BIBLICAL BRIEFS 57
Masturbation is the practice of personal self-satisfaction through the stimulation of sexual zones in order to achieve an orgasm. Earlier, the action has mistakenly been called “self-pollution”, because it was believed that it could result in psychological disorders and inevitable insanity. Fortunately, this is not true. Another term for this is “onanism,” derived from the story in Gen. 38:9: Onan had to marry the wife of his deceased brother according to the laws of his time, and their off-spring would then be his brother’s children. Every time he had sexual intimacy with his brother’s widow, he spilled his seed on the ground, in order not to give offspring to his late brother. Onanism therefore, is a more accurate description for “coitus interruptus,” or in other words, spilling of seed outside the vagina. In this specific case, it was a description of the refusal to comply with the lawful brother-in-law-marriage. Some or other stimulation of the sexual areas already occurs naturally with most babies of just a few months of age. Research has found that at least 95% of adults have already masturbated. It goes without saying that masturbation has several obvious advantages, namely that you explore your genitals and in doing so, become familiar with the functioning thereof. This creates a natural release of sexual tension to people who are single, who are old and are without a (functional) partner, or whenever your loved one has fallen ill for a period of time, or during times of prolonged absence of loved ones from one another. It is also handy in a marital situation where a problem emerges in getting an orgasm from, or giving one, to your loved one. Throughout, believers have to handle their individual private sexual practices discreetly, also without using phantasies or pornography as stimulus. The sexual impulse is a gift of grace from God (Song of Songs 8: 6) and should not be stigmatized, something Christians unfortunately often do. Get rid of the legitimate sexual desire, rather than to “burn with passion” (1Cor. 7: 9). However, it also involves that believers should not engage in masturbation as an escape or for lustful purposes; and that they should not allow that it becomes their Master Bation, In other words: “All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1Cor. 6:12). Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), but only those singled-out, have received the gift of sexual abstinence (1Cor. 7:7).
Dr. Tom Gouws
