Slides: What About Masturbation?

What About Masturbation?

Henry Reyenga

What is masturbation? 

Experiencing sexual pleasure and/or sexual release through thoughts and self manual stimulation of body areas. 

Theological Discernment

Biblical – The Bible talks about sexual thoughts and practices.

Theological –The study of Bible references to develop a teaching and practice.

Loving – Whatever is made into a teaching must be loving to God and your neighbor.

God Glorifying  - Whatever you do, you must not make it into an idol or a form of worship rather than that of elevating God as your highest pursuit.

Freedom – There are areas of life that you will exercise your freedom to decide how to live and act. Let that freedom give you benefit not enslavement. 

Is Masturbation Condemned in the Story of Onan in the Bible? 

No. Onan’s offense was that he willfully avoided impregnating his widowed sister-in-law. Carrying on the family line was the custom in those days. 

Genesis 38:8-9    Then Judah said to Onan, “Lie with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he lay with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother.

Is Masturbation Mentioned as Ok in the Bible? 

Yes. Once. In the marriage relationship context…

Song 5:3-6     I have taken off my robe— must I put it on again? I have washed my feet— must I soil them again? My lover thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him. I arose to open for my lover, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the lock. I opened for my lover, but my lover had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure.

Theological Discernment of Sexual Thought Practice and Masturbation

Sexual thoughts about sexual intimacy in marriage.

Desire for sexual marriage pleasure.

Where Does Sexual Sin Start? 

Sexual sin starts in the thoughts. Someone does not have to masturbate to have their mind lost in sexual sins. 

Proverbs 6:25   Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. 

Matthew 5:28   But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Is it Permittable and Beneficial for a Single Christian to Masturbate? 

1 Corinthians 7:9   But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

1 Corinthians 8:9     Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

Is it Permittable and Beneficial for a Married Couple to Masturbate? 

1 Corinthians 6:12     “Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

Is Masturbation with Pornography OK in Marriage? 

No. 

Job 31:1   “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.

Should We Teach our Children about Masturbation? 

Song 8:8-8     We have a young sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister for the day she is spoken for?

If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.