A Christian View of Masturbation

A Christian View of Masturbation

Masturbation and Christian; those are perhaps two words that are rarely used in the same sentence, if ever. Like many things within our Christian society there seems to be this fear of  discussing the practical issues. Depending on the research one reads anywhere between 85-95% of men report that they masturbate once a month and 40-80% of women. With such a large  percentage of people involved in this activity it is time that the Church provides an answer to  people’s questions: is it normal? Is it ethical? Is it sinful? This activity, that so many people participate in, is perhaps one of the most neglected areas of  discussion within Christian circles, and that is partly for a valid reason. The Bible does no t directly address the issue; there are no passages that we can point to and say, "This is wrong/ allowed." The lack of biblical data on the subject has left many Christians at the whims of our  culture, which, while not discussing the issue directly either, does give us an opinion on the issue. Speaking from a male perspective, if one has spent any time in a locker room they have heard of the "dangers" of masturbation: you'll get hairy palms, it will stunt your growth, it will cause erectile dysfunction, etcetera. Yet while none of these are true, this has perhaps influenced our  thinking on the subject. Society has always held a "position" on the issue, even from ancient times. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, reasoned that the loss of semen weakened a man and made him more susceptible to disease and even death. Thus the more a man engaged in sexual activities the more he put his life in dange r. Hippocrates even went as far as identifying a "spinal marrow" disorder which had symptoms such as: fever, twitching, headaches, ringing in the ears, loss of breath, weakness, and infertility.[1] infertility.[1] With Augustine the Christian view of sexuality developed one main purpose that would dominate Christian thought for the next 1200 years. Perhaps bec ause of his immoral lifestyle  before he became a Christian, Augustine developed the view that sex was for procreation alone. In fact so strong was his conviction in this regard that he believed the first sin by Adam and Eve Ev e was sexual intercourse, and that sex of any kind was sinful. While he had some difficulty in explaining "be fruitful and multiply" his ideals came to dominate the Church until the time of the Reformation. During the Reformation we begin to see a change in the views of sexuality. During the

 previous 1200 years since Augustine the Church h ad adopted a position which claimed: sex equals procreation. Period. Yet during this time the Reformers began to shed some of these views and allowed clergy to marry, most of them in fact did marry, but they still held a negative view of masturbation. While we begin to see a change in thought during this time, the view of masturbation as evil, sick, and wrong continue to this day. da y. The Victorians age saw a return to the ideals of Augustine in which all sex was wrong, and that greatly influenced our modern culture. It is striking to see how this pattern of thought has be en established even from the earliest of ages, but we also see that the Christian response to sex has been at best disappointing. Philosophy and cultural bias seem to have been the defining factors when it came to viewing sexuality, and many of their views continue with us today. However, we as Evangelical Christians should desire to not allow our culture to define our b eliefs, but rather examine the Scriptures to know what it is that God says. One may be wondering at this point how we are going to embark on this endeavor when we have already mentioned that the Bible does not specifically address the issue. While this is true the Bible is not silent in regards to other issues of sexuality, and it is from these other principles that we must draw our conclusions. We will also need to examine the views of our culture, c ulture,  because, while we will not derive truth from our culture per se, it provides a starting point for the rest of the discussion. Culturally we face an interesting battle; as was mentioned above the vast majority of people  participate in the activity of masturbation. In fact on the WebMD.com site they have an article entitled "Sexual Health Guide to Masturbation."[2] Masturbation."[2] In the article they claim the following in regards to the ethics of masturbation: While it once was regarded as a perversion and a sign of a mental problem, p roblem, masturbation now is regarded as a normal, healthy sexual ac tivity that is pleasant, fulfilling, acceptable and safe. It is a good way to experience sexual pleasure and can be done throughout life. With the rise in pornography in the world this view point is un derstandable. Even as short as 50 years ago the idea of pornography was taboo, but as our culture c ulture has moved further and further  down the road of the "sexual revolution" we have seen this view point shift. One is now

abnormal if they in fact are not viewing pornography, and most masturbation is accompanied by the viewing of pornographic material. Yet even with the "sexual revolution" our society is still some what hesitant to discuss the issue. While nearly everyone is "doing it" no one seems apt to talk about it; while sexuality is more "in your face" now this particular issue is still associated with a sense of shame a nd guilt for most people. Needless to say this mentality has crept into the Church and is something that almost all Christians will struggle with (men a nyway). There are however some physiological things that we must also draw into the discussion. It should also be noted that masturbation is primarily a male thing, so we will begin by discussion male physiological issues. When a young enters puberty his body begins to produce testosterone, which begins to make  physical changes to the body. Hair begins to grow, the vocal range deepens, and the production of semen and sperm begins. Testosterone also increases the "sex drive" dramatically, and he may experience frequent uncontrolled erections. At this point the body is producing a strong need for  sexual release because of the production of sperm. At this point there are four ways that the seminal buildup can be dealt with: one, it will go away on its own. The body will eventually reabsorb the sperm as it dies off, but this is a lengthy  process and at this stage the body is producing sperm faster than it is absorbed. Two, one engages in sexual activity. For Christians wishing to remain pure and holy this is not really an option outside of marriage. Three, nocturnal emission. Sometimes while sleeping the body will simply release the seminal  buildup. This can happen in a couple of different ways: he may just wake u p to find his bed wet  because the release has been a slow seeping throughout the night; the other o ther is through an orgasm which is usually accompanied by a vivid, erotic d ream. The problem with nocturnal emission is that it is usually not frequent and there is no c ontrol of when, or even if, it will happen. happe n. There are even some instances in which a man is either sexually active, or masturbates, and still has nocturnal emission. There is simply no "rhyme or reason" in regards to nocturnal emission. Fourth, is to masturbate. With this information in mind we can see that there are some very real physiological issues that young men face when discussing this issue. For women there is not a buildup of fluids, or  any other physiological issues that would prompt a woman to masturbate. This is not to say that

women don't, and in fact there are some physicians that will recommend a woman masturbate if  she has extreme cramping during her menstruation, as a form of release. In light of these medical issues one must ask if the issue has become any clearer. We are sorry to say that this medical information may in fact further cloud the issue, but we will press on.[3] on.[3] Let us now examine some of the biblical principles in regard to sexuality. One biblical passage that we must examine is the story of Onan found in Genesis 38:6-10. Many people will look to this passage of scripture and claim that it is speaking about masturbation. Let us examine what it actually says though: "And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked wicked in the sight of the the Lord, and the Lord put him to death. Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-inlaw to her, and raise up offspring for your your brother.” But Onan knew that the offspring offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother’s wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to to his brother. And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also."[4] also."[4] What some people will claim is that Onan masturbated and “spilled his seed on the ground” for which he was punished. While this interpretation may seem some what logical, the context of  the passage, and Jewish culture, does not support this view. Within Jewish society, and which would eventually become part of the Law, was the importance of having a male child to carry on ones lineage. If, for example, a man died without a descendant to carry on his line, then his brother was obligated to father a child with his wife, which would carry on his line. This may seem strange to our modern understandings, but within that culture it made perfect sense. Carrying on ones line was of the utmost importance, thus large families were the norm. The sin of Onan, was not masturbation, but rather a practice that is called coitus interruptus. What this term means is that he removed his penis from Tamar before he ejaculated. This may sound crude, but it is true; he faked it. What this enabled Onan to do was in effect say, “I did my  best, but she just can’t have children.” Thus he would become the patriarch of the family with all the wealth and power that that position p osition held. Thus this passage does not teach u s about masturbation, but rather about fulfilling our duties, and not being selfish.

 Next let’s examine Matthew 5:27-28: " “You have heard heard that it was said, said, ‘You shall shall not commit commit adultery. adultery.’’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."[5] heart."[5] Because masturbation is often done in the context co ntext of lust these verses are important to our  understanding of the issue. Most people would agree that lust is wrong, within marriage or  outside. Of course we must also define what Jesus meant b y this comment, and also discuss it in relation to our topic. Brown Brown Driver Briggs defines defines lust: a great desire for something, desire, longing, craving.[6]

Within the context of this passage we see that Jesus talking a bout adultery, not fornication. This may seem like mincing words, but the distinction is important. Before we were married our  desire for a mate is what leads us to get ge t married. Perhaps you saw a beautiful man or woman and it was that initial physical attraction that implored you to go and talk with them. This is normal and natural as a single person; however as a married man or woman this type of behavior is not appropriate. Jesus is very exact in choosing his words and we should be mindful of them. While masturbation typically is associated with lusting (and often times with pornography) this does not mean that 100% of the time that is the case. There are some individuals that are able to separate the physical act from the mental act of lust. Again this may seem like splitting hairs but the difference is important. Perhaps one brings to mind the Old Testament Law and all of its various concerns for  sexuality. "“If a man has an emission of semen, he shall bathe his whole body in water and be unclean until the evening. And every garment and every skin on which the semen semen comes shall be washed with with water and be unclean until the the evening. If a man lies with a woman and has an emission e mission of semen, both of them shall bathe themselves in water and [7]  be unclean until the evening." This passage is often used to build a case that masturbation is sinful because it involves ejaculation. Context, again, begs for another interpretation. According to the verse any seminal

emission causes one to be unclean; this includes sexua l relations with ones spouse. There is also another observation that we must make: seminal discharge does n ot require a sacrifice to be made. One may wondering, “What difference does not requiring a sacrifice make, it still says a  person is unclean!” In response we would like to say: everything. Within the context of the Law a sacrifice was required for the forgiven of sin. This is important because if ejaculation was sinful then a sacrifice would have to be b e made every time a husband and wife had intercourse. However  God does not require a sacrifice, rather He says that one is simply unclean, and that until evening. … pertaining to males was the periodic discharge of an emission of semen, whether   possibly a nocturnal emission or one during intercourse. For this case, no sacrifice was required and the uncleanness was removed by a simple wash-and-wait (till evening)  procedure. It is noteworthy that while the normal sexual process between husband and wife (15:18) made both partners ceremonially unclean, it did not make them sinful—no [8] guilt was involved and no sacrifice was required. These are just a few of the verses v erses that are often quoted when talking about abo ut the subject of  masturbation, but as we see they do not actually discuss the issue. Instead of trying to find verses that support a position, our efforts will better be spent looking at wh at Scripture says in regards to sexual issues and drawing conclusions from those passages. We have already mentioned Matthew 5:27-28 above, but it is still relevant to the discussion. Lust is one thing that most men will struggle with; it is predominant in our culture and the temptation is all around us. Yet as a married person we need to not look outside of our marriage to meet our sexual needs. Jesus is very clear that one should not even play “mind games” g ames” as this is an internal sin of the heart. Another set of verses that we should consider is 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to to control his own body in in holiness and [9] honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles Gentiles who do not know God;"

Paul is here informing the Thessalonians that it is the will of God that they p rogress in sanctification. He then further clarifies his statement by telling them that part of sanctification is abstaining from the sexually immoral. The Roman world was much like our own in regards to issues of sexuality, and in same ways it was worse. Temple prostitution was a large economic factor for many cities and was considered a form of worship. For Christians though God was not worshipped in this manner and God’s design for intimacy was different than that of the pagan culture. Paul is telling us that the Gentiles participated in all kinds of sexually immoral activities, but that the believer is not to live their life in that manner. There are of course other verses that we could draw upon, but these provide a general overview and give us a good spring board into our application. Having Hav ing reviewed the information the reader would be wise to ask “So what?” We would propose the following principles for application as we conclude our discussion. One, sex outside of marriage is sinful. This principle can be applied both within marriage and as a single person. Within the context of marriage one should be seeking sexual fulfillment within that marriage covenant. For a single person the options are abstinence or marriage. The other  option is masturbation, but we would issue a word of caution. Robertson McQuilkin[10] McQuilkin[10] has identified four views of masturbation: one, it is a gift of God. Two, It is probably all right if not indulged in with lustful fantasies, is not compulsive, is not  performed in a group, and does not produce guild. Three, it is probably wrong because it is against nature and may be in violation v iolation of the biblical law of purity. And four, it is certainly wrong. In light of the evidence presented we would argue that the second and third options are most likely correct. While we think that it is practically impossible for the author to engage in masturbation without lusting, there are those individuals that may be able to. Like McQuilkin we would caution against those things listed in option two an d say that a person should follow their  convictions in this regards. Second, we would suggest that the reader reade r practice grace in this issue. While we may hold a strong conviction that all masturbation is wrong, unless one can prove it from the Scriptures (which we have already discussed would be difficult at best), we would be wise to not con demn another should their convictions differ. This is the beautiful use of our Christian liberty. We may

disagree, but we can agree to disagree, and still fellowship together. So long as the activity is not sinful for the individual, does not lead to sexual addiction, and can be practiced in good conscience, then go with God.

Bibliography

McQuilkin, Robertson An Introduction to Biblical Ethics (W (Whea heato ton n IL, IL, Tyn Tynda dale le Hou House se

Publ Publis isher herss

Inc, 1989) The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001. John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985)

William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New (Chicago: go: Univ Univers ersity ity of Chic Chicago ago Pres Press, s, Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chica

2000) 2000)

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm November 17th 2006 Gerali Steven P, The Struggle (Colorado Springs CO, NavPress, 2003) Balswick, Judith & Jack: Authentic Human Sexuality (Downers Grove IL, InterVarsity Press, 1999) Geisler, Normal L Christian Ethics: Options and Issues (Grand (Grand Rapi Rapids ds MI, MI, Baker Baker Book Book House, House, 1993 1993)) Hart, Archibald et al , Secrets of Eve (Nashville TN, Word Publishing, 1998 Smedes, Lewis B Sex for Christians (Grand Rapids MI, MI, William B Eerdmans Publishing Publishing Company, 1976)  Nelson, James B et al , Sexuality and the Sacred  (Louisville KY, John Knox Press, 1994)

[1] Gerali Steven P, The Struggle (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2003) pp. 35-36 [2] http://www.webmd.com/content/article/45/2953_487.htm November 17th 2006 [3] The medical information provided is designed to educate the reader in this area while still

 being pertinent to the discussion. In light of the medical evidence we would urge our ou r readers to keep this information in mind when drawing ones conclusions. [4] Gen 38:6-10 [5] Matt 5:27-28

Bauer,  A Greek-English Lexicon of the New  [6] William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker and Walter Bauer, A Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Literature, "Based on Walter Bauer's Griechisch-Deutsches

   ̲terbuch Wr terbuch Zu Den Schriften Des Neuen Testaments Und Der Frhchristlichen [Sic] Literatur, Sixth Edition, Ed. Kurt Aland and Barbara Aland, With Viktor Reichmann and on Previous English Editions by W.F. Arndt, F.W. Gingrich, and F.W. Danker.", 3rd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 372.

[7] Lev. 15:16-1 [8] John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 1:195. [9] The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001.

[10] McQuilkin, Robertson An Robertson An Introduction to Biblical Ethics (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1989)