GOOD MORALS REPLIES:
ANY sexual activity which attempts to bypass reproduction is a sin. God
joined the creation of life together with the pleasures of sexual intercourse. Birth
control and abortion attempt to defeat the creation of life that is entwined by Nature's
God with the reproductive act. So does masturbation.
In addition, masturbation is a homosexual act: sex with a person of the
same sex, namely yourself.
The Bible refers to the deed as the sin of Onan. Onan was the son of
Judah and Shuah. Genesis 38:4. The Lord slew Onan's brother for wickedness. Judah told
Onan to marry his brother's wife "and raise up seed to thy brother." Genesis
38:8. But Onan did not want to have children by his brother’s wife.
"And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass,
when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that
he should give seed to his brother."
Genesis 38:9. This misdeed displeased the Lord; "wherefore he slew
him also." Genesis 38:9-10.
Onanism in the larger sense stands for sexual activity which seeks to
avoid reproduction. The solitary vice is one category of such activity. The seed of life
is not a plaything. It is to be employed responsibly only in the bonds of matrimony and
with the act always open to the possibility of the creation of offspring.
We are enjoined by the Lord to subdue the flesh and make it obedient to
the Spirit, that it not rise up against us and bring us to shame. Even animals are trained
to obey. We must do the same with our sensual nature. "But I keep under my body
under, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to
others,I myself should be a castaway." 1 Cor. 9:27. "For the flesh lusteth
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to
the other . . ." Galatians 5:17.
"Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14.
Congratulations on winning the victory over this sin. The first step is
to know the truth. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free." John 8:32. The person who counseled you brought you to the truth about this
behavior. Then you chose to obey the truth in righteousness. Jesus is Truth. They that
love him, love truth and are obedient to it.
Sex is not solely for reproduction, but it must never deliberately
foreclose reproduction. As one friend said to me: "No pleasure without
responsibility."
There is much greater joy in subduing the flesh than in indulging it.
The former is noble and holy; the latter shameful and unclean. Self-abuse, of course, is
always accompanied by lustful and lascivious thoughts. It is sterile sex with oneself. No
one can maintain a pure mind while polluting himself physically and mentally with such
activity.
Praise be to God, who delivers us from these things and preserves us
pure in mind and body unto his kingdom.
For an excellent study of the subject of sterile
sex: see Brian Harrison's essay: The
Sin of Onan Revisited.
Be a teacher to your teacher. He needs instruction
in righteousness. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be
able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Ephesians 6:13. |