Why masturbation is non-edifying

Hey guys and gals out there.

I read over the Mormon philosophy on why and how a person should abstain from masturbating. It's some pretty interesting and amusing content. All I can say is that Mormonism, like everyone else, is entitled to his or her own opinion. I believe their philosophical reasoning is quite off base, and I must say, their rationale and approach to the subject is some what convoluted, to say the least.

Now, I am definitely of the opinion that, according to a strictly medical and psychological perspective, masturbation is healthful. But, even though something may be convenient, it may not be, appropriate and masturbation is not. Allow me to expound.

Doctors, both medical and mental health, approach the subject strictly on a physical and emotional level. However, if you claim to be a Christian (Christ like) you must not ignore the spiritual aspect of this, or any act. Jesus is the great physician who came to unshackle us from the bonds and vises that enslave us to them. One of the greatest bonds of enslavement that he spoke against is the sin of the flesh, that is the desire to fulfill ones own selfish lusts.

First of all, masturbation is a self-ish act. A self-ish act is an act that profits no other person except the one committing the act. When a person commits an immature act he/she is said to be child-ish. When a person commits an act that is unwise he/she is said to be fool-ish. When a person commits an act of personal indulgence that benefits no one else he/she is said to be self-ish. Some one that does not share his/her experiences with another or others is self-ish. Are you self-ish? The only venue for sharing these emotional highs, and orgasmic thrills is in tender sensual love making with our partners in marriage. This sharing can be the most mind tingling exhilaration that anyone can even imagine.

Now, eating can be misconstrued as a self-ish act. For it benefits no one beside the person that indulges, maybe except for the little Italian mother that just wants you to eat. But the fact is, feeding on physical food is needful to our survival. Masturbation is not, in any stretch of the imagination, needful. So, you see the need overrides the self-ish act.

Jesus said in Matthew's gospel "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart". The act of adultry is enjoying the pleasures of sexual gratification outside the bonds of holy matrimony. Masturbating before a picture of a person, for sexual arousal, with the intent and conception of having sexual relations with this person is lust of the heart, which Jesus so explicitly translates into adultry. Adultry is a sin of the heart and mind that separates us (Christians) from the perfect love of a holy God.

No, I'm not saying that I do not masturbate, it is something that I struggle with every day, and we know that everyone has sexual desires and tensions. What I am saying here is that if a person does not experience feelings of remorse and guilt after having followed through with the act of masturbation than that person is one of two things. Either that person is misinformed and immature in his/her Christian relationship or that person is not a Christian at all but simply going through the motions.

As I stated previously, I believe entirely that masturbation is physically and emotionally healthy. Speaking as a man, as only I can, routine ejaculation is healthful to the prostate. Ejaculation washes the urethra of bacteria. Ejaculation releases built up sexual tensions, which is emotionally healthful. But the act of mentally lusting, and burning with sexual tension, to arouse oneself to sexual climax is tantamount to adultery, and adultery is sin.

Now, if one can reach sexual arousal without lusting after the flesh, there is no harm, mental, physical or spiritual, whatsoever in the act. But I cannot get my self sexually aroused to climax in a 10 megaton ejaculation by envisioning the love and splendor of God, it just does not work. So, unless a person can achieve such tremendous sexual mind control, masturbation can only result in one thing and one thing only, a broken relationship within the perfect love of God.

There is only one way to stop masturbating, and that is to stay in the divine will of God. Don't allow yourself to get to the literal boiling point of sexual arousal. I have had no desire to masturbate until I start thinking lustful thoughts. I can try to dismiss the thoughts, but they only reappear moments later. Why? Because we are human beings with sexual desire. But, along with our tongues, sexual desire must be bridled, and it can only be tamed by the Spirit of God. Jesus said that we must shun evil, resist the devil and he will flee from you. My point is, you and I can not do it on our own, no man or woman can. Jesus was tempted in all areas as we are. That is why Jesus made his life a prayer vigil before his Father in Heaven. If you are not on your toes before God at all times, this world and the lust of the flesh will consume you alive.

Now, If you are a true believer in God's word and are one that is concerned with the love, power and guidence of the almighty, you will see the logic and sense in this arguement and rethink your understandings and beliefs on masturbation. God wants you totally submitted in accord with his righteousness. Masturbation is self-ish, unrighteous, adultrey, which is SIN and rebellion against God's mandates.

For those of you who desire to continue in your vise of self-ish sexual gratification, I can only leave you with one parting thought. God, in Jesus Christ, has instituted a love to this world that transcends any emotional aspect that we can even imagine as love. That is the true climax that is actually being sought by the multitudes. But, sadly, instead of recognizing this, they continue to substitute a cheap, emotional, fleshly lust for the perfect love of God in Christ Jesus. I pray earnestly, that you too, will discover this inner strength of the Holy Spirit of God, and that the mind of Christ may renew you in such a way as to break the bonds of self-ish carnality. I leave you with this scripture:

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not perfect in love.

Jesus Christ
I John 4:18