Is Masturbation A Sin?

Disclaimer: this blog is for mature audiences and contains mature content.

Statistics show that over 70% of men and over 40% of women have struggled with masturbation at one point in their lives. Masturbation is defined as the experience of a sexual orgasm produced by self-stimulation for sexual arousal and pleasure. 

Although the word “masturbation” itself is not directly found in the Bible, just as other words like “abortion” or “heroin”, are also not mentioned, the idea of it is talked about in the Bible.

With its prevalence in our society, I want to give some insight into what the Bible indirectly tells us about this subject.

Misconceptions About Masturbation

1. It offers an innocent way to fulfill a sexual desire.

Some people say that masturbation is not wrong because it offers an innocent way to fulfill sexual desire when a partner is unavailable.

However, the act of masturbation removes sexual expression from it’s intended purpose, by creating “solo sex.” The organism is removed from the purpose of creating intimacy and reduced to a chemical release.

The Bible says, “But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” 1 Corinthians 7:8-9

Notice what Paul is saying to the Church. He doesn’t say, “if you can’t exercise self-control, masturbate.” He says marry. In the Scriptures, sex is meant to happen in the context of marriage.

2. “It’s something I can’t control.”

You must understand two things: you are not an animal that is ruled by sexuality, and you are not an angel in heaven that doesn’t have a sexuality. You are a human on earth who needs to rule your sexuality. We are not sexual beings, we are spiritual beings.

As humans, we rule our passions. We don’t allow our passions to rule us. #IsMasturbationASin?

As a Christian, you can not walk around stating, “I can’t control it” because you’re a spirit.

You don’t need sex to be alive. Sex is not water, and sex is not air. The necessities of the body are real, but your identity is more real – you are a spirit in a body.

You can’t do it alone, but the Holy Spirit can help you.

Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law.”

Self-control is a fruit produced by the Holy Spirit in us; it is an act of obedience to our Holy God and an act that requires restraint, thought, intentionality, and delayed gratification.

3. If someone masturbates without thinking lustful thoughts, then it’s okay.

This is like saying, “I’m going to get in the pool and I’m not going to get wet.”

Yes, it’s true that the words “porn” and “masturbation” are not mentioned in the Bible, just as the words “cocaine” and “heroine” are not either; however, we still say those drugs are sinful to consume.

Why?

Because of what they produce. The same thing is true with the act of masturbation. The sin is not the hand touching the body, but what is causing the stimulation in the first place, and where it leads to afterward.

Many times the desire and urges for masturbation come from pornography, lead to feelings of shame and guilt, and can even result in fornication.

Read: 7 Steps to Mind Renewal

Encouragment

With this being something many silently battle, it is important to know the reasons why this is considered sinful. Once you know how God sees it, you can pray for His strength to help you overcome it.

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Lean on Jesus to help you, for He has already conquered all sin.