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NASB | 1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, that you be sanctified [separated and set apart from sin]: that you abstain and back away from sexual immorality; |
Bible Question: Is masterbating bad according to the Bible? |
Bible Answer: I know of no place in the bible that discusses masterbation. The bible does indeed prohibit sexual immorality and identifies several specific acts as such: fornication (a single person having sex with another single person), homosexuality, incest, bestiality and adultery (a married person having sex but not with their spouse or a single person having sex with a married person). By the way, sexual immorality is sin because it is a form of idolatry, i.e. putting something before God. Where the Bible gives specific instruction, we stand firm. Where the Bible is silent, we have freedom to live according to the principles in God's Word. I suggest you consider Jesus' teaching on the contents of our hearts. Jesus taught that murder begins as anger, stealing begins as greed and adultery begins with lust. Most Bible scholars agree that the terms "anger", "greed" and "lust", as understood in biblical cultures and times, are not the kinds of passing thoughts all of us have, but rather they are the obsessive patterns of thinking that are indulged without regard to consequences and reduce others (or their possessions) to objects for base gratification of some fleshly desire, e.g. revenge, coveting or sex. In lust, sexual desire is fed, nurtured and exploited until it becomes grotesque and compelling, leading to sexual immorality. If masturbation involves this kind of thinking, then it is a serious problem, a perversion of God's intent for our sexuality. Also, masturbation can become an addiction like gluttony or drunkenness. Again, a perversion of God's gifts to us. So, masturbation, like many other things, is definitely one way we can fall short of following God's laws. Yet, I believe it is not clear from the Bible that masturbation, in itself, is necessarily sexual immorality. After all, eating is not necessarily gluttony and having a glass of wine is not necessarly drunkenness. I believe the Bible teaches that right actions are important, but the content of your heart is the point. (of course, having a righteous heart does not permit us to commit sexual immorality as defined in the Bible) If masturbation is an addiction, pray that God may release you from this form of slavery. Self control is a gift of the Spirit. If you experience terrible feelings of guilt over masturbation that make you want to turn away from God, pray that He grace you with a more real understanding of His love and forgiveness and guide you in your sexuality. Guilt is a gift that guides us to righteousness. But, guilt, when unchecked and excessive, can be used by the enemy to steal our attention away from God's grace. All of us stumble, and that keeps us humble. Christ gives us the ability to get back on our feet. As we must be compassionate to others, forgiving them, so also must we offer ourselves to God, including all our shortcomings, knowing that He loves us anyway as we strive to become like Jesus. |