Masturbation and religion?

find someone who has the same moral believe system as you meaning a male who also has christian values and he feels the same way about sex and marriage try christian mingle.com to find a mate or go to church more often and see if you can find a really nice church going guy

There are some biblical principles that can be applied to the issue of masturbation. Ephesians 5:3 declares, “Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity.” It is hard to see how masturbating can pass that particular test. The Bible teaches us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). If you cannot give God glory for something, you should not do it. If a person is not fully convinced that an activity is pleasing to God, then it is a sin: “Everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). Further, we need to remember that our bodies have been redeemed and belong to God. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This great truth should have a real bearing on what we do with our bodies. In light of these principles, the conclusion that masturbation is a sin is biblical. Clearly, masturbation is not glorifying to God; it does not avoid the appearance of immorality, nor does it pass the test of God’s having ownership over our bodies.

Romans 3:23

you are correct in all that you say here. masturbation is a sin and sex outside of marriage is also a sin.

although it is a good idea to keep yourself as busy with other activities as you can so that you are less tempted, that does not keep temptation totally at bay.

a personal and close relationship with the Lord where you ask him, and him only (not mary or any other dead person) to help you to overcome temptation is the best defense against all sin. remember that Jesus himself taught us to pray like this "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (read matthew 6: 7-13-14)

Romans 8:5

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Romans 13:14

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

The fact that you know it is sinful and want to avoid it is good. In Romans Paul talks about wanting to do what is right but ending up doing the wrong thing instead. So that instead of the good he wants to do he does the evil he does not want to do. So he says it is no longer him who does it but the sin within him. See Rom 7:18-25.

In Mt 15:17-20, Jesus says:

"Do you not realize that everything that enters the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled into the latrine? 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, false witness, blasphemy. 20 These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile. "

There is an inward struggle between the sinful nature that Paul calls the flesh and the mind or will that desires to do good. Paul lays out God's solution to this problem in Rom 8. Paul calls this tendency to sin or concupiscence the law of sin. He calls the solution the law of the Spirit. God sent his Son to Redeem the world from sin and sends us His Spirit to transform us. So if we have been baptized into Christ and live by the spirit, while we may have the law of sin working in us, it is overcome by the law of the Spirit. This involves God's grace which counteracts the downward pull of sin. And it is a positive force of divine love that the Spirit pours into our hearts that enables us to keep God's righteous commandments.

Ezekiel prophecies this in Ez 36:27 where he says God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh and He will write his laws on their hearts.

"The Spirit frees us, not from the law of Moses, but from the law of sin, and this by slaying sin and helping us in the daily struggle against it." (St. John Chrysostom, 'Homilies on Romans 13').

Keep going to the sacraments which are a vessel to pour out God's mercy and transforming grace on us. We can not do it alone apart from grace. We need to pray always and if we do sin to go to reconciliation and confess our sins. For in the sacrament awaits God's mercy and grace to heal us and transform us inside out.

God Bless

If God made and designed your body why would he create you with sexual urges if it's wrong to act on them? Religion is a set of man made rules and directives used to control mass society, that's the only logical answer I can come up with as to why so many things that are natural are also considered sinful.

I don't really believe in victimless evil. But even if you do I think it's pretty obvious that if you only sin against yourself it's better than sinning against someone else. Enjoy!

Ask yourself why you are taking advice on sex and marriage from men who will never (legally) have any experience of either.

i totally feel you. im in the same boat...im struggling with this addiction too.. and i know it is not right. i guess we need to keep being strong. i know talk is cheap.. but i think praying or talking to someone else who is like a spirtual leader can help..