Video Transcript: What About Masturbation?

Henry - So in every class, there's a lot of discussions, but then there's that certain  question that comes up, that you got to sort of go into the weeds on and really  talk about and think about it. And there's controversy all over and I suppose the  question is what about masturbation? So why don't we just talk about it?  

Pam - What is masturbation experiencing sexual pleasure and or sexual release  through thoughts and self manual stimulation of body areas?  

Henry - Okay, I think we do know that.  

Pam - theological discernment biblical. The Bible talks about sexual thoughts and  practices, theological, the study of Bible references to develop a teaching and a  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 an 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 gives you benefits, not enslavement. So  

Henry - before we even start talking about masturbation, we really should have a  theological framework, because the practice of masturbation is not condemned in  the Bible, nor is it talked about very much. So to just say, Well, you know, we're  quoting a scripture that says, do or don't masturbate, that is not something that's  easily seen in the Bible. So therefore, we need to do go to the matrix of theological discernment. And this, by the way, applies to a lot of things. So for  instance, in the future when the metaverse comes out and people are wearing  glasses all the time, we have to go back to something like this and ask okay, how  right what biblical things talk about what theological, what's loving? Uh, for  instance, if the example is if everything checks out, but loving whenever with  people anymore zero time is that all of these things,  

Pam - is it a freedom or is it actually an enslavement? Are you Right, exactly. So is  it mastering you  

Henry - so masturbation fits into that category before we even begin talking about it? Yes. So  

Pam - is it condemned in the story of Onan and  

Henry - many people talking about masturbation go immediately to that story.  

Pam - It has been used for that. But 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, and it was expected of the next brother to do that. So  Genesis 38:8-9 and Judah had to own and 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 keep from producing offspring  for his brother. 

Henry - Okay, so what was happening there? Wasn't masturbation it was  disobedience. Yes. 

Pam - Is masturbation mentioned as okay in the Bible? Yes, once in the marriage  relationship context and Song of Solomon 5:3-6. I have taken off my robe must I put it on again, I've washed my feet must I soil them again, my lover thrusts 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.  

Henry - So this concept of myrrh would be some of that, you know, juices of the human body and many commentary come here is believed that she was preparing herself through a form of masturbation for their wedding encounter or their  Marriage Encounter. Okay, so again, what I like about Song of Songs, it's not  negative on touch, it's not negative on the human body. And if you think about  masturbation in some ways, can you ever touch yourself in a rousing way? I don't  think we would go there. So then at what point is that okay, and what point is that you can see what the Scripture doesn't get in those weeds, right. And here's an  example of that.  

Pam - theological discernment through practice, sexual plot, practice and  masturbation, sexual thoughts about sexual intimacy in marriage. sexual thoughts should be about sexual intimacy and desire for sexual marriage pleasure.  

Henry - So, so So here's So, if masturbation is something that's a yes for you, it  would be in the context of the marriage, relationship marriage, thoughts, fantasy,  whatever you want to call it. Because to say masturbation is okay and just  masturbate to the images and world views of the world would automatically say  that masturbation is not right. Okay? For a Christian, whether single or married.  Okay.  

Pam - 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, right?  

Henry - Boy, have I met people in my ministry that, you know, they were  absolutely against masterbate. I don't masturbate? You know, I mean, it was amazing what other men will tell men on our golf course. Right? But they're  always looking at somebody. I'll look at her and look at that. Alright, you know, it's like, you know, it's like, there is definitely an issue there. Right. So masturbation is specifically is not the issue that Jesus says, it's what's in your heart in mind. Next,  let's talk about whether or not it's okay for singles to masturbate.  

Pam - I Corinthians 7:9, but if they cannot control themselves, they should marry 

For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. I Corinthians 8:9, be careful,  however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to  the weak.  

Henry - Now, it's interesting how Paul acknowledges a burning, right? You know, in the case of you know, they shouldn't burn they should marry. In other words, why  like, because he gets very practical. He's saying, and I could see that type of  thinking, when it come when it would come to your own thought, what should you masturbation to not masturbate? If you're a minister? If that question comes up? How should that be dealt with? On one level, we know that the Bible doesn't  exactly prohibit it. There's theological or other cases involved in this. But the  Apostle Paul gets very practical. And I think that every instance has a practical  side to it. And if you're single, and you're 19 years old, and a male or a female,  and you really want to be married, but nothing is in a prospect for you. And then  you go off to a college or university, and all of a sudden, new temptations come in might be better to say, you know, I'm gonna release my sexual tension, and  develop a way to keep your mind and thoughts in a future marriage situation  without putting someone's face to your mind or imagination or something,  because you have a practical issue there. Because becoming sexually immoral is  not an option for you. So I can see where that you know, and I can see other cases where as a ministry might help a family deal with a unique situation.  

Pam - All right. Is it permitable and beneficial for a married couple to masturbate?  I 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.  

Henry - You know, you know that? Again, there's an example where that's in the  relationship with a couple. Right? And that's great. Now, I know that there are  some men who travel a lot in business, and they want to stay free from  pornography. And one of the things that I know as a minister, hey, talk to your  spouse, how are you going to get a plan and masturbation maybe part of that  plan is pornography is up but again, that's that's a discussion that can be held  together. And what are they what are they does it benefit? Is it loving to the  married couple, right?  

Pam - Mm hmm. Is masturbation with pornography. Okay, in marriage, no. Job 3  31:1, I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl,  

Henry – right? There's some social science counseling out there that says, hey,  you're married. It's okay to utilize pornography. Is that to spice up your marriage?  But no.  

Pam - No, marriage is between one man and one woman. Should we teach our  children about masturbation? Song of Solomon 8:8-9 we have a young sister and  her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister for the day she has  spoken for? If she has a wall, we will build towers of silver on her. If she has a  door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar. 

Henry - What's that about? Is about preparation of your right. And where does the  masturbation issue comes up? And how can that be talked about your way? It's  the birds and the bees talk. I think Ruth Buezis has addressed this. So you know, I  won't get further in that. I think that is important stuff to really talk about in  ministry. Yes. Well, we're going to be going on to the next one here. Just to sum it  up in a unit of the day, what we're all about is what is loving? What can serve the  Lord? How can we as ministers get things out in the open? So there's joy and  there's fulfillment, and there's love and is really that theological thing? And this,  I'm just in with that. That, since it's not directly mentioned in the Bible, it's that, you know, is there a biblical? Is there a theological Is there a loving? Is there a  God glorified? Is there a freedom? And how are all those things connected in that  discussion? Right. And as you decide how you understand masturbation, we're not telling you. I know, in various cultures of the world and Africa, there's a different  take on this entirely than America and Europe. But that's your discernment as a  minister. We're sincerely giving our observations and our belief about this. But we  don't want to tell you, Yes, from our kids to cultural standpoint, where marriage is  delayed and all the other things. Our goal is to lead in the way that brings  blessing and honor to God for as many people as possible.