Masturbation Study

This may not seem to be a typical study, but it most certainly does need to be looked into. The simplest reason is because at one time or another, every human being has been and will be subjected to making some important decisions on how to handle this delicate area of human behavior.

We must also realize that it is in the area of our God given sexual nature, that the issues and confrontations that occur in the physical, mental and spiritual areas of our lives, masturbation becomes such an important issue.

The human need to have sexual relations is a God given emotion. There are differences in how men and women react to these emotions. Generally speaking, men are more apparently aggressive at first glance, but truly, women have their own passively aggressive natures. Why is this so? We should look first to the Book of Genesis, and see why.

Ge 3:16 Unto the woman he said , I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children ; and thy desire <08669*> shall be to thy husband , and he shall rule over thee. {to thy…: or, subject to thy husband}8669 hqwvt t@shuwqah tesh-oo-kaw' (KJV)

*from 07783 in the original sense of stretching out after; TWOT-2352a; n f
AV-desire 3; 3  (1) desire, longing, craving, (1a)f man for woman, (1b) of woman for man, (1c) of beast to devour. (Strong's Concordance)

Sexual desire, one for another (male/female) had been perverted. However, God did not change what He had already instituted. That is to say, the purity of natural desire was to remain as an integral and important part of human nature. We can see in this, that God intended the sexual portion of our nature(s) to be a powerful force for the purposes of intimacy, pleasure, and of course, procreation.

It would be erroneous to say that sex should be for procreation alone. For this would be placing limits on God's wisdom and intentions for us. It is also within this sphere of human behavior, that masturbation has come into being, and is a continual problem for so many people.

There are many variations, and reasons for them, that come into our lives when it comes to sexual matters. Exhausting studies have been, and will continue to be made, into the sexual experiences and habits of humans. Questions such as when sexual awareness begins and ends are in abundance; as are the advisories of how our desires can and should be fulfilled. The bible contains many accounts of sexual beauty (Song of Solomon) and misconduct (Herodius's plan to kill John the Baptist Mat 14.6), but never, does it directly address self gratification in the form of masturbation.

One incidence, that of Onan misusing sex, according to God's plan of procreation and inheritance, may come close in a sense, but in this account, normal sexual activity was in place, rather than some more private operation of sexual manipulation. (Gen. 38:8,9)

What we are left with then, is what takes place when normal sexual encounters are not taking place. I think it safe to say that there can be seen, a pattern of sexual awareness and fulfillment that occurs at a very early age. In the realm of psychology, we are introduced to the concepts of gratification through breast feeding, and bodily elimination. As a child matures, curiosity sets in, and the erogenous zones of the human anatomy find themselves being explored. Genitalia are explored and the first moments of satisfaction/masturbation are begun.

With the passage of time and the onset of puberty, come the more advanced awareness experiences of one's sexual desires and the pleasureful feeling that can result. Experimentation follows, and depending on the person's upbringing and religious training, masturbation and shared sexual experimentation come into play. With the passage of even more time, each individual develops their own sexual lifestyle and norm. For some, desires are nil, for others, they can be devastatingly strong. Does the Bible address these things? Yes indeed. You can find them by simply using your concordance and index. You can address eunuchs, and a host of men and women who are listed champions of good, bad and weak behavior, through the Old and New Testaments.

At any time normal sexual endeavors and fulfillment are not available to an individual, masturbation can, does, and will take place. It can also take place in numerous forms, beginning with thoughts alone, and growing into outright manipulation of one's body, including the use of devices. Devices such as dolls, vibrators and a plethora of others, designed for both sexes have become a major industry throughout the world.

We must now delve into the positive and negative aspects of our subject to see if it is, after all, a needful, useful tool (so to speak), or if perhaps it is some devilish device to bring ruin and consternation to people.

A GRAY AREA

Since masturbation, like tobacco use (smoking etc.), is not directly addressed in the Bible - we must use common sense and experience in such delicate matters. To help us to make our final decision, there are scriptures that relate to such things of course. So let us now address them as we continue our study.

We read in Proverbs 16 the following, in the KJV (first) and The Bible in Basic English:
16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination 1 unto him:
16 Six things are hated by the Lord; seven things are disgusting to him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood
17 Eyes of pride, a false tongue, hands which take life without cause;

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
18 A heart full of evil designs, feet which are quick in running after sin;

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
19 A false witness, breathing out untrue words, and one who lets loose violent acts among brothers.

We can also read in the New Testament:

1 CO 6:19 What ? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God , and ye are not your own?
1 CO 6:19 Or are you not conscious that your body is a house for the Holy Spirit which is in you, and which has been given to you by God? and you are not the owners of yourselves;

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God , whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:30 And do not give grief to the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were marked for the day of salvation.

God wants us to be as clean and pure as it is possible for us to be.

Masturbation as such, is not Biblically listed as a sin, but it can certainly lead into it! If it becomes a distasteful habit that infringes (replaces) a person's normal sexual activity as a marital partner, there is trouble ahead. Modern sex therapists may advise people to engage in masturbation as a part of sexual foreplay in a couple's relationship, but the consequences can result in deviant thoughts and acts that would not have come into being had it not been introduced in the first place.

In keeping with this theme (sexual conduct within a marriage) we can also see that if one or both partners engage in masturbation for some reason and are then unable to perform when they should and could be able to, more problems can come into those lives. This can lead to one or both partners to seek and crave satisfaction elsewhere. This in turn can lead to adultery and perhaps even homosexuality or lesbianism, bestiality and or acts of fornication. Remember too, that many a marriage has failed and ended up in the divorce courts, using "incompatibility" as the reason.

If we look into the situations of the unmarried, we can see where a preference for masturbation could lead into similar deviant avenues of fornication. Fornication properly defined, is sexual misconduct. Once again, this can lead to what some claim to be legitimate alternative life styles. These can include the aforementioned acts of deviation, and a preference of never becoming married and committed to a lifelong partner, as God has always wanted us to do.

We must also consider people who are in a condition of being handicapped physically. Since the range of such conditions is indeed too wide to list here, we must recognize that the sexual needs of a person do not necessarily cease with these unfortunate people. It would be no small wonder then, to face the reality of masturbation being their only means of fulfillment. Should they be condemned for helping themselves?

In closing this study, I must once again emphasize the importance of common sense. If God has not spoken to us directly in His word (the Bible), we must exercise wisdom in making our final judgments (decisions) on how to act and teach others. God knows us as individuals, some stronger, some weaker than others He loves each of us and wants us to have and to be the very best we can be. When we fall short of perfection, He offers forgiveness through Jesus our savior, if we repent in honesty and humility when we do something we consider to have been sinful. Therefore, in conclusion, please allow me to offer an important teaching from our Savior Jesus.

Mt 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. (KJV)
Mt 7:2 For as you have been judging, so you will be judged, and with your measure will it be measured to you. (BBE)