There were some people who were … let’s say disgruntled … by my podcast episode last week where I shared my views on solo masturbation. Many argued that there’s no reason single people can’t masturbate. So, I thought I’d write a post in response and expand upon the ideas I shared. Of course, you’re welcome to believe as you wish, but at least then you know my reasons, instead of having to guess at them.
There are three basic reasons why I think it’s a bad idea. One theological, one physiological, and lastly, one psychological.
Theological reasons against masturbation
So, let’s get this one out of the way first, because it’s likely to cause the most arguments. As people are thrilled to point out, there are no verses in the Bible dealing with masturbation directly. Yeah, I’m perfectly willing to admit that. I find it a strange argument, since Christianity is rife with things that are not directly spoken of in the Bible. Some I believe are correct, like the Trinity, some I believe are incorrect, like child baptism, keeping Sunday instead of a Saturday Sabbath, and ordination (just to step on everyone’s toes equally). Something being spoken of directly, or not, in the Bible doesn’t seem to be a case for doing or not doing something.
Instead, what I think we should do is look at the aggregate and see what that points to. And so, in the Bible I see healthy sexuality as something that is shared, shared only with one’s spouse, and must be carefully guarded in order for it not to become a sin.
Some will argue that masturbation is God’s way of providing release for men (in particular), but then in the same argument they’ll typically cite that if you don’t, you’ll have nocturnal emissions, which to me seems to be the natural “safety valve” if one is needed. So, that’s not much of an argument in my books.
Some will say that God always provides a way out of temptation, and masturbation must be it. However, that doesn’t seem to be in line with the Biblical teaching of self-control, of character building, of strengthening your will and relying on God’s perfect will power when ours falls short.
Ultimately, I believe our sexual experience is a precious thing, and intimate thing, and something that is intended to be shared with our spouse, and them alone. When you exercise your sexuality without your spouse, you cheapen it, you dilute it. You make the experience with your spouse less special. Less unique. But, that’s my opinion based partially on the physiological reason.
Physiological reasons against masturbation
I was sent a paper this week from a reader, who shall remain anonymous, who was defending masturbation. In this paper, he wrote this:
Yes, sharing sexual activity with your spouse is first and foremost about the emotional and spiritual connection. It isn’t just physical. There IS a bond that occurs when you have sex with someone, even if you aren’t married to them! (1 Cor 6:16) It is called “pair bonding” and it fuses your soul together with someone. This is why sex isn’t to be taken lightly.
But that is if you are engaged in the sex act with another person.
[…]
This is a separate act from masturbation. Masturbation is about feeling the relaxing and enjoyable feelings of an orgasm. It is also about experiencing sexual release when you feel the need. […] This doesn’t take anything away from your marriage or the sexual relationship you have with your spouse. What you share with your spouse isn’t just a physical experience. What you share with your spouse transcends the physical experience. It includes the physical in the process, but it is more than just physical. It is a joining together of your bodies and your spirits. In masturbation, you aren’t joining to anyone. They are two completely different experiences.
The only way masturbation would take something away from the marriage would be if you were only masturbating and never coming together with your spouse.
He’s right, “sex is about more than just the physical act”. However, sex includes a lot of physical stuff that goes on. While you may or may not be able to “pair bond” with an activity, masturbation does still release the same chemical cocktail including oxytocin and dopamine. The dopamine in particular helps rewire your brain. Now, when you’re having sex with your spouse, it helps teach your brain that sex with your spouse is good and you want to do it again. However, the same happens when you masturbate. You train your brain that this is good and fun. It also comes with a lot less work involved. After all, you don’t need to think about anyone else, you don’t have to be concerned about their pleasure, you can stop as soon as you’ve had an orgasm and enjoy your orgasm high.
So, your brain sees this and recognizes that you can get this dopamine and oxytocin with a lot less expenditure of resources.
For single people, they get used to this. There’s no one else to worry about, there’s nothing to compare it to, and so many get years of training their brain to be used to having sex on their own. As a result, we have a lot (and I mean a lot!) of sexually selfish newlyweds. Don’t tell me they don’t exist, because I get emails from their spouses regularly.
There’s also the concern that you can train yourself to only be able to orgasm from your own methods of self-induced orgasm. More and more men are finding when they get married that they can’t orgasm from sex. For some, they’re just unused to a partner. For others, they’re used to a firmer grip than a vagina can realistically offer. For others they say “it’s too wet”. I get emails from all these types, and from their new wives who are devastated, thinking they are the problem. Now, women often have the same struggle, but since the female rate of orgasm from intercourse is so low, it’s hard to say what’s from masturbation, and what’s from other influences, or even just natural.
Now, physiological patterns can be overcome with time. People do it. They learn to enjoy sex; they learn to appreciate their spouse. Honestly, it usually doesn’t take that long learn (though it can). The bigger risks, I think, are the psychological reasons.
Psychological reasons against masturbation
As I mentioned before, one of the largest issues is learning to be selfish as a sexual being. When you masturbate, you train your mind to think “I can have this whenever I want, as often as I want”.
Now, many people say that married people shouldn’t masturbate, but it’s okay for single people. Let’s think through this. You spend, potentially, years as a single person, learning that orgasm is on-demand, as it were, and then suddenly you get married, and you’re supposed to suddenly stop. Except your body has been used to a steady supply of dopamine, a highly addictive hormone that tells your brain that you just did something exciting and good. And now, all of a sudden, you are required to wait until the other person wants to have sex too.
And it just doesn’t work. I have literally communicated with hundreds of spouses who find out years later that their husband or wife has been hiding a masturbation addiction for years. The top 2 posts on this blog for the last year are Why Do Married Men Masturbate and My Husband Admitted to Masturbating, How Do I Get Over The Hurt?. Together, over 95,000 people last year read those posts. My podcast episode Why Do Married Men Masturbate was the most listened to in the first day, almost 200 people, and I don’t think most of them were thinking “Oh, I wonder what he’s going to say”. Most listened because they were hurting, they were struggling, they had questions, they’re ashamed, they’re feeling guilty.
For many singles, who are used to masturbating, when they get married, they can’t give it up. It’s too hard, especially if their marriages are struggling, and most marriages are, unfortunately. Ultimately, masturbating becomes an easy exit. It’s a release of the tension in the relationship, it’s just easier to masturbate than to deal with the issues at hand. You get your dopamine fix, some oxytocin, and you feel okay, for a while anyways.
Sadly, I also sometimes see spouses who prefer their husbands or wives masturbate. Why? Because it takes the pressure off of them. They aren’t interested in being their spouse’s sexual outlet. They don’t want that intimate of a relationship. It’s a bother, or they don’t want to deal with their hangups, their baggage, their pain. So, they tell their spouse to go “help themselves” and leave them alone. It hurts too much to dig into those old wounds.
And many listen. They resign themselves to that, because that’s what their spouse wants. They give up and just say “yes dear”, and off they go. Now, it’s marginally better than having your spouse tell you to go have an affair, but not by much. It still is the same message. I don’t care enough about you to be your sexual partner, go be your own partner. It’s reminiscent of being told as a kid “Go play by yourself, I don’t want you as a partner”. Except, it hurts more, because this is from someone who promised to always be your partner, until death, and because sexuality is such an intimate and private thing. This stabs at our core. It’s sexual, and emotional, abandonment. And worse than that, it’s manipulative, because they trick their spouses into believing that masturbating is ultimately selfless, because it puts less strain on them, when in fact, it’s a synthetic, a bad copy, a counterfeit to what marriage and sexuality should be.
Look at the comments on the podcast episode. It’s full of people who have given up. They aren’t trying, they aren’t fighting for their marriages, they’ve just decided that masturbation is how they’re going to survive until they, or their wife, die. Not only that, but they’re angry that I suggested there might be something better. They’re, not happy, but content, to stick with masturbation as a replacement for a healthy sexual relationship.
But, if you could take masturbation out of the picture, suddenly there’s new incentive to fix the relationship. For couples that come to me for coaching, those that struggle with this issue, I ask if they’re willing to institute a new rule in their house. We call it the “In me or on me” rule. In short, the husband (I’ve only gotten husbands addicted to masturbating so far), is only allowed to ejaculate in his wife, or on her. That may sound crude, but it works. The caveat is that she has to be available (within reason), whenever he’s feeling the need to orgasm. I mean, he can’t interrupt dinner with the family to go get his fix, or pull her out of church, or something like that.
But, what happens is amazing. Suddenly, orgasm is not on-demand, it’s fairly readily available, but not as quick as just jumping into the bathroom for a minute. He has to wait occasionally. He learns he has some willpower after all. As well, his wife is always present, which means that he now is “pair-bonding” with her, even when it’s not “sex”. Lastly, many wives realize…it’s kind of arousing, and so the next time he wants to masturbate, she asks for sex instead. After all, she wants to feel good too. I’ve had couples go from sexless marriage to frequent sex, almost overnight. It’s absolutely awesome to see unfold. These men never want to go back to masturbation again. It’s not worth going back. The wives, are ecstatic as well. They suddenly have a husband who’s putting all his sexual attention on her, and they know their husband’s aren’t going anywhere else to get their sexual needs met.
As my reader wrote in his paper, “Masturbation is about feeling the relaxing and enjoyable feelings of an orgasm.” It’s only about making me feel good when I want it. It’s a very selfish habit and addiction. But, masturbation and sex, as he says, “are two completely different experiences”, and I agree. They will have two completely different effects on your marriage as well.
So I’m going to continue telling people not to masturbate
Because, I believe it’s based on solid biblical principles (even if not a direct, specific verse), because of how it affects your brain, your body, and because I’ve seen too many marriages hurt by the practice, and I’ve seen too many healed by stopping. I’ve even had interactions with couples who say they don’t mind that their spouse masturbates, but by the end of our conversations, they’ve realized that it’s been making them selfish, that it’s been detracting from their relationship. They go on to find a new level of relationship they weren’t able to get to before, because they weren’t 100% focused on each other sexually before.
So, if you are masturbating, I challenge you to stop. I challenge you to put all your sexual energy into what matters. I challenge you to stop being selfish.
If you have questions about masturbation in marriage, you might be interested in these:
- Is masturbation a sin?
- Is Mutual Masturbation OK for Married Christians?
- Mutual Masturbation Survey Results
- If masturbation is sinful, what do you do if you don’t orgasm during sex?
- What Is Your Opinion Of Solo Masturbation Due To Separation?
- Is masturbation for medical reasons okay?
- Why do married men masturbate?
- What do you do if you suspect your spouse of secretly masturbating?
- My Husband Admitted To Masturbating, How Do I Get Over The Hurt?
- Why does my low-drive spouse masturbate?
I click the ‘thank you’ and it wouldn’t let me also click the ‘agree’.
I agree with you 100%. For every reason you’ve stated and more.
Thank’s Dan. I’ll click agree for you 🙂
….or not. It won’t let me click agree either. Guess I’ll go figure out why.
Agree. I hope I was not one you were referring to having “given up”. The podcast I was standing on both sides of the fence in the stance of whether it is sinful. When it comes to whether it is good for a person…no. it’s not. It can be viewed as selfish in ways, I see it more as lonely. In my case in the past it could have been a bad developed habit/porn, or the result of a marriage where there is total veto power held by my spouse and high refusal rate/low initiation rate. Sometimes I’m not sure which one caused what.
The reality is is that masturbation belittles yourself, what you mean to other people in this world, and those relationships. When done because there is a lack of sex, it lowers confidence. It also leads to loneliness, you meeting your own needs that way, isn’t even meeting the need. There is no intimacy desire or love involved. Question is…how do you come back from this?
I sure hope the writer sees your post here, Jay. He wrote: “The only way masturbation would take something away from the marriage would be if you were only masturbating and never coming together with your spouse.” WRONG WRONG WRONG. As I’ve written a number of times before, I have a three day rule, which means that my husband and I never go more than three days without some kind of sexual encounter, usually more like every other day. So my husband’s masturbation was not “interfering” with us, but it was nevertheless wounding me DEEPLY. How could I ever be enough for him? Even now, though I believe he has stopped after we both decided to find our satisfaction only in one another (never alone), Satan still uses his past actions to cast doubt–both in my adequacy as a wife and his trustworthiness. I believe your post is spot on. There are NO beneficial reasons for masturbation in marriage. My heart breaks for the refused husbands who feel they have no choice. I hope they take your advice to heart and refuse to accept and cover for their spouse’s sin through masturbation.
Just out of curiosity, what do you wish you had done differently during the time your own marriage was struggling sexually in this area? You may have written about this before; I’m still pretty new here. What do you regret the most–about your actions? What impact did that have on your marriage and how did you overcome this? Have you written about what happened to cause things to change between you and Christina? Her “sexual awakening,” as other sites call it? Or was it your own actions that instigated change? I’d love to hear more about your story. Feel free to simply direct me to past blogs (or I will try to poke around here more one of these days); I don’t mean to create more work for you here.
I sent him the link, but to be honest, I don’t think he really read it. His response made it sound like he just skimmed over the post and missed the main point.
You can lead a horse to water…
Wait til you hit menopause and the 3 day rule will disappear and your husband will be forced once again into masturbation
This site has been helping me to know some biblical facts.
Please, i want to know if sex during early pregnancy or towards ending of pregnancy is allow?
What can i do? my wife did not like sex at all and i like sex………….. I see it as a big challenge in our marriage
How many times is it okay to have sex in a week?
Yeah, sex in pregnancy is certainly allowed unless there are medical complications and your doctor has specifically told you not to. In fact, some women find sex during pregnancy better thanks to the increased blood volume (which aids in arousal).
As for your wife not liking sex, that’s a huge topic. Does she not like it because it doesn’t feel good, or because of bad teachings regarding sex, are there medical issues (like pain), or meds she’s on that lowers her sex drive? Was she abused as a child? How is your relationship besides sex? There’s no “one size fits all” answer I’m afraid. No magic pill.
As for how many times a week you can have sex. There’s not really a limit. I know there are couples who manage over a dozen times a week (though that’s quite rare). Most would be happy with 2-3 times per week if you’re looking for an average.
Here is my question. My husband and I are married 25 years. He is a truck driver, home most weekends, but sometimes only home once every two weeks. We have a VERY active ans adventurous sex life when he’s home 3x easy on friday/sat/sun. When he’s gone, we both miss each other physically and emotionally. We do a lot of “texting” and “talking” 😉 back and forth at night. I love when he describes what he is doing to himself, and I tell him what to do. I LOVE hearing him masturbate to completion, and he does the same to/for me. Sometimes we even send pictures to each other during our sessions. Now there’s are days I tell him no, don’t finish (usually Thursdays), I want you to be dying for me when you get home. This is a way we have been able to stay close to each other both physically and emotionally… We have a lot of fun with it, especially when we tell each other what to do… Is this type of “solo” masturbation wrong? I also never had a problem with him needing to “relieve himself” while on the road, when we couldn’t talk… I still have kids home and sometimes, “talking” isn’t really feasible. It would seem that you would believe it was wrong to allow him and I to do that…am I reading that wrong?
Yes, and no. I have written about mutual masturbation, which is what you seem to be describing when you talk, text, send photos, etc..
On your own complete…yeah, I wouldn’t suggest it, but that’s opinion. You’ll have to make up your own mind.
If you like, I have posts on the subject here:
Mutual Masturbation Survey Results
Is Mutual Masturbation OK for Married Christians?
Is masturbation a sin?
What is Your Opinion of Solo Masturbation due to Separation?
In short, I think it being a shared experience in the key.
I’ve been married for 15 years and until recently had 1 orgasm. My husband and I had tried everything, positionso, toys, oral sex and honestly I was just annoyed by it all. After 10 years of marriage I took the plunge and tried masterbation…. fail proof. My husband suggested that we do it together but, yeah… it was awkward and uncomfortable. I prefer to be alone and have my privacy and I honestly don’t fantasize about anyone as frankly I’m not aroused by a visual of anyone. Recently my husband shared that he’s no longer cool with it so basically I’m resigned to not experiencing orgasms……I know that marriage isn’t fair or 50/50 but I just feel that this is a non- negotiable…..am I wrong
I would urge you to try it again. I completely understand that it can be awkward and uncomfortable the first few times, but that’s only because it’s new. You can achieve the same thing together and then the feeling will be much better because you won’t be conflicted about compromising your marriage.
It took us quite a few times to be able to achieve orgasm while mutually masturbating together. Give it time and be patient. Most things are awkward and uncomfortable the first time.
I once wrote a high ranking popular TV preacher well respected and asked him about masturbation,
He said God will not condemn you for masturbation. You may lose or forfeit gifts and kingdom inheritance but will to be condemned especially if you repent and try not to do so.
That’s an odd thing to say. On the one hand he says God won’t condemn you, but on the other hand he says you have to repent and try not to do it. Which is it? Either God is against it or He isn’t.
continued -So either when I’m out and about look at women with lust or “purge my system “and then – I’m clear. I don’t have head or mental issues, or all the things the married people -happy in bed telling me what it does to you physically. Most people on sites saying not to masturbate are happy in bed lots and lots and lots of sex in their life so of course they will say such things.
This just gets things out of the way so I can ignore women for the first part I’m nice to them but treat them just like one of the guys, ,and move on in life. Women has always hurt me in all my past so for me they hold such very little value.
If you have no regard for women, then please don’t get married.
Jay Dee would much rather you commit fornication than take advantage of God’s escape plan to solve the issue, take the edge off and not sin. For myself, in my 20s I bought, sold, built companies and time was at a premium and got very irate that I needed to look after myself 15-20 times per day … it was extremely frustrating and in my 50s it was 1-3 times per day and even now at 62 I will be working at my desk (work from home) & my mind will get fuzzy and I will think it is old age catching up with me then I realize that it is reality and look after it so I can go back to work … fortunately it is now only 1-2 times per week. It is a practical thing but Jay Dee has an issue with commonsense & reality … but sodomy is OK tho!! lol
That’s a flat out lie and you know it. Sadly, not surprising given your behaviour.
This is the problem with a lifetime of not developing these fruit of the spirit. I think it makes perfect sense that you are still controlled by these temptations – you never learned to control them, but rather let them control you. I’m sorry you chose that route and no one told you there was a better way. Yes, there are temptations, but we’re not called to do what is self-gratifying and expedient, but rather to do what is right. And I know, kindness can be difficult when someone is challenging your beliefs that you’ve held for a lifetime, but it doesn’t give you license to tell lies about them to try and make yourself or your argument look good. If your argument has merit, then it stand and be tested, but attempting to demonize the other person shows you don’t really have faith in what you say, but need to resort to underhanded tactics in order to win the debate.
Lastly, since you seem to be obsessed with anal sex for some reason and believe we should only go by explicit commands when determining right and wrong – where’s the verse saying it’s wrong? I don’t recall you providing one.
Christian wife left (divorced) me. The desire for sex doesn’t just suddenly stop so solo sex it is
I’m sorry for your loss. I 100% agree, the desire for sex wouldn’t suddenly stop in most cases.
However, just because you have a desire for sex, doesn’t mean it needs to be met.
Two of the fruits of the spirit are patience and self-control after all. It’s nothing anyone wants to hear, but the truth is sex is not a need for survival.
I have a healthy normal relationship and masturbate. That said, millions of people do it and lead healthy supportive relationships, are doing fine. If you hang your hat on a theologian belief then yes you might think its wrong based on another persons opinion written a zillion years ago but that’s Theology. Theology is another “persons” writings embraced by group think, written and passed around as fact. Fact is 80 of the Catholic Church masturbates and a lot of people have happy successful marriages. I believe you’re wrong on this issue but that’s just my normal human heathy opinion supported with real time data from millions of healthy normal people. (no I’m not going to post the zillions of data points, cause we could and it would be an endless discussion) Very unfair to claim masturbation is wrong when in fact it’s normal. Again, you’ll state its not, I’ll state it is, you’ll post some study, I’ll post the opposite study.. Mine will be based of real time facts as will yours (with a touch of theology).
Neither side will end up taking a position of “winning” both will dig in with supportive facts.. If you want to take a little private time and masturbate in private do so, it’s human, it’s normal, just don’t let your desire over run your life. similar to drinking, to eating, to exercise, to becoming a “hoarder” and collecting junk. Those are all example of excess, MODERATION is fine, if people over eat and become gluttons should we ban all eating to save everyone? no, just teach moderation not absonance.
again, folks its normal, healthy, and we will always have a difference of opinion.
Right, an appeal to the people fallacy. “Everyone is doing it so it must be good”. Not a good argument. The rest is anecdotal and hard to prove – do they healthy supportive relationships? Would they be healthier and more supportive without solo masturbation? You can’t answer those, so that doesn’t help your argument or mine. Likewise, I think citing the Catholic Church as an example of the moral high ground, particularly when it comes to sexual immorality is … well, not a good yardstick in my book. And as you said, there are conflicting studies.
Anyways, I don’t hand my theological hat on someone else’s belief, certainly not one from “a zillion years ago”. I developed it on my own. In fact, I remember the first time I heard about the argument against solo-masturbation, and I rejected it out of hand simply because I believed as you did – that it’s natural and everyone does it. I grew up being taught solo masturbation was fine thanks to organizations like Focus on the Family. It wasn’t after I grew up, did my own research, spent some time thinking about it and researching sexuality and personal development (as well as biblical principles) that I recognized the lie.
Now, the argument of moderation is interesting, because moderation is only good when we’re talking about good things, which you’ve made perfectly clear you can’t pose a solid argument for solo masturbation being good that can’t be easily countered. I posed several arguments, none of which you refuted and you haven’t been able to show that solo masturbation is good except by simply stating it “a priori”, which is another logical fallacy. So, then the moderation argument is useless because no one would say heroin or cocaine or murder are good in moderation. Those things we do teach abstinence from, and I think we’re better off for it.
You’re correct David, many of these comments our shame driven and that’s just sad masturbation is normal healthy activity.
You make an excellent point that pair bonding in marriage is the ultimate and that going solo falls way short. Everything we do sexually must have in mind a vision of aiming toward that goal. 1 Corinthians 7 makes a strong case that depriving a spouse of fulfillment is sinful robbery. For one spouse to regularly tell the other to take care of his or her urges alone falls short of the abundant life. However to say that masturbation is always sinful is an inference in contrast to numerous direct statements against homosexuality, bestiality, adultery, etc. Is it always sinful for an unmarried person to resolve a high level of arousal on his own, especially when it comes in the context of Christian worship? Is it sinful for spouses to occasionally go the solo route when one’s drive is stronger than the other’s?
Yes, I believe so.
In both cases, you separate sex from the relationship. This violates the purpose of sex.
It is clear from the Bible that God’s original design was that the two should become one flesh. It’s also biblically clear that solo sex falls short in that aspect, thereby making it inferior, as you correctly point out. What kind of marriage is it when solo is the preferred mode?However to translate inferior as sinful is merely an inference in contrast to the clear biblical condemnation against the conjoining into one outside the marriage relationship. While inference is an important tool in studying the Bible, it carries numerous hazards if taken too far. Do you have any thoughts on one preacher who said single people should not read Song of Solomon as it could trigger solo cravings? To me it seems no part of the Bible should be off limits to anyone.
I would argue it’s not only inferior but contrary. Solo masturbation not only misses out on benefits in the marriage but also works against the marriage. Not praying is inferior to praying. Praying to another god is contrary.
I like the idea of saying the Bible shouldn’t be off-limits to anyone, but the truth is, we tend to limit certain things. For example, we ask new converts to read John rather than Revelation. We tell Children the stories that are fun and exciting, not the ones that involve killing women and children, or a bunch of men while they’re incapacitated due to being circumcised. I don’t remember learning about David dancing naked by the fire as a child or Lot’s daughters having sex with their father. As well, there is the counsel in Song of Solomon itself not to awaken love before its time, which may be a warning. So, I can understand the stance.
However, I think it’s the wrong approach. We have a tendency to tell solo people that sex is bad, dirty, terrible, etc. and restricting single people from reading Song of Solomon goes along that same path – that sex is bad. I think we should do a better job of teaching people that sex is amazing and that they should find a spouse to have it with. So, no, I don’t think I would restrict that from single people. In fact, I think there’s a lot of good lessons in Song of Solomon for people before they get married about how married sex actually is, the pitfalls and the joys, so that they don’t have a romanticized view of it going into marriage.
“We have a tendency to tell solo people that sex is bad, dirty, terrible, etc. and restricting single people from reading Song of Solomon goes along that same path – that sex is bad.” … the way I was brought up … and you obviously believe that…. most ‘Christian’ churches do. Most Christians do not read the Bible … they does take whatever nonsense the leader, pastor tells them!
I believe what? That sex is bad? I do not understand how you came to that idea after reading my blog and commenting for the last 4+ years. I mean, it’s literally the reason I started the blog over a decade ago – to fight that mentality.
I do agree that a lot of “Christians” hold some very unbiblical beliefs.
I saw a story on Marriage Heat about a guy whose counselor read to him Colossians 1:12-18. When the counselor read “firstborn from the dead” suddenly the guy got hit with an overwhelming urge to touch himself
https://marriageheat.com/2021/07/14/god-can-provide/
The article made a point to affirm that solo is inferior to marital sex. However if solo is intrinsically sinful, why would hearing the Bible trigger such a response?
I had to look this up on my phone because on my home network I block Marriage Heat because they promote and produce porn and that’s not something I want my kids to have access to.
So, already I find their stance on anything suspect.
But I have a few specific issues with the conclusion:
1) People have read the Bible and gotten an immediate urge to do all manner of sinful activities. It’s been used as justification for rape, murder, torture and a host of other things. So, in order to use that as a justification for masturbation, you have to accept that the others were justified as well, which I don’t think anyone can do.
2) What he got was spontaneously aroused. That’s not the same as saying God led him to masturbation. 1 Corinthians 7 gives us clear direction with what to do with sexual desires – get married. Nowhere in the Bible does it mention masturbation as a valid alternative. With that justification, he could have just as easily gone and gotten a prostitute, made the same declaration at the end and (falsely) justified it saying God gave him the desire.
We have had discussions this in the past but masturbation counterpoint is one you tend to “delete” one that which doesn’t fit your narrative. I gave references but when you don’t like the views you delete. Didn’t think I’d catch the deletes I guess, but I did. It’s a shame you weren’t open to facts.
“trolling” as you claim, no I’m giving those open to growth options. Religious shaming goes on and on when in fact masturbation is a natural, safe, human activity.
Oh, you mean this comment I replied to where I said what I removed and why? Or maybe this one where you accused me of the same thing you are now and I responded explaining what I removed and why.
So, here we are again with you making claims you can’t back up. I notice you decided to skip by all corrections and questions asking for evidence of your claims and went straight for the personal issue. So, I say again:
1) You made a claim masturbation is natural and good, but didn’t back it up with any evidence or logic to substantiate it.
2) Eve was created on the same day as Adam – the 6th day, so you’re supposedly biblical view is not biblical.
3) Do you have a verse to support God designing man to live to 1000 years? I can’t say I’ve seen that, but would love to if you have a reference. My understanding was that he designed him not to die at all, and his mortality only came into play at the fall.
How do you respond to those?
Late to the gAme here but this one is so tiring, masturbation is natural and good. If you need a biblical view Adam was designed to masturbate from the beginning, no women till his rib was removed, how many centuries was it before “women” was introduced? but he had a penis and surly desires. End of story, pleasure by facts. Remember, man originally was designed by God to live for a 1000 years (say’s so in the bible) so self pleasure was their from the beginning. But, this probably won’t get posted because when uncoveringintmacy is backed to the wall with facts he “deletes” posts. ( as he’s done in the past) Or he’ll post then stop further discussions. Face it, you’re wrong and you’ll hear from me for years to come. Why? Cause its fun being right.
1) You made a claim masturbation is natural and good, but didn’t back it up with any evidence or logic to substantiate it.
2) Eve was created on the same day as Adam – the 6th day, so you’re supposedly biblical view is not biblical.
3) Do you have a verse to support God designing man to live to 1000 years? I can’t say I’ve seen that, but would love to if you have a reference. My understanding was that he designed him not to die at all, and his mortality only came into play at the fall.
4) What post have I deleted? Give me a URL. It should be easy to find in the way back machine. If you mean comments – I rarely delete comments, but it does occur occasionally. Typically when they provide nothing of value (most often because they’re just repeating the same argument ad nauseum), or actually being harmful in the way they converse with other commenters. I also don’t allow advertising of resources I feel to be harmful.
5) I stop engaging in conversations when it’s clear the other person isn’t there to learn, but rather just to troll and they don’t present any discussion that has value. Other than that, I think I am far more willing to engage in conversations than most bloggers. As for “hear from you for years to come” I have no issues with that. So long as you’re polite and are genuine in your discussion. If you’re just here to be a troll, well, I do very rarely ban people as well because there’s no value being gained by their participation, and, well, I have to pay for storage/processing/etc.. Now, if you want to help contribute to that, check out our donation page.
Single greatest article I’ve ever read on the topic. I really appreciate you and your stand to talk about these things that most have deemed taboo. It has confirmed thoughts I’ve had for a while. Now, decisions are going to have to be made. I appreciate your thoughts.
Well, thank you. Good luck with your decisions!
How many bowls of cornflakes should someone eat in order to stop masturbating?
Well, I’d imagine if you continuously ate so that you can’t do anything else, eventually you’d die and that would put a stop to it. Not an advisable course of action. However, I suspect you’re referencing the ridiculous notion of Kellogg’s that plain cereals would lessen sexual appetite that I mention in this post. I don’t believe there is any credibility to that claim and you should probably seek other methods.
Ridiculous or not, it’s right in line with standard SDA teaching.
“Children who practice self-indulgence previous to puberty, or the period of merging into manhood or womanhood, must pay the penalty of nature’s violated laws at that critical period. Many sink into an early grave, while others have sufficient force of constitution to pass this ordeal. If the practice is continued from the age of fifteen and upward, nature will protest against the abuse she has suffered, and continues to suffer, and will make them pay the penalty for the transgression of her laws, especially from the ages of thirty to forty-five, by numerous pains in the system, and various diseases, such as affection of the liver and lungs, neuralgia, rheumatism, affection of the spine, diseased kidneys, and cancerous humors…
Men and women, by indulging the appetite with rich and highly-seasoned foods, especially flesh-meats and rich gravies, and by using stimulating drinks, as tea and coffee, create unnatural appetites. The system becomes fevered, the organs of digestion become injured, the mental faculties are beclouded, while the baser passions are excited, and predominate. The appetite becomes more unnatural, and more difficult of restraint. The circulation is not equalized, and the blood becomes impure. The whole system is deranged, and the demands of appetite become more unreasonable, craving exciting, hurtful things, until it is thoroughly depraved”.
Your stated reason for opposing the practice is so flimsy that there is no possible way you actually believe it. I think it’s a smokescreen because you’re too embarrassed to admit the real reason you oppose it.
(Now it’s your turn for a dime-store psychoanalysis)
I’m not a very “standard” Adventist. I’m a bit of a black sheep within my church, which is a bit of a black sheep within our denomination. In short, I’m fairly unorthodox as an Adventist, and so quoting standard teachings at me isn’t going to hold much water. You’d better back it with logic. In fact, I’m fairly vocal about my conflicts with Ellen White (whom you’re quoting) and many of her teachings, particularly around sexuality. I also believe she wasn’t a very good role model in that area. I can’t say I’ve ever actually read whatever you’re quoting that from – I haven’t spent much time reading Ellen White (I prefer the Bible myself), but it certainly doesn’t surprise me. She was a contemporary of Kellogg’s and they shared many of the same ridiculous notions.
So, no, her teachings are certainly not why I oppose it. My stated reasons are my reasons.
It’s a Human activity, by design, and guess who “designed us? God. This topic never ends which proves why it’s human, natural and God given. Let the fearful follow manipulated spiritually. ( no passage says “don’t”), the sharpe and understanding will masturbate AND have an amazing marriage. I do and have been for years.
Looks like “G” got this right. Amen.
G gave us masturbation too enjoy, not to be shamed. Plenty of reasons to enjoy it..
“I challenge you to stop being selfish. “ selfish?” Only in the eye of a person who selfishly viewing a natural act such as masturbation as selfish.. you constantly shew your view, if only people could see through your message. Read people , learn from other sources…
I don’t understand. How is my view selfish? What do I gain by it? How is it “self” motivated?
Your original post “challenge you to put all your sexual energy into what matters. I challenge you to stop being selfish” implies a negative connotation towards masturbation. There are at least two views to a topic, a bit like liberal & conservative, different views. Using “selfish” and “what matters” to a reader who may happen to believe differently at the end of your diatribe on the subject doesn’t make them selfish, they just believe differently and shouldn’t necessarily be “shamed” for differing opinions. Thats all being expressed.
No, not towards masturbation in general, because I also have positive posts about mutual masturbation. Solo masturbation – yes – you’re separating sex from the relationship. That’s outside of what was clearly God’s intent as I see it.
And if you’re allowed to have a different belief, then I’m allowed to believe what I want to believe about your belief. Like if you believe murder is okay, that doesn’t make it okay – I’m still going to think that’s a great evil and should not happen. You can’t fight for freedom of belief and then tell me I can’t have mine.
I think what you’re doing is wrong.
Absolutely, you should do what Gods calling you to do, and God speaks to many differently than you. it doesn’t mean from your viewpoint that they should be shamed as selfish, thats all. I’m glad to hear you think as you think, that’s good. I on the other hand don’t “shame” people who disagree me like you do in that opinion piece. Just opening the conversation to both perspectives. As A third party reviewer I can see how the curious un driven reader could be persuaded incorrectly to look only through rose colored glasses. I can only hope people read more before they fall pray to opinion pieces that use subtle shaming . Yes, your opinion shouldn’t shame people, a closing like “ There’s my thoughts, I pray you find your path” is more inclusive to your readers instead of shaming, and possibly more successful. Shaming only shows weakness in presentation. Like when people resort to extreme comparisons, or using swear words in a discussion, when they do they’ve lost ground.. . here you introduce extreme comparisons of masturbation and murder? What? Why murder? The bible if full of contradictions and to shame those that read verses unlike you isn’t wrong, just different. I’m not saying you opinion is 100% wrong, just an opinion worthy of review by the reader without being “selfish” shamef. One could flip this and say your selfish to imply they’re selfish? Crazy to think…
Readers, read both perspectives and make a choices that protect you/family/your spiritual journey.
Here you say, “Yeah, I’m perfectly willing to admit that masturbation isn’t mentioned in the bible. I find it a strange argument, since Christianity is rife with things that are not directly spoken of in the Bible. Some I believe are correct, like the Trinity, some I believe are incorrect, like child baptism”
So you admit differences yet you imply selfishness in your closing. Not sure why…
Just like the bible, it’s open to interpretation, so is masturbation. A scholar would present an opinion but not to shame. Using the word selfish implies un just shame. maybe you were wrapped up in closing the piece and thought you would push for a close, maybe… I pray people see through both lenses and make educated decisions for themselves.
Yep, God does, and also “God” does. I’m calling out what I see in the Bible and how some people violate it’s principles through this activity.
Matthew 18:15-17, Galatians 6:1-2, James 5:19-20 and more tell us we should hold our brothers and sisters in Christ accountable.
I don’t believe in relative morality. Just because it’s “your path” doesn’t mean it’s right. The Bible doesn’t preach inclusivity – quite the opposite. Narrow is the gate. Most will not make it – even more “Christians”.
And I agree, it’s open to interpretation. This is mine. I think any other one is wrong. It’s that simple. And if a scholar is unwilling to stand by his beliefs – well, then he’s not worth much.
And godly shame/guilt has a purpose – to turn people towards God (2 Corinthians 7:10). If you’re feeling guilt/shame, then maybe you should look at your beliefs. Maybe God is trying to tell you something.
You: “ I agree, it’s open to interpretation. This is mine.”
Your’e right again, “God does, and God does,. He shows us the same words and we’re all following them. But the point here isn;t biblical lecturing, it’s the use of “selfish” when it may not be needed.
Agreed, As you replied “Your path”…. You’re right, interpreting the Bible is complicated. Narrow is the gate but in this discussion I don’t see it as a gate closer, nor do a lot of bible following people. Due to the fact, as you say, masturbation is not discussed, it’s danced around, it’s played with, implied through interpretation.
Scholars have stood up for their interpretations of this discussion here, many have. Don’t project “all” from a few who may haven’t, it’s all out there to read on the “interwebs”, in-person lectures, and books..
As I’ve been pointing out, yes, your interpretation is fine. Yet, those who don’t see through the “Selfish” phrasing at the end will lean into “your” opinion, those that read the Bible and see a different path are just different are not wrong, just different.
Hmm, maybe the confusion in this discussion is you see differing views of masturbation intertwined with biblical journeys as “selfish”, the old, “My way or the highway”, like our teachers said in school. So unless one agrees with your option piece then they are bad? Maybe so, maybe not, probably not. People can agree to disagree these days, it’s possible. Probably not here where biblical scripture on masturbation is shamed/guilted from the one and only “my way or the highway” which is negatively skewed. It’s too bad so many people are left out of the discussion/growth when only “one view” of the full view of masturbation isn’t allowed explored, discovered. it’s a shame, that’s all, just a shame for all…