Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Masturbation used to expel sexual urge? | Bible general Archive 1 | JCrichton | 136393 | ||
Hi, PV! There are waaaaay too many people who take liberties with Scripture as if they were reading through some Sci-Fi text (Lord of the Ring, Excalibur, Dune, Star Wars...) where there is a meshing of good and evil... where there are gray zones that could go either way... Not so with Scripture! When Jesus speaks on adultery and marriage (Matthew 5:27-32; 19:3-12), He does not mention homosexuality, sexual relationships outside of marriage nor bestiality because He is speaking to a people whose idea of premarital relationship meant being espoused with a husband/wife who they hardly met outside of family gatherings or, at times, they only met during their wedding ceremonies... Understanding that the people of God (those living according to the Law) would not engage in pre/extra marital sex, we can understand why Jesus did not directly address some subjects, it was expected of them not to be engaged in such immoral acts! Still, Jesus tells us that it is from the heart that evil thoughts come... these include murder, adultery, fornication and blasphemy! There are those who will attempt (while engaging in blasphemy) to usurp God's Authority by claiming that we are free to commit unrighteous acts because there is lack of Scripture to point out that it is wrong to do... These people are blind and they lead astray all who follow them... they are quick to determine that we do good by satisfying the flesh since we are above the Law... I liken them to Satan, in the Garden of Eden, twisting God's words around and promising Eve that they would not die if they disobeyed God! He used partial truth to poison her mind and spirit against God as she submitted her will to a creature rather than the Creator! We are above the Law in the sense that we no longer need to worry about what we should or should not do, because we obediently desire to do what is pleasing to God... it is this relationship that places us above the Law: our obedience and dependence on Christ: loving God above all and our neighbors as ourselves! Perhaps you may have heard of psychologists and psychiatrists that promote sexual release, and at least by hollow wood's (my pet name for the entertainment industry) standards sexual maintenance is necessary for our mental/physical health (not to mention popularity...), wrong! In the annals of the world I've yet to read any study that proves that any one person has died due to lack of sex! Further, if we are to justify any type of sexual behavior as a release mechanism to avoid sinning, would the same argument not apply to anger (kill/beat only those who deserve it--criminals, addicts, hoarders, anti-Christians); engaging in small white lies to keep us from deep dark lies; stealing insignificant knickknacks to keep us from raiding banks, stores, affluent properties... Jesus tells us that it is better for us to cut off an appendage that causes us to sin than to end up in hell! (Matthew 5;27-30) …of course, Jesus is not looking to have myriads of self-mutilated kinfolk joining Him at His Second Coming... He is asking us to exercise self-discipline... something that we train the lowest of animal forms to have (movies, dog shows, races, sea-land eco systems, etc.), how difficult could it be for us, the higher life forms, to achieve? Christians are above the Law, but that does not mean that we are free to operate outside the Law: The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (Romans 8:6-8, 13) Above, Paul clearly states that if we live according to the flesh we cannot please God--he is speaking to Believers, not to pagans or Jews! And in Galatians 5:22-25, he offers us a list of traits by which the Holy Spirit's Grace is evident in Christians and he challenges us to walk by the Spirit: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. So remember, we cannot rationalize unrighteousness into righteousness! If we say that we are children of the Light ought we not to live in the Light? (Ephesians 5:5-10) God Bless! Angel |
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2 | Masturbation used to expel sexual urge? | Bible general Archive 1 | Ray | 138656 | ||
Hi Angel, Are you saying that Romans 8:6-8, and verse 13 are talking about masturbation? How about going to one of those verses and starting a thread about what they are saying to you? From the heart, Ray |
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3 | Masturbation used to expel sexual urge? | Bible general Archive 1 | JCrichton | 138750 | ||
Hi, Ray! If we use the word masturbation to search an electronic Bible the response will come back as: zero reference found for "masturbation." Clearly, this form of searching Scripture is a blessing for all who equate masturbation as a simple personal act that does not transgress against God or Christians... yet, if we are generous with our interpretation of Scripture when it comes to masturbation, shouldn't we be as generous when it comes to the use of drugs (controlled as well as not controlled substance)... and could we not also subscribe to the notion that "if it is only a thought," it is OK... just as long a we do not actually carryout the thought? Jesus was very specific: if we lust in our hearts we have committed adultery! (Matthew 5:28) The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (Romans 8:6-8, 13) The above passages are speaking to our conversion... we cannot claim to be of the light and live in darkness; we cannot claim to abide in Christ and surrender ourselves to the appetites of the flesh! Masturbation uses both the mind (said to be the greater sexual organ) and the male/female reproductive organs to create a virtual sexual relationship which by its very nature is devoid of anything other than self-gratification--it is devoid of humility, obedience and loyalty to God and, according to Romans 8:6-8, 13, those who live in the flesh cannot abide in God's Spirit because they abide in sin... those who abide in sin cannot please God! Many times it seems that Christians are seeking to emulate Paul's words when he claims to be all for all... we want the world and God to exist side by side as "good ole" friends... yet Scriture tells us that to be a friend of the world is to be an enemy of God--many choose not to listen! While Jesus does not speak directly on masturbation... He admonishes that it is better to gain Heaven with one hand (if the hand causes us to sin); with one eye (ditto) than to keep our physical perfection as we are surrendered to hell--where the worm never dies! (Mark 9:43-48)... it is the use of our members for wicked acts that causes damnation to meet us more than half way! Of course anyone can come up with some form of technicallity about what Scripture is actually saying and we can follow blindly because the purported arguments seem to bring allignment between God and the world... Jesus did not say: "if you allow the thought to materialize, then you've committed adultery!" Jesus succinctly said: "if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart." To Jesus, it does not even require acknowledgement from the person who is being lusted after; and the actual sexaul encounter does not need to be consummated in order for the sin to be present! Any act that transgresses against God is a sin! God Bless! Angel |
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4 | Masturbation used to expel sexual urge? | Bible general Archive 1 | kalos | 138830 | ||
Is Masturbation Wrong? The fact that the Bible doesn't specifically mention masturbation implies that we should approach this topic with sensitivity and caution. Most teenagers and single adults face an enormous struggle coming to terms with their sexual longings. Often the individuals who are most conscientious about their sexual feelings are the ones most likely to be tormented by unrealistic guilt. If we add to Scripture and weigh them down with even more unwarranted guilt, we become like the Pharisees and their legal experts. To protect holy principles, they added their own laws to Moses -- like fences around fences -- and in the process they heaped on others burdens that they themselves were not willing or able to bear (Luke 11:46). If we are honest, each of us will acknowledge the difficulty of keeping sexually pure in a permissive and sexually obsessed culture. We struggle to avoid either of two extremes. We must not surrender to the hedonistic spirit of the age, but we also want to avoid the spirit of asceticism and proud self-denial that has often marred the history of Christianity. Any belief that our sexual desires and feelings are evil in themselves is based in the Gnostic 1 denial of the goodness of the body and the natural world, not in the teachings of Scripture (1 Timothy 3:1-3). On the other hand, we can't entirely discount the significance of habitual masturbation as a moral issue simply because it isn't mentioned in Scripture. One doesn't speak of "habitual" eating or "habitual" sleeping unless someone is eating or sleeping much more than they should. The fact that you realize you are caught up in a cycle of habitual behavior implies that you know that something is wrong. All of life's pleasures have an appropriate context. When we eat entirely for pleasure, we become flabby and unhealthy. When we sleep much more than is needed for rest and bodily health, we become mentally and physically ill. Any misuse of legitimate pleasure has bad consequences. The purpose of sexual pleasure is to nurture intimacy and unity between a husband and wife (Genesis 2:24; Mark 10:6-8; Ephesians 5:28-32). Sexual desire is related to our deepest longings, our profoundest potential for intimacy and joy. It is like a fire. In the right circumstances a fire provides warmth, light, and food. In the wrong place it has enormous capacity for destruction. The Bible doesn't provide a detailed discussion of human sexual issues. It tends to refer to sexual matters indirectly and with considerable delicacy. For example, even the term sex isn't used in the Bible, and the male and female sexual organs are referred to only indirectly, as is the act of intercourse. Even such a serious issue as pedophilia isn't mentioned specifically. It's likely, therefore, that although it isn't mentioned specifically in Scripture, habitual masturbation would be included under the categories of "lasciviousness," "impurity," and "uncleanness" (e.g. Leviticus 15:16-17; Mark 7:20-22; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3,5; Colossians 3:5). 2 What are some of the illegitimate uses of sexual pleasure that we should be on guard against? Sexual pleasure shouldn't serve merely as a "pressure valve" for the release of physical and emotional tension. There are more constructive, loving ways to release -- and even to harness -- our physical and emotional tension. Sexual pleasure shouldn't be fed by sinful fantasy. Jesus made it clear that sexual sin isn't limited to physical act. Sin occurs equally in fantasy and imagination. There is a healthy imagination that leads to actions that honor one another, and a self-absorbed imagination that inclines us to use others for our own pleasure (Matthew 5:27-30; 15:19). Sexual fantasy can be a destructive expression of rage, revenge, or lust. Such unhealthy fantasies can scar and harden our hearts even if they aren't carried out in the real world. Sexual pleasure should never be a way we demand that God satisfy us immediately, on our terms. We should never expect sexual pleasure to compensate for our loneliness, disappointment, powerlessness, or sense of rejection. If we use it for these reasons, it is illegitimate. Followers of Christ have been given freedom and forgiveness to love and honor one another, but not to be enslaved again to the flesh (Romans 6:16). We have been given God's Spirit and wisdom so that we can understand that our bodies make good servants -- and cruel masters. ____________________ The above is a direct quotation of an article written by: Dan Vander Lugt To read this article, including footnotes, go to: (www.gospelcom.net/rbc/questions/). Then click on "Personal Struggles" for the link to "Masturbation." |
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5 | Masturbation used to expel sexual urge? | Bible general Archive 1 | He-man | 138839 | ||
The fact that the Bible doesn't specifically mention masturbation ?? I say it does: Genesis 38:9 9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife HATH NOT POWER OF HER OWN BODY, but the husband: and likewise also the husband HATH NOT POWER OF HIS OWN BODY, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. Romans 1:26 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: |
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