I have a lot of friends in the sex industry and I have a lot of friends among Christians who reach out to the sex industry.
Why do I write so much about this stuff? Because it’s fun and because a lot of men I know are sex addicts (anyone who’s ruining their life pursuing the high that comes from sexual release).
One of the Christian groups I’m acquainted with is Pure Life Ministries.
Here’s a Q&A from them on masturbation:
>>Isn’t masturbation ok if it keeps you from acting out in your sexual sin?
I’m afraid that your line of reasoning doesn’t fit with Scripture. It would be comparable to asking, “Wouldn’t it be acceptable for me to vent my anger toward someone by badmouthing them if it would keep me from hitting them?”
First of all, expressing hatred to someone or giving over to masturbation will only tend to lead a person on to deeper sin. Secondly, the lesser of two evils does not mean that something isn’t evil. This line of thinking is what often comes from church leaders who have long since thrown up their hands in acquiescence to sin. In my book Counseling the Sexual Addict I wrote: “A counselor who condones a habit simply because it seems too strong to overcome demonstrates a lack of understanding and experience of God’s power to set the captive free.”
The real issue you have to come to grips with is whether or not you believe masturbation is sinful. It sounds as if you already have been convicted about your habit but are looking for a way to hold onto it. I won’t take the time to explain my reasoning here, but I will briefly mention the reasons why I believe masturbation is sinful:
• Sexuality was not created for personal enjoyment but as a way to express love to one’s mate.
• Masturbation is self-centered behavior.
• Jesus expressly calls His followers to deny themselves.
• Masturbation is driven by lust and fantasy.
• Masturbation causes a person to isolate from others.
• Masturbation is controlling.
• Masturbation causes feelings of guilt and shame—clear signs of its wrongness.
• Masturbation opens the door to other sexual sin.Rather than scrambling to find some way to justify retaining this pernicious habit, why not start getting serious about crying out to God for the power to overcome it?
