Is Masturbation Always a Sin?

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the Bible Answer Man, talks to a listener who tells Hank, "My wife and I have been married for more than 25 years with a healthy sex life. In the last few years, my wife's interest has diminished. Is masturbation a sin in such a case as this?"

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[jason_em]

I don't know, I just like the guy who sent in this question. Seems like such a nice guy

[PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

what a heart felt phone call. poor bloke.

[atl]

My issue is two fold. I am a 53 year old male who has zero attraction to females sexually or relationally and I've been that way since I was a child. Unfortunately, I have strong same sex attraction. I grew up in a Christian family and am myself a believer since childhood. I wish I could say that I've never fallen into homosexual activity but that isn't the case. However, I have never allowed myself to become involved with a man emotionally, only physically. I lived a secretive, promiscuous lifestyle until my 40s. I do not wish to live that lifestyle any more and try in earnest to avoid mishaps. I yearn to know love and intimacy with another person but it is an impossibility for me. To find that with a man is a blatant sin and I'm not capable of finding that with a woman. I do not find women in and of themselves repulsive at all but the thought of being intimate with a woman is repulsive to me and scares me to death. Besides that, even if I could be with a woman, what self respecting woman would allow herself to be involved with someone who suffers from same sex attraction? Also, I am not an effeminate guy and have no identification with stereotypical "gay" things. Besides the emotional and physical act between two men, nothing else about the homosexual agenda or lifestyle appeals to me. I am desperately lonely. I want to remain pure. I refuse to have an emotional relationship with a man. I do not want to have this fight for the rest of my life. I honestly do focus on other positive aspects of my life but in my weaker moments, it is really tough. When I lie down at night alone in my bed, always alone in my bed and the thoughts of just holding someone flood my mind, not even sexual thoughts, it tears me up inside knowing that I will never know the fullness of human love in my time on earth. My two fold problem is that the kind of sex I desire is sinful and so is the emotional connection I long for. I have cried out to God many, many times throughout my life but have yet to find a solution. Apart from a miracle, I don't think I have any other choice but to accept this as my plight and to live out my years as a broken, lonely, celibate man. I cannot think of any other scenario that reconciles my faith with my passions. And I have no choice but to follow my faith which is far more important in the long run. And no one in my life knows I struggle with this. Growing up in church and being around Christians my whole life and hearing them talk, I know what they would really think of me if they knew I had this struggle. Despite all of that, I do believe that God loves me and created me for a purpose. I don't think He is repulsed by me because I believe the shed blood of His Son, Jesus, washes me clean of my stain of sin. I don't know exactly what my purpose is yet but all I know to do is to keep pursuing Him and trying to figure out things without losing myself. The road truly is narrow.

[MrGuitarshred]

I’ve been single for almost 5 years, not having a loving wife by my side can be at times extremely painful and sometimes creates anger, not being able to have a satisfying relationship with a Godly wife, I just continue to put those feelings in the hands of God, I feel at times I’m being punished and not allowed to express myself

[fitmane]

What I have not seen here is the mention of 1 Corinthians 7:5. It specifically mentions that we are not to deprive each other of sex unless both members agree and then it should be for the purpose of prayer and fasting. It further states that it should only be for a short period of time, so as not to fall into temptation. Temptation to do what ? Could that temptation be masturbation or cheating on our spouse ? I do believe that we need to build a healthy relationship with our spouse, but in some cases one member will not want to be intimate anymore and it's not for the reasons mentioned in 1 Corinthians 7:5. It is my belief that person is in sin for denying their partner because they are not the sole owner of their body as stated in verse 4. The person that is now masturbating or cheating on their spouse would most likely not be involved in either of those acts if the other partner would have followed these passages.

[russells.]

Good response to the callers question. Hopefully the man's marriage will improve, but that his faith in Jesus Christ, grows stronger!

[roberttucker]

Thank you for your video. I was a slave to sin for decades. Masturbation and pornography, adult magazines and adult video websites. In March of 2020, all of it completely stopped. Praise to our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus of Nazareth, His blood, God the Father, the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit and the word of God

[iansenior]

Why create sexual beings if it is such a big sin. Pleasuring yourself is not a sin. It is good for sexual health, mental health and general well being. Natural attraction between males and females is God given. Fancying someone are natural feelings God given.
As long it is something you would like to share with someone you have feelings for, is consensual, it is a beautiful gift given by God

[jyffzou]

Matthew 5:27-30 New International Version (NIV)

Adultery
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

[joshuaokoro-sokoh]

I agree partially, I agree on the part to be intimate with your wife, listen to her, communicate with her. But I disagree that masturbation is always a sin, can it be used sinfully (ie that it's harmful) yes, well so is drinking alcohol. If done in moderation it's fine. Plus there is the option of masturbating together with your spouse. The main point is these questions stem from, are you connected with your wife?

[jarrasmith]

If this is the worst thing you ever do in life, I think you’ve made out pretty good.

[bobsbeats]

When you begin to pray and the devil immediately reaches for every memory of lust for sex and money: you know that your behavior is sin. This is despite your every will to end the behavior and your remorse. Masturbation probably isn't a sin, if you've figured out how to accomplish without lusting towards a female or your homosexual ways. Neither is sex a sin if done with your wife or husband. Sex is not to be idolized behavior. Your life should not revolve around obtaining it. But I HATE the spirit which entices me to behave in manner in which I do not wish to engage, only because it destroys my relationship with God, and because I am sick of not having a righteous outlet for my sexual energy. It is indeed complex subject matter, but it is my every will to refrain from sexual activity of every kind until, and only to reserve that energy for the person who is dedicated to supporting me in every way, as I am willed to do the same for her (as it is written).

[zchoniemiller]

What about a man or woman who has lost their spouse by death.? the needs don’t stop.

[timfox]

So if you never find a Wife, are you supposed to somehow never enjoy some kind of sexual relief!?
I don’t think there are many people who can live up to that unless they have no blood in there veins!

[dorothycrawley]

How can masturbation be a sin when it relieves sexual tension, gives you a soothing relief and releases hormones that help you to sleep?!?..No where in the Bible does it mention masturbation as being a sin..Many people today do not have husbands or wives to attend to their sexual needs..

[merrillbartle]

Hank just assumed that the man wasn’t spending quality time it’s his wife. I’ve found that you have to ask why something is or isn’t happening before you give an answer✝

[rickg]

It's when your done you feel like you failed God, you drag yourself over the coals, you repent only to do it again and you feel like giving up.

[cnault]

"Is Masturbation Always a Sin?"

Shouldn't that be "Is Masturbation Ever a Sin?".

I haven't been able to find a Bible passage that says masturbation is a sin.

[brick_housedee]

I once heard a pastor said if you don’t trouble it...it won’t trouble you that be said if you don’t awake the feelings then it will remain asleep 😴

[lalitasingh]

How about looking into hormone imbalances in both men and women? Sometimes cause of low lobido!