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NASB | Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. |
Subject: is masterbation a sin |
Bible Note: I have read right through the past postings on this matter very carefully and note that one aspect of the question has never really been dealt with, one that I would feel is very important. Parable's analysis of the question is very useful, and it does raise the question as to how far we can speak when Scripture is silent. After all we must ask ourselves, why was Scripture silent on a question which must certainly have concerned many men? God must have known the torment that could arise in sexually potent men when their sexual feelings were aroused through no fault of their own, and they were unable to be satisfied, say when they were travelling or when they were awaiting battle. And He must have known how they found release. Why then if He disapproved is nothing said? Moses must often have been approached privately by men who wanted an answer to the same question. And the same must apply to the prophets. Why then do we get no guidance if it was considered wrong? We are not talking here about a young man or a boy experimenting with sexual matters, where it is unquestionably wrong.But of a genuine problem facing grown men. I think Parables's summary at the end especially important. "While the Bible does not expressly address masturbation, it honors sexual purity and speaks to the content of our hearts and the life we give to our thoughts. Accordingly, masturbation should not be dismissed as trivial or irrelevant, but rather understood as a powerful experience that each person must consider in light of scripture, prayer, counsel and conscience." I think that is true. But let me suggest three scenarios. 1). Here is a man who dearly loves his wife. He married because he knew that the sciptures said. 'It is better to marry than to burn.' But sadly his wife is in hospital long term. Perhaps she is mentally ill and he knows that she might never come out. Or perhaps she is slowly dying of some lingering disease. And because he is highly sexed he is burning, and even in pain. There is nothing that he can do about it. It is his nature, the nature of which Paul spoke. And that burning as he works in an office with a woman at work is becoming uncontrollable (and only highly sexed males can even understand this). Yet he knows that if he finds relief in bed while thinking of his poor, beloved wife, those burnings will be controlled. He fears that if they are not he will soon do something that he knows to be wrong. And he knows that he will never forgive himself because he is loyal to his wife and to his God. What should he do? Here is another man. His wife has become very 'holy'. She refuses any more to have sex (I know of such a case). Again he married because he knew that he could not remain pure without doing so. Now he does not know what to do. His feelings are becoming more and more aroused and there is no way of being satisfied. He knows that his one hope of remaining true is to make love to his wife by proxy alone in bed. What should he do? Here is a Roman Catholic priest. He has made a vow of celibacy. He does not want to break his vow. Yet scantily clad women come to him for advice, and he feels his sexuality getting out of control. It has become not just a desire but a literal pain. He is afraid that if he finds no release he will commit some great sin. But he wants to be faithful to his vow (however ill-conceived). What should he do? I want to suggest that when we can answer these questions satisfactorily (women and lowly sexed men excluded) we have found the Scriptural answer to the question. |