Sex & Scripture: Is Masturbation a Sin or not?

July 15, 2024 EMMANUEL ADEBAYO AJIBOLA

Masturbation is the experience of sexual organs produced by self-stimulation for sexual arousal and pleasure. In recent anonymous surveys, over 70% of men and over 40% of women admitted to having masturbated at some point in their lives. Masturbation most often occurs when a person is thinking sexual thoughts, reading, or viewing something filled with sexual imagery.

Many men and women who frequently masturbate may find it challenging to transition to a mutually satisfying sexual relationship once they are married; they lose focus on tasks and spend less time on productive things. They become used to their own space and may struggle to connect intimately with their spouses, friends, or colleagues, leading to frustration.

What does the Bible say about masturbation?

Masturbation is viewed as a sin related to desire by some Christians, while others consider it a morally neutral behaviour if it does not involve lustful fantasies. The Bible does not discuss masturbation explicitly or mention whether or not it is a sin. However, some verses have been interpreted to be referencing masturbation implicitly. The scripture quote most commonly associated with masturbation is Matthew 5:27–30. Jesus speaks against having lustful intentions and then says, “If your right-hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” While there is an association between lustfulness and masturbation, it is doubtful that Jesus was referencing the particular sin of masturbation in this verse.

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The Bible also teaches that sexual immorality is a sin against our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:18c). Additionally, 1 Peter 2:11 says that sinful desires war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11). In that sense, by engaging in masturbation and its accompanying immoral fantasies, we are warring against ourselves. And war is hell, as anyone in bondage to this behaviour can attest.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the idea that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit means that they are sacred and should be treated with respect and dignity. Reflecting on this immense sacrifice should inspire us to strive for purity and self-control, recognising that our bodies are valuable and worthy of being honoured in every way, including how we manage our sexual desires.

This doesn’t mean that the struggle with sexual temptation isn’t real or that overcoming it is easy. It acknowledges the challenge but also points to the higher calling of living in a way that honours

What are the medical implications of masturbation?

It is said that ‘too much of everything is bad.”. The same thing applies to excessive masturbation, which can cause lots of damage. The following medical implications are as follows:

People with the habit of masturbating often experience exhaustion and fatigue stress. When there is excessive force during the act, an injury can lead to a chronic infection. It is known that the heart and brain are connected, so excessive stress can cause heart attacks.

The key to overcoming masturbation

For Christians, the key to overcoming masturbation is to reduce contact with overly sexual movies. Magazines and R-rated content on social media. Engaging ourselves in mind-building programmes, reading the Bible and motivating books, having meaningful communication, and being productive. All these will help us to be mindful of our thoughts and actions.

Essentially, overcoming masturbation entails filtering out all of the sinful inputs that entice us and mislead us into believing that we require sexual activity.

We don’t want anything to delay God’s blessings in our lives, therefore as God’s children, we should learn how to manage our bodies, quiet our thoughts, avoid immorality, and surround ourselves with godly things that will improve our lives.