Bible Question: On this issue, especially for males, according to surveys almost all, if not all, males have participated in this act. And it often(maybe always) occurs as one enters puberty before one even understands what is going on with this act. Do you consider it a sin at that point when it happens quite naturally without intent or do you consider it a sin once the person becomes aware of what it is he is engaging in? |
Bible Answer: Dear CalvinisticSouthernBaptist: The intent of this answer is not to enter into the fray of debate about the subject of masturbation, but to comment upon the 'according to surveys' fragment of your question. One could also cite, I suppose, surveys of one sort or another that 'prove' that virtually everyone has at some time lied, or fudged just a little on a school exam or his income tax, or stolen something (if nothing but a pencil from his employer), or lusted after a member of the opposite sex (or, in these times, the same sex). What one concludes from statistical reports does not and cannot answer the question, "Are these things that 'everyone is doing' right or wrong?" Does the fact that 'everyone is doing it' make it right? Can we justify our actions by surveys? Or is there another standard? Is there not a plumb line already set up, not by survey but by God, by which human beings should measure their conduct? I submit that there is and that Christians ought always to minimize the importance of these kinds of surveys and maximize the importance of God's 'survey' which is epitomzed in these words: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.".... from a non-Calvinist Southern Baptist --Hank |