Is It OK to Masturbate?

Almost all guys and lots of girls have masturbated, and the Bible does not say anything about it directly.

Masturbation is not necessarily wrong in itself. But masturbation is not always problem-free. Even though masturbation in itself can be neutral, it can easily lead to other things that are not good. Here’s a checklist you can go through:

Do you fantasise about sex with someone else?

Jesus said that if you look lustfully at someone else then you have committed adultery in your heart (Matthew 5:28). This means that we shouldn’t fantasise about having sex with someone we’re not married to. In order to live right we have to think right. If we continually allow ourselves to fantasise about sex, then it will also be tempting to live out these fantasies in real life.

Do you watch pornography?

If you watch pornography while masturbating then it is almost impossible to avoid fantasising about what you are watching. The problem is that porn makes us desire sexual acts that degrade us. Pornography stimulates dirty fantasies and tears sex away from love and faithfulness, which should be the framework for sexuality. It is very easy to get hooked on porn. The more pornography you watch, the harder it is to stop.

Do you use masturbation as a drug?

Masturbation can function as a ‘safety valve’ for sexual feelings. But because of the strong feelings it can also become a bad habit. If we continually pursue sexual feelings, then masturbation can be a kind of drug.

Do you think about sex most of the time?

Sexuality is created by God to bind us together with our marriage partner. If we masturbate a lot then we can’t avoid thinking a lot about sex. Unhealthy fantasies and porn may be just around the corner, but there is no need to feel guilt about masturbation in itself. However, it isn’t healthy to let masturbation be a big part of your life.