| | Masturbation is a perversion of God's plan for sexual desire and is therefore a sin
This is a very important topic that requires a thought-out, biblically-based answer. And that is what I hope to provide in this essay, as well as some advice for men and women struggling with sexual temptation.
The answer to this question typically given by Christian leaders is, "One cannot masturbate without lusting, and since lust is a sin, masturbation is a sin. Of course, we can't say this with certainty, since the Bible doesn't directly touch on the subject."
There are two problems with this: First, this argument assumes that one must lust while masturbating. Technically, someone could masturbate without looking at pornography or fantasizing. Consequently, I had one fellow tell me that young men should masturbate about once a week, since by then their desire has built up enough that it is easy to masturbate simply by handling themselves, and without fantasizing.
Second, whether something is "explicitly" mentioned in scripture is irrelevant. Pornography isn't explicitly mentioned in scripture. Abortion isn't explicitly mentioned in scripture. Sports aren't explicitly mentioned in scripture. The trinity isn't explicitly mentioned in scripture. Can we say, then, that the Bible has nothing to say about these topics? No. The Westminster Confession of Faith gets it right when it says the following:
The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture ... (Chapter 1, Part VI)
That last clause is absolutely correct. We may deduce truths from scripture in order to learn what scripture says about a topic. A perfect example is the trinity. Nowhere in scripture do we read anything like B.B. Warfield's famous summary of the doctrine of the trinity: "There is one God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three co-eternal, co-equal Persons, the same substance but distinct in subsistence." Rather, we read verses in which the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are referred to as God or are placed on the same level as one another. Since each person is referred to as God, we can use logic to conclude that each member is God. (For a more comprehensive defense of the trinity, visit here.)
We can use the same principle of logic (deduction) to conclude that masturbation is a sin, based on several premises we draw from scripture.
First, let us all admit that the purpose of masturbation is to fulfill sexual desire. But is this how God wants sexual desire to be expressed? We need to look at God's purpose behind sex.
In Genesis 2 God says to Adam, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” After God creates Eve, we read, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
Sex is the means by which a husband and wife become one flesh. It is intended to be the ultimate expression of physical intimacy---an act that says, beyond everything else, "I love you and trust you enough to share the most private parts of my body with you." This is why the wedding night is called the "consummation" of a couple. To consummate literally means "the act of bringing something to completion or fruition." Sexual intercourse---the act of becoming "one flesh"---between a husband and wife on the wedding night, therefore, is the pinnacle or apex of the lover's union with another! If that doesn't tell you how precious and purposeful sex is in the eyes of God, then I don't know what will. The point is this: God created sex for intimacy.
Furthermore, sex is an act that leaves us vulnerable. That is why nakedness is shameful before those outside our family. That is why molestation and rape leaves us feeling used. Sex belongs inside the covenant of marriage simply because marriage ensures trust. God created us as sexual beings, and that sexuality is meant to be expressed only within the context of marriage. This is further supported by 1 Cor. 7:2-5.
Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
We see then, that with regards to sexual activity we do not have authority over our bodies---it belongs to another. When we need sexual fulfillment, we must go to our spouse. In other words, there is simply no room given for the concept of "solo sex" or "auto-eroticism." Sexual desire must be fulfilled only in the context of an intimate relationship. This is impossible to do by oneself. Since masturbation attempts to fulfill sexual desire by oneself, it breaks away from God's intended context for sexual activity (marriage). Rather than making another person the reference point for intimacy, oneself becomes the reference point.* Masturbation focuses on satisfying oneself through oneself, whereas God intended for us to be sexually satisfied through sharing. Since masturbation fails to satisfy sexual desire in accordance with God's purpose for sexual desire, we can say that masturbation is a perversion of God's plan for sex. Truly, then, masturbation is nothing more than the selfish manipulation of the genitals. Not surprisingly, Paul says the following:
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
The key phrase is, "you are not your own." Like I just explained, we do not have authority over our bodies in with regards to sex. If we are married, the spouse has authority. If we are single, the Lord alone has authority. And His intention is that you do not excite desires that you are not able to fulfill as a single. In Song of Solomon, virgins are twice commanded, "Do not stir up or awaken love until it pleases" (2:7, 8:4). In this verse, "love" refers to any kind of romantic or sexual desire. Those who are wise will take heed, lest they be led down a miserable path---one that many Christians have walked on for far too long.
Having said all of that, those who take sin seriously should be moved to action. That is what I intend to deal with in the next post.
*This is exactly analogous to those who embrace themselves as the authority when seeking knowledge: rather than embracing an epistemological relationship with Yahweh (Prov. 1:7), most people believe that they determine truth for themselves by being a law unto themselves (autonomy). So whether in autonomous human reasoning or in masturbation, the reference point becomes oneself and not another. (Is anyone impressed that I managed to drag epistemology into this?)
As an addendum, some might benefit from a formal argument of what I presented above:
Premise 1: God designed sex to fulfill the desire for intimacy.
Premise 2: The desire for intimacy cannot be fulfilled alone.
Premise 3: Masturbation attempts to fulfill the desire for intimacy alone.
Conclusion: Masturbation perverts God's intention for sexual desire.
The form of this argument is valid, so if you disagree with me then you will need to disagree with one or more of these premises.
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