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Why Masturbation May Not Be a Sin

by — Last updated: 2012-09-13 in Sexual Health

Table of Contents

Is masturbation a sin? The Bible states that Christians should be pure in thoughts and deeds, so does masturbation go against that ideal of purity? Believe it or not this is a hot topic and the answer is not an easy one.

The Bible

The act of masturbation is not specifically mentioned in the Bible. Some Christians believe that if masturbation is not condemned in the Bible than it is not regarded as a sin. There are many passages in the Bible that speak of sexual acts in great detail, some of which are perverse and thus deemed sinful.

So the argument in favor of masturbation is that since it was not worthy of being mentioned in the Bible’s scriptures, then it cannot be a sin.

Onan

There is much debate about Onan in the Bible and many people feel that what Onan did was to masturbate. He was condemned for his sins, therefore masturbation would be considered sinful. However, what actually happened was not masturbation at all. Onan was commanded to have sex with his dead brother’s wife in order to produce a child for his brother.

Onan did have sex with his brother’s wife, but decided that he did not want to bear a child that was not his own and pulled out of her, spilling his semen onto the ground. What Onan did is known as coitus interruptus, not masturbation. Onan sinned because he did not fulfill his obligation to his brother, not because he masturbated.

Masturbation Rather Than Fornication

Some people believe that it is better to masturbate than to fornicate, since fornication is clearly outlined in the Bible as a sin. So therefore, masturbation may be the lesser of the two evils. In other words, perhaps it’s okay to masturbate to prevent the act of fornication.

So does that mean that the act of masturbation is preferable over the act of fornication? Simply put, yes it is, because fornication is deemed sinful within scripture. This is because the flesh masters the person who commits the act of fornication.

A Gift From God

Others value the act of masturbation as a gift from God, simply because we are able to do it. In other words, God allows us to obtain pleasure through masturbation. It physically works, so therefore it is not a sin. For example, if you’ve ever tried to tickle yourself, you do not get the same sensation you do if someone else tickles you. With masturbation, you are able to orgasm and feel pleasure. It works effectively, so it is not considered a sin to some.

Master of Your Domain

Some argue that as long as you are in control of your body and you are not a slave to the flesh, then it is not a sin. If you can masturbate on occasion without having it become a habit in which you are enslaved, than it may be okay to masturbate.

If you can become the master of your behaviors, then sin cannot master you. In other words, if you feel that masturbation is not a sin, it’s not one unless it is controlling you.So the argument in favor of masturbation is that since it was not worthy of being mentioned in the Bible’s scriptures, then it cannot be a sin.

 

So it seems that there really is no concrete answer to the question. Is masturbation a sin or isn’t it? I suppose that depends on whom you’re asking. Some people believe that since it is not in the Bible and it does not hurt others, then it is not a sin.

Others believe that some scriptures make a good argument against masturbation and it is important to look past the masturbation and into the intent of the act and whether it hinders your relationship with God, in which case masturbation could be considered a sin.