Would you all agree that masturbation and porn are major sins for Christians?
The reason I ask this is because as a Christian I am done with masturbation for good. I had done it for so many years and found it wrong to do, especially when looking at pornography and looking at that is a major sin too. I even don't look at that anymore too. I even find talking about anything sexual on here in a pm made me want to masturbate, so I don't want to go through that anymore. It also means I find nudism as freedom without clothes and not a sexual activity. I know some of you may say that it can be good for prostate but I do find it a major sin just like looking at pornography. I hope everybody understands what I am saying here because regardless of gender, sexuality, and single/married/in a relationship, that masturbation and porn is are the two major sins in my opinion
I'm afraid I would disagree a bit. God gave us the gift of sexuality and I intend to use it to the fullest ... LOL! I think the obsession with sexual matters like masturbation can be a sin, but I never thought the act was sinful in itself. Hubby and I do it alone and together with great joy and gratitude to God for giving us that knowledge.
However, if your feeling and beliefs are different then by all means follow your heart and head. Its your personal decision.
I disagree. Looking at porn, yes, I would call that a sin, because you are lusting after someone who is not your partner. But masturbation is a bit different.
I once gave up masturbation for Lent. Although I technically succeeded, the result was that erotic thoughts and fantasies built up in my mind, like steam in a pressure cooker; it was actually rather dangerous by the end, because they so took over that I could hardly keep my mind on my work, or my driving. By the end of that Lent, I had written a whole collection of erotic short fiction. I am embarrassed now to go back and read it. But it was a valuable learning experience. I learned that like all basic biological drives, the sex drive cannot be sublimated. Remember in the New Testament, when Paul advised husbands and wives not to deny each other sexually, except for brief periods of time for devotion to prayer? This was because he knew that if they tried to do this for longer periods of time, or forever, that temptation would build up too much and they would fall. Abstaining from erotic activity is like abstaining from food: it can be done for a while for spiritual purposes, but the longer you extend it, the more the craving builds -- not because sin, but because we are biological creatures built with biological drives.
Ever since that educational Lent, I no longer feel guilt or shame over masturbation. I do it so as to keep erotic thoughts in bounds, just as I eat so as to keep hunger in bounds. I do it without looking at porn, by imagining a scene with the monogamous partner I would like to have. I have heard that some people can do it without even this, by focusing on the physical sensations themselves.
If you feel convicted that you must do this, it is not for me to dissuade you. Just be aware that it will be a LOT harder than you think.
One of my favorite texts is Proverbs chapter 2. Seek wisdom, understanding and insight.
I've often contemplated the topic of masturbation and porn. Studied it at length via the NASB Strong's version, dissecting the Hebrew and the Greek. (I prefer Bible Hub for my studying. It's an excellent site)
My interpretation through my studies helped me with my understanding.
I agree with reubenT, ask God to reveal the truth to you!
I believe all of Core Christian Living can be guided by 3 laws:
Love God with all your heart.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Thou shall not covet!
All Christian living can be weighed against these three to keep you on the/your right path.
Let God lead you in your understanding of the topic!
Just know, He does not want us to have burdens! He is a God of deliverance! Not a god of guilt and condemnation!
I was raised in church, but it didn't internalize for awhile. At about 13 I accidentally discovered masturbation, didn't know what was going on to start with, no one had ever told me what to expect as my body started maturing. But I soon figured out what it was. It became a habit, my mother realized I was doing it and condemned it as sin, other people did too, we met a man who was a natural healer, using natural remedies to cure disease, followed him all over the country to learn from him. One time he looked in my eyes, saw something that told him I was doing it, and just flatly condemned the practice, he just said "stop it" But that didn't help. It's not something I can just stop doing by deciding to. At 17 I began to be converted, realized the whole Jesus and eternal life thing was real and decided I wanted to be part of it and started fighting against sin in my own mind. But there are problems.
The sex drive is unstoppable by me, for many years I've contended with it. Refrain from masturbation for too long and it so takes over my mind that I can't handle it. Drives to extreme distraction and terrible fantasies. it generally started getting bad about every 2 weeks. So what is the solution?
{the website is rejecting long posts, so I'm splitting it up into several}
To successfully live for God, to overcome fully as is required.
From several passages of Jesus word we know that professing to accept Jesus atonement for sin is only the starting point. Those who do that and go no further(unless they are dying and live no longer) will come under condemnation. Explained in a few places. Illustrated by the foolish virgins and the goats of Matt 25. Then James explains it further in James 2, concluding by saying "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
So what gives? On one hand I can't deal with the sex drive issue, it's unstoppable by any effort of my own. Even to the extent of causing a lot of physical pain if I refrained from it. What they call blue ball syndrome is very real, can cause extreme pain, only relief is to masturbate, let off the pressure and the pain goes away. When I managed to get past the mental drive the physical pain would compel me to do it. But on the other hand, I prayed, asked God if it was really wrong to masturbate or are all those who condemn it just going on tradition? God revealed to me it was something I was supposed to refrain from. Caught in the middle with no way out. I tried for many years, forget it, won't work. Asked God to take away the drive, no response for a long time. But I decided eternal life in paradise is way too valuable to give up, so I had to take on an endless, "never give up" attitude. I knew there had to be some way out and up. One time I almost decided to make myself a eunuch to escape the problem, but then realized, that's not really overcoming sin, I want to do things the right way, all the way through. At one point after spending daily time in God's word for months, all of a sudden the sex drive vanished. It was just gone, seemed very weird to me for it to just disappear like that. I kept looking for it in my mind and couldn't find it. Kept expecting the blue ball pain to return, but it didn't.
It stayed gone for 10 months. But then came back. Probably because I wasn't staying connected with God sufficiently. While it hasn't been as bad as it once was, it went back to being an unstoppable force. Again I take up a never give up attitude. Lately I think it's becoming less intense and maybe even going away again. It becomes a fierce conflict between the desire to be pure and honor my Lord, and the carnal drive to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh. The real solution is to decide I want Jesus and eternal life bad enough to give up anything to obtain it, then submit it to God. I can't deal with the actual drive to lust filled thoughts and actions, but He can deal with it.
I never found a suitable wife, so never had that outlet, in time God will send me one I'm sure, and then I will put her in charge of that department to make her happy.
"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33
As for incentive to purposely do whatever it takes to be saved. There has been a lot of information revealed as to what the future holds, more than most people are aware of.
As Christians we profess to believe what the Bible says, about a three person God, father son and Spirit, who together created all things. How they created this earth, placing our first grandparents in a beautiful perfect tropical paradise garden as, (what we would term) naturist gardeners. (that plus God's direct command to Isaiah to preach a prophecy for 3 years while naked to illustrate it, is proof enough that nude life is fine with God) How they disobeyed one of God's commands, failed the loyalty test and had to leave the garden, how their transgression and God's curse on sin has made a very blighted environment on earth for us to survive with evil abounding. How one of those 3 individuals who created us appeared on earth as the son of a woman, but not of a man. (Our Creator becoming part of His own creation? That's mindboggling) And promises to restore us to the original state (eternal life in paradise) if we will believe in Him and overcome sin. It's an interesting story, but is it all true? A line of prophecy was given to Daniel, he wrote it in the book that bears his name, Those who have carefully analyzed it, tracked down all the historical facts and compared them with the prophecy, find a perfect match between prophecy that was given over 2500 years ago and how political and religious things have transpired since then. That alone gives us pretty solid proof that there is definitely a God who knows whats going to happen long before it happens.
Then there's the book of Revelation, it fills in a lot of details, but it can be hard to figure out. There's also the passage that says "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7
That is saying we are not finished with God's revelations, any time something significant is about to happen God will choose someone and reveal to them his plans, warn of the devils tricks, etc. And they are supposed to tell everyone else. But typically few people are willing to hear and believe, especially when their sins are pointed out it makes them very uncomfortable. And in the past it's been the professed believers, especially the leaders of organizations that have led out in attacking the prophets. So acceptance by organized religion is no test of truth. Since it has more often been the opposite.
A close analysis of the old prophecy that has mostly been fulfilled already, reveals that we are right down at the end of the run of earth time. So are we due another significant prophetic message to let us know what's about to happen? Give us direction to make it through? Apparently we are, and apparently it is happening. But as in the past, the religious leaders in the many religious organizations are not paying attention, and if they do notice it they more often criticize and condemn the message than accept it, since there are some very tough things said in it, it would take some serious readjustment of policy and practice to conform, they run their churches just how they like according to their own man invented and sometimes devil influenced traditions, and they aren't willing to change things.
But I read it and I get excited. There are some really hard things revealed about sin and disasters, but extensive new info is being given, lots of descriptions of what it's like "out there". What we are in for soon on this earth and what we will experience after it's over on both sides, destiny of the saved and the lost are described in detail. The disasters pending are horrible in the extreme on one hand. But what's waiting on those who are ready for it is so marvelous on the other that it's beyond description. What he can manage to describe of what he's shown in dreams is so awesome as to be overwhelmingly worth whatever it takes to get there.
Want to win the lotto? the big one, the really really big one. Want to be a guaranteed winner? That's nothing! just read what's guaranteed to the overcomer.
"He that overcometh shall inherit all things;" Rev 21:7
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Rev 3:21
What does that mean? Kind of open ended isn't it?
Ernie is shown some of what it means, what little of it he can manage to describe is seriously outa this world.
I encourage everyone I can to read it, even if it's really hard to believe, read it like it's a religious novel. But at least read it and get it in mind, so when/if things start happening we won't be left in the dark, we'll know why it's happening and how to respond to it. Besides, the descriptions of what's it's like out there are just marvelous,, the tough hard things are balanced by good stuff, extremely exciting to think it's all going to be real life someday once the difficult part is over. (but only IF we ask the Holy Spirit to take full control of us every day and drive out all sin) Ernie Knoll in California was ill unto death, but healed by God and started having dreams in 2005 and has had 76 so far. some very short, some long enough to make a whole book with just one dream. posted on his website at https://www.formypeople.org/
Sin then versus sin now.
Is there a difference? Isn't "He the same yesterday, today and forever"?
Some things written in scripture make me contemplate what God defines as sin rather than what man defines as sin.
Were not the 12 tribes of Israel born of several of Jacob's wives? Was he condemned for multiple wives by God? No, they are the patriarchs!
Solomon had many wives and concubines? Yet he was the wisest man to ever live! But not condemned for having wives and concubines by God. only his idol worship late in his life. What roll did they play in his life? None? I think not!
God created us in his image and likeness. With all of our desires. He designed us that way. For what reason? For frustration or relief from it?
When was the law given? Is masturbation in the law? Are we not now redeemed from the curse of the law anyway?
Are we not restored, to be as Adam was by Jesus's death on the cross? All things now put under his feet! There was no sin when man was created! But we have the mind of Christ, His commandments written in our hearts.
We should not lust, it is covetousness,so the Law states, but is it wrong to desire? Does He not give us the desires of our hearts.
I'm not trying to be a heretic here. I'm just trying to keep the whole of the Word of God in perspective.
The entirety of the Word of God should always align with itself. When it is contrary then something is amiss.
I am not condoning any activity by any one, just giving a perspective. A call to research for yourselves.
Each one needs to follow their own heart!
I am not condoning any activity by any one, just giving a perspective. A call to research for yourselves. Each one needs to follow their own heart!
Brother youre preaching to the choir!
I'm a Christian and was raised in a Christian home , Presbyterian to be exact. I'm still active in my church. I'm not a self righteous , holier than thou Christian however. I think "most" Christians are like that and practice what they believe but not throwing it in the face of others (notice I said most, not all). I believe that God understands our human struggles. I lean a bit to the gay end of the spectrum though have had relationships with women and in fact was married to a wonderful gal.
And its not just masturbation or porn that are the only 2 issues - what about premarital sex? How many people get married as a virgin? I suspect its very very few. Yet many of them are Christians. As far as the two points the OP brings up I feel masturbation is a normal human urge and that God understands that. Porn is different. That does fall under "lust" so I suppose thats a sin. And I believe premarital sex would technically be considered sinful as well. In that case I'm guilty and somewhat of a Hypocrite because I am sexually active outside of relationships and yes I enjoy porn. But.... the good news is God understands our frustrations and our mistakes and that is why he allowed his son Jesus Christ do die for our sins. Our sins are forgiven.
Going back to Hairy Paddy, the OPs comment. I would be like the others. do what you feel is best for you and follow your heart.
Actions
Back to TopicsReply to TopicShare this topic
Get paid just by sending us users/traffic.
Signup takes seconds, start now!
Signup as an affiliate!