First of all i just want to said that I own no rights to this article and it is not written by or gather by me..it all belongs to Rev. Kong Hee from City Harvest Church, Singapore and I find this article really reveals a lot of understanding of what every man and women has been strungling all along so check out this article is really MIND BLOWING!!!
The word “masturbation” is thought to have been derived from the Greek word mezea, which means “penises.” It could have also been derived from the Latin words, manus (“hand”) and turbare (“to disturb”). According to the Microsoft Encarta Dictionary, masturbation is to “give yourself or somebody else sexual pleasure by stroking the genitals, usually to orgasm.” Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary states that “the stimulation can be performed manually, by other types of bodily contact (short of sexual intercourse), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods.”
There are archeological records of humans masturbating that go back as far as 6,000 B.C. In the land of Sumer, often known as the “Cradle of Civilization,” the ancient Sumerians believed that masturbation was a technique used to increase a man’s sexual prowess. It was viewed as part of normal activities for daily life, neither to be shunned away from nor considered taboo. The ancient Egyptians viewed masturbation superstitiously while the ancient Greeks were rather casual about it.
At the other end of the spectrum, masturbation was considered illegal in some societies. The 17th century law code of the Puritan colony of New Haven, Connecticut, considered masturbation as a crime punishable by the death penalty. The 18th century philosopher, Immanuel Kant, viewed masturbation as a violation of universal moral law. Until today, the Roman Catholic Church still officially condemns masturbation as a mortal sin.
The American researcher Alfred Kinsey (1894-1956) and others estimated that during the mid-20th century, at least 92% of all males and 70-80% of all females have indulged in masturbation at some point in their lives. European studies show comparable figures to support Kinsey’s research. Kinsey also found that 40% of men and 30% of women in relationships (marriage or dating) masturbate regularly. In his 2005 book, The Sexual Man, Dr. Archibald Hart reveals that 61% of married Christian men masturbate.
The December 10, 2008 issue of The Sun reports that the “Gossard Big M Survey” done a year earlier found that 92% of UK women aged 18-30 masturbate. Two-thirds of women admit to pleasuring themselves three times a week, with women in London finding time for four sessions every seven days. A 2004 study done in Toronto, Canada, found that males begin masturbating as early as 10 years old while some females (6%) may begin before the age of six.
Some of the generally accepted benefits of masturbation include the following: (1) It is a good way of relieving sexual tension that can build up over time, especially for people without partners, or whose partners are not willing or available to have sex. (2) It is a safe sexual alternative for people who wish to avoid pregnancy and the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. (3) It is necessary when a man must give a semen sample for infertility testing or for sperm donation. (4) It is a standard prescription given by sex therapists to treat sexual dysfunction in an adult, helping a person to experience orgasm (often in women) or to delay orgasm (often in men).
The big question here is: can a Christian masturbate? Is it morally right or wrong? Those who argue against it claim that masturbation is unnatural, and may result in God’s judgment on the body later on in life (in the form of physical ailments). Others claim that it is an irresponsible means to attain sexual satisfaction without the “burden” of commitment. Spiritual giants like C.S. Lewis and John Calvin were both strongly against it.
What about those who are not averse to it? Mark Driscoll, the preaching pastor at the 7,500-member Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington, was quoted as having said this in one of his video lectures: “In marriage is it okay for one to masturbate the other? Yes, as long as it promotes oneness between a couple … But if you are someone who masturbates in a nonaddictive, non-lustful, non-pornographic way and you are single, it is not a sin.”
Surprisingly, the conservative evangelical and founder of Focus On The Family, Dr. James Dobson, was reported to have said, “99% of boys do it and the other 1% are lying. If we tell boys it is wrong and that God disapproves, what happens to those who aren’t able to stop? They grow up thinking God hates them or that they are some miserable, shameful, dirty creatures that belong under a rock. Therefore, let them do it.” In his book, Preparing for Adolescence, Dr. Dobson says, “It is my opinion that masturbation is not much of an issue with God.”
What does the Bible say?
The solitary Scripture most opponents of masturbation often quote is Genesis 38:9. It is an account of God judging Onan for spilling his semen onto the ground. Many of the early church saints, like Jerome and Clement of Alexandra, had used this story as an example of why masturbation should be banned. However, a closer, objective study of this passage would show that the context here has nothing to do with masturbation. In the days of the patriarchs, if a man died childless, the custom then was for his brother to take his wife, and the children produced by this second marriage were considered as the children of the first husband, and consequently inherit his possessions and extend his lineage. As such, Onan was supposed to raise up a seed for his deceased brother. Instead of doing that, he took advantage of his sister-in-law, Tamar, for his own sexual gratification, but didn’t want the responsibility to father her a child. God immediately judged Onan for his refusal to raise up an offspring for his brother.
The Bible also talks about “nocturnal emission,” an ejaculation during sleep by a male (Lev. 15:16-17; 22:4; Deut. 23:9-11). Today, we commonly call this a “wet dream,” or a spontaneous orgasm. Whenever they are mentioned in Scripture, it has more to do with Old Testament health and hygiene than what constitutes a sin.
What is my personal opinion regarding masturbation? Theologically, the Scripture is relatively silent about it although its practice stretches back to biblical times. None of the verses above outrightly name masturbation as a sin. As far as I am concerned, the jury is still out. To me, the act of self-stimulation is worrying only if it leads to the following three problems:
Pornography. Pornography has long been condemned and prohibited in the belief that it depraves and corrupts both minors and adults, and that it leads to the commission of sex crimes. Pornography is often used hand-in-hand with masturbation to stimulate the imagination as well as the genitals. In a Kinsey Institute survey, 72% of the respondents said they used porn to masturbate for physical release.In their award-winning bestseller, Porn Trap, sex therapists, Wendy and Larry Maltz, relate the harmful effects pornography has on an individual:
“A relationship with porn can act like an affair. It can take time and energy away from an existing intimate relationship. People who use porn often operate with the same kind of secrecy and deception as someone having a sexual affair. When a porn user is confronted by a partner, there is often denial, lying and attempts to cover up the wrongdoing. Without realizing it, maintaining a “love affair” with porn can become more important than staying connected to someone in real life. Also, if you use porn regularly, the mental images and scenarios of porn can keep playing in your mind during sex, making it hard to feel connected and intimate with the real person in your life.”
Compulsive Masturbation. A compulsive masturbator may self-pleasure an inordinate number of times a day. The world record is reported to be 36 times over a 24-hour period! However, excessive masturbation can lead to neurochemical imbalances in the body and bring about continual fatigue, concentration and memory losses. Masturbation addiction can also lead to other forms of sex addictions such as:
● Multiple sexual partners
● Consistent use of pornography
● Phone or computer sex (cybersex)
● Prostitution, or use of prostitutes
● Exhibitionism
● Voyeurism (watching others) and/or stalking
● Sexual harassment
● Molestation
● Rape
To test if you have a problem with compulsive masturbation or other sex addictions, try the following Self-Assessment Test from Sex Addicts Anonymous: www.sexaa.org/IsSAAForYou/SelfAssessment.
Resentment in Spouse. When a married partner individually indulges in masturbation, especially when it is done in secrecy, the spouse is no longer the only source of sexual gratification. When one partner feeds his or her sexual appetite with masturbation, leaving the other partner sexually unfulfilled, it could cause feelings of resentment and loss of respect over time. Sexual pleasure involves considering the feelings of your spouse. If one partner is uncomfortable with the fact that the other is masturbating, especially when it is done outside of the couple’s lovemaking, both of you should have a radically honest discussion together. Come to a mutual agreement that both partners are comfortable with and genuinely happy about.
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