Is Masturbation Really a Sin?

Question: I've been thinking about this, but it's been years that I've never masturbated. I just have urges to do it. I've been searching to see if masturbating is really a sin, but some Christians say it's fine and some say it's not. I don't want to fall into the bad habits again. I've also learned that masturbating is very helpful and beneficial to decrease the risk of prostate cancer. So my question is am I doing the right thing by continuing to not masturbate or is it okay to do it?

Response: Thank you for reaching out here with your question. I know it takes a lot of vulnerability and bravery to ask such an honest question, and believe me – more people are struggling with this than you know. I’m so glad that you had the courage to ask what so many are wondering.

I believe that masturbation can (and usually does) have more of an effect that simply a sexual/physical release. Although you may not be watching porn or thinking of anyone while engaging in it at this time, eventually that may not be possible as masturbation awakens a sexual response and, often, you need more and more stimulation to get the same effect. This leads to a pattern of more and more lustful/impure thoughts – which we are taught in the Bible to avoid.

Think about it like this. The sexual experience was created for two people--husband and wife (Genesis 2:24, 1 Corinthians 7:3). If the sexual experience is supposed to be a shared activity to bring pleasure, give pleasure and connect a married couple, then masturbation provides the ability for one to connect with self and become accustomed to one’s own sexual doing. One of the problems with this is that the person who engages in masturbation becomes accustomed to their own expressions and rhythms, putting himself and his future spouse in a challenging position to undo what has been established. It can be very hard for you to enjoy the sexual expressions of someone else when you have for so long trained your body to respond to self-pleasure. You can become impatient with your spouse or think your spouse doesn’t know to “please” you.

I don’t know that the Bible says “thou shall not masturbate.” You know what I mean? But, the Bible speaks about one’s actions and behavior. Sexually impure thoughts are just as bad as physical sexual sin according to the Bible. We are taught to dwell on things that are good, pure, holy, admirable, etc. Unfortunately, masturbation causes us to think on said unholy things, and therefore I would conclude that it’s something we should avoid.

I hope this helps answer your questions and leads you to a prayerful decision on such an important subject.