Does this article prove masturbation is a sin?

Answer:

If masturbation bothers you or you are not confident that it isn't sinful, then you shouldn't do it. "Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin" (Romans 14:22-23). I'm not out to convince anyone they should do it. The body is able to handle excess semen through wet dreams.

However, I do strive for accuracy. The simple fact is that masturbation is not listed as a sin in the Bible. There are several verses which state that the ejaculation of semen is unclean. They are written in such a fashion as to include sex, wet dreams, and masturbation (Leviticus 15:16-18; 22:4; Deuteronomy 23:10-11). Both sex and wet dreams are specifically mentioned, but the verses don't rule out masturbation. The act of masturbation would fall under these rules. But even as an act that causes uncleanness, it isn't a sin. Sex between a married couple isn't a sin, yet the couple becomes unclean when they have sex. A woman's menstrual period causes her to be unclean, yet having a period isn't a sin.

The author never found a verse to say masturbation was sinful. Instead, he condemns it because of connections. My point has always been that one should focus on what is sinful, not was used to sin. For example, people have committed murder with cars and guns. Does that make cars and guns sinful, or is it the anger that motivated the murder the cause of murder?

Pornography is sinful (I Thessalonians 4:3-5). While pornography is often connected with masturbation, they are not completely tied. Guys have looked at pornography without masturbating (and it is still a sin). Guys can masturbate without pornographic thoughts. As I point out, in essence, wet dreams are men masturbating in their sleep. Consistency would then demand that a wet dream is a sin, but I know of no one who wants to follow that line of reasoning. The simple fact is that God designed men's bodies to have wet dreams when too much semen builds up. It is a natural function and thus cannot be a sin in and of itself.

Can masturbating be abused? Definitely. So can eating, driving, working, and numerous other things. The author of the article says masturbating leads to compulsive behavior. The problem is that it is commonly known that over 95% of all men have masturbated (most suspect it is close to 100% and figure the 5% wouldn't admit to doing it). Yet, those caught up in compulsive behavior centered on masturbating are a small fraction of the male population. What also isn't mentioned is that most of those who do go through a compulsive phase don't remain in it -- they grow out of it. What the author didn't establish is that masturbating is the cause of compulsiveness; it isn't. Most teens, especially males, go through a compulsive phase and for some that compulsion is focused on ejaculating.

The author states masturbating causes improper training for married sex. Again, the problem is that since almost all men have masturbated, he doesn't explain how it is that most men have no problems with sex in marriage.

He condemns masturbation for creating lust. But as all males can tell you, the urge for sex exists whether a man masturbates or not. In fact, most men use masturbation to cut sexual urges. The body responds with intense sexual desire as semen builds up. Since masturbation releases semen, the urge decreases. So once again, it appears the author reverses cause and effect.

He claims that masturbation is sexual idolatry, but he doesn't prove the point. He only asserts it. There is no passage that links masturbation to idolatry. He also continues to use pornography and masturbation as interchangeable terms, which they are not.

When you get to the core of his arguments, he is proving that pornography is wrong, which it is. But he blames the masturbation as the cause, while the real cause is unbridled sexual lust. It is like those who think you can eliminate murder by getting rid of guns. It doesn't deal with the real problems: hatred and anger, and it doesn't stop murderers from finding other ways to kill. In the same way, telling guys not to masturbate doesn't deal with the problem of pornography and sensuality. "Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations -- "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using -- according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh" (Colossians 2:20-23).