Is Masturbation OK? by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2016, all rights reserved. Chapter 1 I have been young, and now am old. I've been studying the Bible since childhood. God has chosen me to be one of his Priests. No, masturbation is not OK. There was a man in the Old Testament, Onan, one of the sons of Judah. (Genesis chapt 38) Onan's elder brother, Er, was wicked in the sight of God, so God killed Er. It was the custom in Israel, and later, it was part of the Mosaic law, given by God, that if a husband died, then a younger brother would marry the woman, and raise up children for the brother that had died. So Judah told Onan to replace the expired Er. Onan began the sex act with Er's widow, but didn't complete it properly, and that displeased the Lord, so the Lord killed Onan also. God does not see sex as just a very casual thing, and so we had better not, either. Parents need to teach their children properly. You don't just let the children figure everything out for themselves. I heard a father one time say that he didn't want to choose the religion for his children, he wanted to let the children choose their religion for themselves. That is a formula for disaster. By the time the father and mother get married and have children, they should be aware of some of the false religions, and should warn their children against those false religions. If you become a parent, and haven't yet chosen your religion, you'd better get serious about which religion is right, because God wants you to teach your children right. The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame. (Prov 29:15) On a train ride recently, I got to talking to a young man across the aisle. He had some very Atheistic ideas. Then his Dad returned to a seat nearby, and the Dad also had atheistic ideas. Atheists say that there's no God. At the rate they're going, that father and son are likely to be sharing hell together. And hell is a very nasty place. But God knew that we humans would have sexual desires. And that is why God has provided the right outlet for those sex desires: MARRIAGE. But the Bible teaches that a Christian shouldn't marry an unbeliever in 2 Cor 6:14-- "Don't be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? And what communion does light have with darkness?" For American men, masturbation is often accompanied by pornography. There are two kinds of porn--the visual kind, and also, the dirty stories. God hates both kinds of porn. Why does God hate pornography? Because God knows what porn does to people. He knows how porn sends people to hell. One of my books has "Pornography Kills..." in the title. And when porn kills someone, that person generally goes to hell. I don't say that a person who has used porn can't become a born again Christian and go to heaven. But people who go very far down the road to hell are unlikely to switch over to the road to heaven. That's why the Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes-- ___Ecclesiastes chapter 12 1 Remember now your creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days haven't come, nor the years come near when you'll say, "I have no pleasure in them," So then, if you don't get straight with God while you're young, it becomes more and more difficult to get right with God as you get older. I'm not saying impossible. Jesus said, "You MUST be born again." (John chapt 3) If you fail to get that accomplished during your life on earth, you'll wind up in a fiery hell, where there's crying and gnashing of teeth, where their worms don't die, and where the fire is NEVER quenched, says Jesus. God says, "Now is the day of salvation." (2 Cor 6:2) To get born again, obey Romans 10:9,10-- "That if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you're saved. For with the heart man believes for righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made for salvation." In Rev 3:20, Jesus said, "See, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I'll come in to him, and will eat with him, and he with me." Right now, say yes to Jesus. Chapter 2 I attended church with a nice fellow. He had a very pretty wife, and they had a child. Somehow the subject of masturbation came up during our conversation. The man had some bad information. I'm guessing he got some wrong teaching from a high school or college Teacher. One thing my friend said was that masturbation doesn't bring about insanity, as some have thought. That statement is incorrect. Masturbation allows demons to get into the person, and demons eventually bring about insanity, if those demons don't get cast out by a Christian. (Luke 10:19, Mark 16:17,18) And there doesn't seem to be very much casting out of demons these days. A Christian can, of course, cast demons out of himself. Please see my book, "How to Cast Out Demons." In my book, "2nd Letter to Biden," I told about a man who came down with the mental affliction, Paranoia. It is the belief that a person or people are trying to do something to you when they are not. That man was a fequent user of pornography, which allowed demons into him. Demons are fallen angels that rebelled against God at the time that Satan rebelled against God. When Jesus was on earth, he asked some of the Jews, "Why are you trying to kill me?" The people answered, "You have a demon, who's trying to kill you?" (John 7:19,20) In response to Jesus' question, they accused him of being Paranoid. Even back then, like two thousand years ago, people understood that the mental affliction, Paranoia, is demonic. But Jesus wasn't Paranoid, people were really plotting to kill him, and eventually, the Jewish leaders were successful in getting the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, to sentence Jesus to death by crucifixion on the cross. When I lived in El Paso, TX, I lived for a while at a rooming house that had a community kitchen. In the community kitchen, I got to talking with a Christian young man probably thirty years younger than me. During the conversation, I said, "Pornography kills people." The man answered, "I don't see how pornography kills people." I said, "People who use porn are letting demons into them, and those demons aren't there to do you any good, but like Jesus said in John 10:10, they're there to steal, to kill, and to destroy." In 2 Cor chapter 10:5, we read that we should bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. But masturbation is accompanied by wrong imaginations. And if masturbation is wrong for men, then it's wrong for women, too. To please the Lord, keep yourself pure. ...be holy in body and spirit...(1 Cor 7:34) Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled, but God will judge customers of prostitutes, and adulterers. (Heb 13:4) And why do we need to please the Lord? Because the Lord will be the Judge of all the earth on the approaching Judgment Day. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Psa 111:10) ___James chapter 1 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations, 3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, 10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man, 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning. 18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God. 21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror, 24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. ___James chapter 2 1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also, 3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool," 4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats? 7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called? 8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well, 9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law. 12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment. 14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food, 16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that? 17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God." 24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. ___James chapter 3 1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies. 4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants. 5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind, 8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be. 11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh. 13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace. ___James chapter 4 1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask. 3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?" 6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up. 11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else? 13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit," 14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that." 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin. ___James chapter 5 1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter. 6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you. 7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near. 9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door. 10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation. 13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven. 16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good. 17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him, 20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.