Sister Amelia and Jesus Ministries™ feel that masturbation is a somewhat jaded subject. However, it is felt that an alternative biblical approach and view- point is necessary to discuss this particular facet of sex. Sister Amelia and Jesus Ministries™ would also like to add that this approach to masturbation will be informative, provocative and unbiased as opposed to transparent diatribe, vacuous wit and self - righteous opinion.
Taboo: Masturbation - Sins of the
flesh? By Sister Amelia
History
For ye know what commandments we gave
you by the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification,
that ye should abstain from fornication:
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel
in sanctification and honour;
Not in the lust of concupiscence,
even as the Gentiles which know not God: 1 Thessalonians
4:2-5
Today masturbation is percieved as dirty.
Slang definitions reinforce the notion that masturbation is cheap,
tawdry and disgusting.
Masturbation, solo sex, or self- love is taboo.
Masturbation is merely a natural biological function that we find
curious and embarrassing to talk about and yet find it stimulating,
exciting and sexually enjoyable. Religions past and present in one
form or another have sought to control and own our bodies. And
Christianity is no exception to the rule in trying to impose its
'spiritual' restraints over us but has seemingly failed to control
our sexual autonomy. But in some ways this religious 'spiritual'
control over our bodies has been a success story. For example
convents and monasteries primarily existed for those people who
wanted to remain chaste and celibate to bring them 'closer to God'
(somehow) - through the primary act of sexual abstinance. For ye
are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in
your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:20, and it is part
and parcel for 'Christians' to be celibate regardless of whether
they live a literal monastic lifestyle.
The Christian fundamentalists and apologists have quite opposing
views regarding masturbation. Even though their stance are akin to
chalk and cheese they do have one trait in common. That is: to
support their views they inappropriately quote biblical texts which
are more often than not regarding extra marital affairs. Or to use
a familiar terminology: Adultery. Their views are based primarily
upon Paul's teachings, which if you read carefully conclude that
sex is only permissible within marriage and should be used
primarily for reproductive purposes. For I would that all men were
even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one
after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the
unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to
marry than to burn. 1 Corinthians 7:6 -9
Whose Doctrine Is It Anyway?
Now this I say, that everyone of you
saith, I am of Paul;
and I am of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.." - 1
Corinthians 1:12
The Bible gives us clear references and directives concerning sex
notably in the Old Testament, and fuzzy 'guidelines' in the New
Testament which are more or less opinions of the apostle Paul and
later that of Peter, Timothy et al.
Before we continue further we must decide whose doctrine is
valid.
Neither Jesus nor Paul directly discuss masturbation however one
'reference' to sexual fantasizing is represented in Mathew 5:28
which says: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman
to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his
heart. However this can can be taken in any meaning and is open to
any interpretation. Peter clearly warns us that anything Paul says
should not be taken on board as it is contrary to Jesus' teaching
and the Old Testament. In effect do so at your own risk:- …And
account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as
our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto
him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in
them of these things; in which are some things hard to be
understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as
they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 2
Peter: 3: 15-16
The Old Testament gives clear guidelines when it addresses sex and
masturbation. Biblical texts even go so far as to 'teach' about
personal hygiene: cleansing oneself post coitus. And if any man's
seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his
flesh in water, and be unclean until the even. And every garment,
and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed
with water, and be unclean until the even. Leviticus 15:16-17 and
again here it says that: What man so ever of the seed of Aaron is a
leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy
things, until he be clean. And who so toucheth any thing that is
unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him. Leviticus
22:4
However it is here that the real problem lies:
Symbolism Or Actualism?
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make not provision for the flesh
to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof]. Romans 13:14
Christians advocate that the New Covenant erases the laws and
directives of the Old Testament. It is important to note here that
Jesus never said that he had come to erase the Old Testament Laws
but instead he came to fulfil the laws and the prophecies:- Think
not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not
come to destroy, but to fulfil. Mathew 5:17.
NB: Never once does it say in the Old Testament that the Jewish
Messiah whom the Jews have been waiting for, would throw out the
old and bring in the new. Christian Fundamentalists also advocate
that the texts within the Old Testament are symbolic and do not
pertain to actual events. If that is the case, then everything
within the Bible should be deemed as symbolic as opposed to one
half of a book full of supposed sacred texts. So if the Old
Testament is symbolic and made obsolete why is it conveniently
referred to?
Why is the Old Testament used as a tool to justify and define any
sin through the medium of sermons, discussion/arguments and
evangelisation?
And if it is obsolete why refer to it at all?
It becomes nothing more than the Apocrypha: mythological and
fascinating to look at and digest but never to be taken seriously.
Or it becomes a 'figurehead' for olde world puritan lifestyles
which realistically was impossible to adhere to then and could
never be adhered to now in this day and age. For ye know what
commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of
God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from
fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his
vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of
concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 1
Thessalonians 4:2-5
The reason why Christian Fundamentalists claim the Old Testament is
symbolic is because of the New Covenant: the blood of the lamb or
the crucifixion of Jesus that symbolised, the alleged atoning of
all sins. Theologians past and present claim that masturbation is
"unnatural", because when one masturbates then the masturbator is
fantasising about someone else. This is not strictly the case but
even so, this has not deterred 'christian' scholars to determine
which biblical verses to use to justify and loosely verify their
course of reasoning. So can claims such as "masturbation is
unnatural" be realistically taken seriously? Is masturbation really
a sin? This leads us back of course to the New Testament
"teachings" which aren't helpful concerning the subject of
masturbation.
Jesus, Paul, Or Old Testament
Law?
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD,
searching all the inward parts of the belly. Proverbs 20:27
Because the New Testament falls somewhat short of clear directives
regarding masturbation therefore we must consider the Old Testament
laws as valid as opposed to 'scholarly' opinion. It is here that we
are given 'freaky' but unbiased 'guidelines'.
For example: we are told that if one masturbates then the laws
governing self -hygiene must be considered, otherwise the person
remains unclean. If there be among you any man, that is not clean
by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he
go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:But it
shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water:
and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.
Deuteronomy 23:10-11
The message is clear: if you masturbate then make sure you follow
the protocols laid down by the leaders of old.
But it isn't quite as simple as that.
Self
Love. Self Harm?
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me:
It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 1 Corinthians 7:1
Not only do we have to contend with Pauline doctrine, we also have
to contend with stagnant contemporary Christian thought and its
pretentious unrealism. Self-love or masturbation allows us to
explore our sexuality and sexual identity, and it makes for good
self- seduction. It makes us lovers of self and of course a lover
with whom you are with.
Is a good masturbator a better lover?*
Enforced sexual abstinance does more harm than good and is wholly
unreal. Everyone masturbates whether one leads a literal monastic
life in a convent or not. The only instance when masturbation could
be a cause for concern is when it is compulsive or addictive:
namely compulsive self- abuse which surely leads to genital
exhaustion?
*That answer will be concluded in a survey which Amelia and Jesus
Ministries™ are currently carrying out.
Post Coitus Questions
For there are some eunuchs, which were
so born from their mother's womb:
and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men:
and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs
for the kingdom of heaven's sake.
He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. Mathew
19:12.
Celibacy means sexual abstinance
Consider the following questions:-
1. Do you as a Christian masturbate?
2. Are you ever convicted of masturbation by God or Jesus?
If you have answered "yes" to both questions then please consider
the following:-
3. As a Christian do you ask Jesus or God to forgive you for
masturbating?
4. If you keep sinning (masturbating) have you repented?
If you have answered "yes" to questions 3 and 4 please consider the
next question:-
5. Have you masturbated since you repented?
If you have answered "yes" to question five then as a Christian you
must ask yourself what game are you playing.
Christian doctrine states that repentence is a legitimate
contractual agreement between you and God or Jesus which declares
you will not commit the sin ever again. To renege on the God
Contract means that you are being unfaithful to Jehovah and being
deceitful to Him and yourself. Which begs the question should a
Christian be allowed to be a hypocritical self gratifying deceitful
moron? (I say this with Christian Love). If however you answered
"no" to all five questions then the rule above still applies unless
you have taken a vow of celibacy and are able to be disciplined
enough to adhere to it. Which is highly unlikely if you are male
but more plausible if you are a woman (trust me).
Summary
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from
thee:
for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should
perish,
and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off,
and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of
thy members should perish,
and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. Mathew
5:29-30.
Depending upon your stance regarding masturbation, it is really an
individual choice as to whether one should or shouldn't. If you
choose to abstain from self- love and yet break the rules then
really it might be worth considering the Jesus Directive quoted
above. Which should leave most Christians if not all of them,
physically disabled.
Would this mean that non- Christians might take a Christian's
belief seriously?
Probably not.
Whether masturbation is a sin or not,
who is to say that Jesus never masturbated…