As a Christian man why are other Christians insisting that I don’t have an obligation to resist sexual temptations like masturbating and porn?

[WhiteBoyChill]

I’ve just been surprised by the number of self identifying Christians that tell me it’s perfectly alright if I masturbate and watch porn and pleasure myself.

Its a perfectly healthy and natural human habit they’ll say. But that’s always been the contemporary secular view towards a number of sinful topics.

Like gay marriage and homosexual acts which are so clearly discouraged in the Bible. They come naturally to some people but that don’t make it right. That don’t make it part of God’s plan for us.

And it is without question and concious doubt that my Priest clearly said masturbation is a sin.

And even though it doesn’t harm others personally when I partake in the act, it apparently harms my relationship with God.

Because in the moment of masturbation I am pursuing my own selfish feelings of pleasure.

So the argument that masturbation is natural should not stand in my view.

Just because something is natural doesn’t make it right. Some people are born with mental illnesses but that shouldn’t afford them the right to commit school shootings just because they naturally want to.

In the same way that bestiality comes naturally to some people but has always been considered unethical by a vast majority of people.

So in conclusion I want to serve God the best that I can. I want to be a better man and develop a closer relationship with him.

I recognize that I have done wrong and I want to do better in the future.

I want to put God’s will above my own and I do not wish to harm my relationship with him.

So what does the Bible actually say about masturbation?

Whenever I masturbate I always think lustful thoughts and the Bible seems to speak against having lustful thoughts as a sinful behavior.

So unless I missed some part of the Bible where masturbation is permissible, please do help give me encouragement to resist my temptations.

I need everybody’s prayers.

[NamerOfStars]

Consider the "contemporary secular view" on the sinfulness of, say, forks. Most people will tell you that using a fork is not sinful- be they religious or otherwise. That was not always the case- the Church roundly condemned their use when they first became popular amongst European nobility. They were wrong. Your priest claims that masturbation is a sin, okay- have you asked why? Have you considered and discussed the issue with others? Assuming something is bad just because an authority figure says so is falling to the temptations of blind faith- of apotheosizing them. Christianity is not an excuse to stop thinking- quite the opposite.

So where is the scriptural evidence that masturbation is sinful? The opposite shows up in Matthew 5:27-28. If having lustful thoughts is inherently sinful, as "you've already committed adultery with her in your heart", then you have a spiritual obligation to avoid lustful thoughts. And since those don't arise from moral weakness but from the physical processes that govern your body, you should masturbate as much as possible, keeping your hormone levels under control and minimizing lustful thoughts.

[WhiteBoyChill]

No but I thought in the Bible it speaks against pursuing temptation and thinking of lust which is what masturbation does to the body

[NamerOfStars]

No, you're goofing up cause and effect, here. Masturbate to orgasm and your testosterone level drops, vastly lowering sexual desire (temporarily, of course). Refraining from indulging makes you MORE likely to have powerfully sexual thoughts, and what Jesus was saying is that that's no different from actually committing adultery, sin-wise.

[WhiteBoyChill]

But if I go without masturbating for a while then I will eventually stop thinking about sexual things right?

[slatyb]

Why? Because that's how authoritarians roll. They love telling other people what to do.

The Bible says very little about masturbation. Onan was not punished for masturbating, he was punished for disobeying God's instruction to have sex with his dead brother's wife. Nor does the Bible say anything about pornography. Various Christian sects have entirely different views on masturbation and erotica. Some believe that masturbation is normal and healthy, and medical science agrees. Don't waste your energy trying to abstain, then feeling guilty because you are unable. Just do it when you feel the urge and have the opportunity, then get on with the rest of they day (or with sleeping).

[WhiteBoyChill]

It just feels wrong tho

[slatyb]

That's because you've been told that for so long it's ingrained. Not everything people tell you is true. Do your own research. Yes, there are nofap websites, but the medical evidence all points the other way. Life is much easier when you aren't sexually frustrated all the time.

[Neosporin]

Thanks for your words I blocked Hispanic cool guy so I am responding to you here

[jasco]

I have realize that the Bible is more so a caution, kinda like a gate to addiction. If you look at it differently, it comes off as if you do this something bad will happen. That's what I think the Bible is. God being the person who is trying to help you stop such awful behavior that will hurt you later on.

[WhiteBoyChill]

It is very difficult for me to stop masturbating but there are many in the secular community who encourage me to partake in this sin

[jasco]

Well do as you wish, I won’t tell you no or tell you yes

[jimmy2]

Well It sin