Why do Christians think masturbation is a sin?

Question

Seriously why do you? It doesn't hurt anyone.

Answer 1

"18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
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?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s."

Our bodies are meant to be a temple which the Holy Ghost can dwell in. If you commit any sexual acts outside of the sacred bonds of marriage, you are committing fornication. If you masturbate, you are sinning against your own body. It does not matter what you are thinking of, the act is unholy when committed outside of two people in the bonds of marriage. It is a mockery and an abomination of the sacred act of procreation. The Holy Ghost cannot dwell within an unclean temple.

Answer 2

I don't believe it's a sin, depending on what's used to stimulate a person for it.

For example, if a man is watching porn, and lusting after the women in the porn, it's a sin.

However, if a man is fantasizing about things he'd like to do with his wife, it's not a sin.

Same goes for women: If a woman is fantasizing about other men besides her husband, it's a sin. If she's not, it's not a sin.

Teresa: There is no such verse. I tried looking it up in every English translation. It's not there.

Answer 3

They think thinking is a sin--- Felony thought crime -- If a monkey held their bible they would get made and spank it -- If a chicken got near their bible they would choke it -- they rule the metaphor world -- They decide what is real and what is fantasy-- So get a job on a fishing boat as an apprentice baiter -- you drive the boat some day--- They teach you about the master -- Then its sin sailing until your a rebornbaiter

Answer 4

There's a verse ( I don't know where exactly ) that says it's better for the man's seed to fall in the belly of a whore than on the ground. I believe that's the one quoted most often.

Answer 5

Doesn't hurt anyone? How about the wife who isn't getting the physical and emotional love she deserves because her husband is whacking off to images on the Internet?

Answer 6

you're wrong. it hurts the self.

if you spend your whole life pleasuring yourself and branding other people's shame in your mind and in the lusts of your heart, you are just storing big baggage that you'll have to deal with when your spouse comes seeking your undivided love and full devotion.

but go even further, say your spouse is able to deal with it... why risk having your children know your shame? sexual immorality is the dopest drug on the planet... nothing is more addictive than sex. so be wise and utilize it properly.

Answer 7

I don't think it's a sin. At least it isn't hurting anyone.

Answer 8

Sexual sins are the sins against your own Body.

Answer 9

Because they know life should be about more than material or carnal pleasures but they don't know where or how to draw the line so they go overboard on it.

Answer 10

What Does the Bible Say?

A youth asked: “Is masturbation an unforgivable sin?” Masturbation is not mentioned at all in the Bible. The practice was common in the Greek-speaking world during Bible times, and several Greek words were used to describe the practice. But not one of these words is used in the Bible.

Since masturbation is not directly condemned in the Bible, does this mean it is harmless? Absolutely not! Though it is not classed with such gross sins as fornication, masturbation is surely an unclean habit. (Ephesians 4:19) The principles of God’s Word thus indicate that you “benefit yourself” by strongly resisting this unclean habit.—Isaiah 48:17.

Arousing “Sexual Appetite”

“Deaden, therefore, your body members,” urges the Bible, “as respects . . . sexual appetite.” (Colossians 3:5) “Sexual appetite” refers not to normal sexual feelings but to passion that is out of control. Such “sexual appetite” can thus lead to one’s indulging in gross acts, as described by Paul at Romans 1:26, 27.

But does not masturbation “deaden” these desires? No, on the contrary, as one youth confessed: “When you masturbate, you dwell mentally on wrong desires, and all that does is increase your appetite for them.” Often an immoral fantasy is used to increase the sexual pleasure. (Matthew 5:27, 28) Therefore, given the right circumstances, one could easily fall into immorality. This happened to one youth, who admits: “At one time, I felt that masturbation could relieve frustration without my getting involved with a female. Yet I developed an overpowering desire to do so.” He committed fornication. Not surprisingly, a nationwide study revealed that the majority of adolescents who masturbated were also committing fornication. They outnumbered those who were virgins by 50 percent!

Mentally and Emotionally Defiling

Masturbation also instills certain attitudes that are mentally corrupting. (Compare 2 Corinthians 11:3.) When masturbating, a person is immersed in his or her own bodily sensations—totally self-centered. Sex becomes separated from love and is relegated to a reflex that releases tension. But God intended that sexual desires be satisfied in sexual relations—an expression of love between a man and his wife.—Proverbs 5:15-19.

A masturbator may also tend to view the opposite sex as mere sex objects—tools for sexual satisfaction. Wrong attitudes taught by masturbation thus defile one’s “spirit,” or dominant mental inclination. In some cases, the problems caused by masturbation persist even after marriage! For good reason, God’s Word urges: “Beloved ones, let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit.”—2 Corinthians 7:1.

A Balanced View of Guilt

Many youths, though generally successful in overcoming this bad habit, occasionally give in to it. Fortunately, God is very merciful. “For you, O Jehovah, are good and ready to forgive,” said the psalmist. (Psalm 86:5) When a Christian succumbs to masturbation, his heart is often self-condemning. Yet, the Bible states that “God is greater than our hearts and knows all things.” (1 John 3:20) God sees more than our sins. The greatness of his knowledge enables him to hear with sympathy our earnest pleas for forgiveness. As one young woman wrote: “I have felt guilty to an extent, but knowing what a loving God Jehovah is and that he can read my heart and know all my efforts and intentions keeps me from feeling too depressed when I fail on occasion.” If you fight the desire to masturbate, it is not likely that you will commit the serious sin of fornication.

The September 1, 1959, issue of The Watchtower stated: “We [may] find ourselves stumbling and falling many times over some bad habit that has bitten more deeply into our former pattern of life than we had realized. . . .

 Do not despair. Do not conclude you have committed the unforgivable sin.

That is just how Satan would like you to reason. The fact that you feel grieved and vexed with yourself is proof in itself that you have not gone too far. Never weary of turning humbly and earnestly to God, seeking his forgiveness and cleansing and help. Go to him as a child goes to his father when in trouble, no matter how often on the same weakness, and Jehovah will graciously give you the help because of his undeserved kindness and, if you are sincere, he will give you the realization of a cleansed conscience.”