The sin of masturbation

Even if it is a less spoken subject among Christians, it seems that masturbation is a very spread sin and at the same time, it is little confronted by the teaching of the Word of God. Masturbation is the action through which one, man or woman, stimulates his/her own genitals and often to the point of orgasm. Some years ago, at the ending of a youth conference, after I advised the participants to confess their sins in a written form, I received repentance messages where boys and girls were confessing this sin. One of the girls was writing: “My Lord, even if I am still a virgin, at the same time I live in a daily fornication because I practise  masturbation and this is an abomination before You. Forgive my sin and set me free of its slavery.” The world we live in tries to convince us that masturbation is something normal to accept and it seems that some Christians have fallen in this trap. Don’t believe the lie of the world, because this is a sin and an abomination before God.

1. One’s own conscience condemns the sin of masturbation

Many Christians that practised this sin before their repentance, say that, being pagans, unbelievers or atheists, they always had pangs of conscience after they had been defeated by that temptation. If you have practised or practise masturbation, you know what these pangs of conscience mean. And this, because the conscience is the law of God put in our hearts, as it is written in Romans:

For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:14–16)(NASB)

Your conscience is a strong proof that the masturbation is sin and this verse also says that God will judge you for this sin, even if you have practised it secretly and you think that only you know about it.

2.Marriage is the only option and will of God to fulfill the sexual desire of each man and woman

Some people think that only fornication is something bad and they say that they practise masturbation just to face the temptation and not to commit adultery. What a great deception. Practising masturbation, they particularly maintain this temptation permanently in their life. God’s will to fulfill man’s sexual need is only marriage. When Corinthians, who lived in an extremely immoral city, asked Paul according to a correct sexual behaviour, the apostle wrote them:

Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.  (1 Corinthians 7:1)(NASB)

This is so, because by touching, men raise women’s sexual desire and this will finally lead them to fornication. That’s why, men are called to behave wisely with the women. With regard to the fulfillment of the sexual need, Paul says that the only option is marriage, when he says:

But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband (1 Corinthians 7:2)(NASB)

Nevertheless, if the fulfillment of the sexual need is the only or the main reason to marry someone, I take pity on that person, because he/she will not be happy and will not have fulfillment. The solution is to learn to control the sexual lust.

3.Masturbation is the consequence of the permanent sexual passion and lack of control

One of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is self-control and a spiritual Christian is not led by the passion od the flesh, but is guided by the Holy Spirit:

For those who are according to the flesh (immediate satisfaction of the passion is one of them) set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (self-control is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit)(Romans 8:5)(NASB)

Maybe you are obsessed by this sin of masturbation too, what is the cause? Why are you here where you are now? Maybe you live according to the advice of the flesh and passion of its desire? What books do you read? What magazines do you look at? What discussions do you have with your friends at school or at work? What movies do you watch? What are the things that inspire you? Don’t you see that the whole world is imbued with things that try to burn your sexual desires? How much time do you spend studing the Word of God?

Repent sincerely of this sin and then, follow the next advice and never go back to the slavery you have been set free of.

• Study systematically the Holy Scriptures and make a habit out of this thing.
• If you haven’t studied yet, look for and study the course “The truth about sex”.
• Control your mind of any thing that provokes you to think about sex. This can be Internet, magazines, books, movies, discussions with people that take the sin easily or some that are called Christians, but thay only have the name and they practice these dirty things, etc.
• Avoid the occasional touch of the genitals, because in this way, you will stimulate yourself and then you will not be able to face the temptation. Have a bath quickly and don’t lengthen more than it is necessary to wash yourself.

May God set you free of all kind of sin and may He help you always to live a holy life, being guided by the Holy Spirit.

Translated by Djugostran Felicia