It is not my intentions to upset anyone but ultimately there is no scripture anywhere that condemns masturbation. I am not supporting pornography in any sense but I am also not for promoting a concept just because someone might think that it will lead into an action. Such reasoning is what the pharisees used to justify adding additional rules to the mosaic law. They thought that inorder to get the people to live a sinless life that they had to add extra laws to prevent the people from even coming close to touching an actual act of sin.

I do realize that many people would use the scripture about lusting in your heart and would assume that would mean that one can not masturbate without sinning. But there is a problem with that reasoning. The problem lies in what that scripture as actually saying. If you study that verse out you would see that what God is saying is that if you look at a women with the intention to engage in sex with her if you had the opportunity that you have sinned. In other words if you look at a women and have a sexual thought, that would not be sin. God is saying is that if you say to yourself if I could some how convince this person to have sex with me, but the opportunity never arises than it does not change the fact that in your heart you have sinned.

The problem with trying to make your self live a sinnless life is that you are trying to concentrate on trying to live a life under the law. The law is not necessarily the mosiac law. Any form of rules you try to force upon yourself becomes a law. Now God said "Now the law entered in, that sin might abound". So if you go about trying to live under a law, than sin will only more abound. In other words what we are told is wrong, in our sinful state we will want it more, whether or not it is actually sin or not.

I know this may contradict some beliefs, but my suggesting is to not worry about masterbation because it is not a sin. This is not to encourage pornagraphy. To say that masturbation encourages pornography would be like saying drinking water encourages drinking alcohol. So should we stop drinking water because it is an act of drinking a liquid. Just as drinking alcohol is an act of drinking liquid.

God went to great details in the old testament to describe what is sin. God wanted to make sure that people would understand what is and is not sin. So if you don't find something that someone is trying to call sin in the Bible than don't worry about it. It's just the devil trying to beat you up with a rubber ball. Satan doesn't care how he can beat you up, whether it is a sin or not. He don't care, as long as it does damage that's all he cares about.

Now if you decide mentally that masturbation is not a sin, you may still feel anxiety over it because like I said the devil doesn't care what he uses to inflict damage. But on the other hand if you still want to stop masturbating just for your own inner peace, just keep believing and having faith in your prayers. Why do I say in your prayers and not in God? Well because I am trying to speak to your understanding due to cultural differences between our modern society and the time the scriptures where written.

God said that we all have a measure of faith, he also said that if we had faith as a mustard seed we could command a mountain to be cast into the sea. Having done farming I understand that a measure when it comes to a seed that small means that there would be many thousands of seeds. Now some would try to say that if we had even a speck of genuine faith we could do anything. But than God would have said speck and not seed.

You see a seed takes time for it to grow and in order for it to grow it must be watered and cared for until it reaches maturity and produces fruit. This is done by praying and believing that what you have asked for is already done. That God has already said yes to what ever you asked for. Than you find scriptures to support what you are having faith in. Confess those scriptures anytime you question the prayer coming to pass. Memorize the verse in support of what you are believing for. And talk to your mountain anytime it tries to refuse to come in line with God's word. In the even you can't seem to find a verse to support what you are believing God for, just remember, God said that what things so ever you desire, that is all inclusive. So there is nothing that God is holding back from you.

To those who would say that you first have to know if it is God's will, God's will is that what things so ever you desire, he wants you to have it. He already told you his will. His will is for you to have life more abundant. The reason why so many do not receive is because they ask because they don't believe. Those that ask and don't recieve is because they gave up and choose to stop believing. Those who truly choose to believe God's word never give up. There is no such thing as I have not gotten it yet. There is only, I have it and any day now you will see it too. If I had not learned this lesson from God, I would not be here today because of a medical issue that almost killed me.

Remember God is not judging you over what He has not called sin. Infact I think that the whole issue of trying to label masturbation as sin is a clear trick of the devil. Because people get so wrapped up over fighting something that is natural and normal from God and don't concentrate on the real issue. This is really a device game. First the devil encourages masturbation because he knows how to use this to do harm; then he makes you feel bad for it; he gets people to expend mental energy in trying to control it; then he comes along and tells us there really is nothing wrong with it (the can actually use truth to his advantage here); he then encourages the masturbation again, so that he can once again try to destroy us emotionally. Along the way if he can get some porn thrown in the mix all the better for the devil's destructive plans.

Now if people would decide that there is nothing wrong with masturbation and would masturbate freely, but privately; just like sexual relations in marriage is a private event, so should masturbation be; then people could expend there mental efforts into staying away from watching porn or actually fantasizing about things that are actually sinful.

On a personal note, I myself in my life have no problem with masturbation nor do I condemn myself, nor do I feel condemned before God for when I choose to engage in such a thing. But I am neither encouraging or discouraging masturbation. Some people have issues with masturbation because it started for them as a result of sexual abuse and so it causes them pain to engage in such an act. Also to them they only see it as evil because they where introduced to it in an evil way. But you should know that it has been proven that even at infancy some infants and toddlers have touched themselves as they are growing and learning about their bodies. The only reason why this is not vilafied is because they are not bringing themselves to an orgasm.

So each person needs to decide for themselves whether or not they choose to masturbate or not. But not because they think God is hating them for it but rather as a personal choice. Just like everyone does not like the same colors as another person and some colors we pick as our favorite. It is a personal choice. But I will also say that be careful in how much you masturbate, not that it is unhealthy because science has shown it be healthy, but rather is that much masturbation interferring with your every day life? If it is interferring with work or studies or something that you should be doing than your struggles may have less to do with masturbation as there may be other emotional and mental issues at hand that need to be looked into.

On the one hand masturbation can be a good physical release but if it's being used to escape reality than like an alcoholic sooner or later you are going to have to face the situation you are trying to avoid. And if you keep putting off dealing with the situation, then in the end it will only be harder to confront. I know this all too well. You don't need to tell others that you are masturbating to avoid a situation, but it would be good if you could talk with someone, if there is a situation in your life that needs to be dealt with. Talk with someone you trust, and if you don't have anyone then try seeing a Mental Health professional.

I don't know about your situation, but I was once taught that it was an evil thing to go to counseling. But much later in life I am going to counseling and there is nothing wrong with it. Even if it's with a non christian counselor.

Though I am going to post this for you, I think I have been talking to myself as much as I have been talking to you.

Be free in Jesus

Thank You very much plappy03 and newcreation7 for your valuable advice.

I agree with plappy03, masturbation can relieve physical stress because there is a release of endorphins that takes place. It causes us to feel a physical "release", but emotionally it will always ultimately leave us feeling empty, especially when coupled with porn, which is a real wrecking ball to our emotions. It may temporarily gratify, but it will never truly satisfy. Only a real, intimate relationship with God can do that. Then, a soulful and physical relationship with the person that God made specifically for us (our soulmate) in the constitution of marriage. I believe many times people masturbate because they are seeking a personal, intimate "connection" with someone, though they may not even realize it. However, masturbation doesn't connect us with anyone, only ourselves, therefore it leaves us feeling emotionally empty and unfulfilled. Remember, the flesh is never satisfied. It's desires and lusts can never be fully quenched, it always wants more. Only the spirit and soul can be truly satisfied and contented. That is why we must constantly feed our spirit and starve our flesh. I know this is at times easier said than done, but this is what God tells us to do. "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16 NKJV)

Scientists say (which is true without conviction) that masturbation can lower stress levels. If i'm not mistaken they also say it can improve your cowpers gland if I'm right (Someone correct me on that if I'm wrong). The act of Masturbation and sex is also said to be healthy by scientists and doctors studying it so I doubt that you will have physical problems down the road (note I didn't say emotional problems) It's a good thing that you know it's wrong though and I'd steer clear of the act at all costs.

Dear all,
Please let me know your thoughts on the above post as I was curious to know about it.
Thanks.
Christopher.