf in our heart is God, we feel whats right and whats not. Its so easy to ask God, ask Him if we are acting like His sons, or not. He will certainly answer us.
Everyone is going to hell!!!
(GUY SITTING IN HELL): Why am i here!?!
(THE DEVIL): Because you masturbated!
(GUY IN HELL): Noooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! How is that even a sin!?!?
(THE DEVIL): I dont know...let me ask the metaphysical guy who judges everybody based upon their actions that take place in a physical universe of another realm of existence
@thebeautifulcynic@xanga -
He said, "All the churches shall know that I am He that searches the minds and the hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works." --- Revelation 2:23
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God created He him. --- Genesis 1:27
So the disciples came to Him and asked him, saying, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."
So He said to them, "When you pray say:
Our Father in heaven..." --- Luke 11
God - and His self-proclaimed maleness, as well as His other qualities (His grace, love, wrath, knowledge, sovereignty) - is not supposed to be a fathomable concept to our finite minds. When you see Him, you will know and understand His perfect qualities. We both will. Until then, trying to picture God's appearance is completely futile.
"sexism has nothing to do with recognizing that males and females are different, yet equal."
That's correct. But you automatically assumed that I was a sexist because I said - interestingly enough - that woman was created as a gift to man which is perfectly capable of fulfilling all his needs.
C.S. Lewis, as quoted by Leanne Payne:
"For me the real evil of masturbation would be that it takes an appetite which, in lawful use, leads the individual out of himself to complete (and correct) his own personality in that of another (and finally in children and even grandchildren) and turns it back, sends it back into the prison of himself, there to keep a harem of imaginary brides. And this harem, once admitted, works against his ever getting out and really uniting with a real woman. For the harem is always accessible, always subservient, calls for no sacrifices or adjustments, and can be endowed with erotic and psychological attractions which no real woman can rival . "
So are Catholics supposed to try and reconcile by going to confession and apologizing straight to their priest for masturbation?
Pardon me for seeming rude, but this, along with alot of the comments, is hilarious.
@GoodbyeSickan@xanga - I agree. The Bible has a LOT to say in the Old Testament about forbidden sexual practices, and it says nothing at all about masturbation. This is not an oversight.
Sexual drive is part of our makeup as human beings.
I think that it is wrong when sexual pleasure rules your thoughts and becomes addictive.
It is truly an awesome experience to see God in the person you love and the person you desire.
However, people have urges and are not always in a relationship at the time, masturbation is simply a means to relieve an 'itch' as long as it doesn't become an act that is valued over the consummation of a relationship then I see no problem.
Well, i just gotta add some points here.
First of all I understand that God created sex to be between two people
that are married and that it is used to bring them together emotionally
physically and spiritually. Yet the Bible is strangely silent on
masturbation. So, can married couples masturbate? If a man and wife are
separated for a long period of time can they think lustfully of each
other while they masturbate? I see absolutely nothing wrong with this.
If God didn't want people to masturbate I don't think he would have
made it possible.
So what if you're not married? Does the desire go away? No, it's still
there, and it's a real physical thing in my opinion. So either those
lucky enough to have found their mate are just better off and that's
the just the way it is or God gave us the gift of masturbation to
relieve natural sexual desire, even when we are single. Even 'rubbing
it the wrong way' causes excitement, especially after not having sex or
masturbating for a long period of time, so it is DEFINITELY possible to
masturbate without thinking lustful thoughts.
I have heard all this stuff about it being self-serving and all that
but I mean come on. You can say that about absolutely anything.
Watching your favorite TV show? Self-serving. Ordering your favorite
pizza on Friday? Self-serving. Drinking a cold lemonade cause it's
satisfying and tastes good on a hot day? Self-serving. Having a couple
of beers with your friends? Self-serving. Having a hot bath or relaxing
in a hot tub (feels good, right?) Nope, self-serving. I mean come on.
God created us to be servants of Jesus Christ but He also created us to
LIVE. It's ok to have interests, desires, tastes, preferences, etc.
That's what makes us human beings! God didn't create robots, He made us
human!Life can still be pleasurable, but things are to be done in moderation and not to be allowed to take the place of God.
So, I know for me personally. I struggled with pornography and sexual
sin for years and after fully realizing through God just what a
terrible sin it is I have been clean for a long time with absolutely no
wish to go back to it. But from time to time I occasionally relieve the
natural sexual urge to keep myself straight and for GASP! pleasure. Sex
is a pleasurable thing.
And imo masturbation is not 'having sex with yourself.' That's just ridiculous.
Also the argument that you could not see Jesus doing it means you
shouldn't either is a stretch too. I can't imagine Jesus being married
or having sex but that doesn't make it a sin to do so.
Do I think lusting in any way after a woman who is not your wife is a sin? ABSOLUTELY.
Do I think masturbation can become a sin, if it's not done in moderation or done with lustful thoughts or desires? ABSOLUTELY.
Do I think it can be done pleasurably from time to time without lust and to relieve a normal sexual urge? Yes, it can.
Now, if you notice in your life that you cannot control it, and that it
becomes a problem, it becomes a sin, then as Jesus said you should 'cut
off your hand, if it causes you to sin.' He obviously doesn't mean that
you should cut off your hand, but cut off what causes you to sin in
your life. If masturbation is a 'need' like five times a day then you
have a problem.
Personally, I can drink alcohol any time I want to and always (though
sometimes I've obviously had too many) maintain self control.
Personally I don't like feeling out of control and that's why I choose
to limit my intake.
Yet some Christians I know can't go out or drink at all because they lose control.
It all depends on the person. Just my 2 cents. I could be wrong but that's what I think.
"'When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening. Any clothing or leather that has semen on it must be washed with water, and it will be unclean till evening. When a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both must bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. (Lev 15:16-18)
SOMEONE PLS TELL ME........JUST YES OR NO....THE TRUTH WITH JUSTIFICATION FOR MY QUESTION...
1)IS MASTURBATION WITH OUT ANY LUSTFUL THOUGHTS A SIN?(in the sense that ,a person who just feel like to ejacuate the semen not been discharged for a long time,inorder not to get any issues of cancer?)