There is a perplexity with sizable numbers of Christians on so many subject matters simply that the Holy Bible remains silent or does not mention the exact address of the actual sin. This gap allows people to craft views in the image of their conceptions, giving them the freedom to concentrate on something, regardless of what other verses imply against their firmly held postures. However, this is not a fault; it is simply that the Bible is silent on the matter, and thus, they aren’t explicitly condemned. Case in point; Self-Pleasure. No verse openly says, “Thou shalt not commit self-pleasure.” Just as in the case of; “Do not commit adultery.”
What is sin? In simple terms devoid of cryptic wordings. Sin is every immoral act committed against the original will of God. Meaning, it is not about naming an actual sin that makes it fully part of the label. Sin is like a company with a yearly generation of new products. There is no generation outside of the births of virtual products of sin. The way in which sins are committed in a generation is distinct. You could imagine what makes the differentiation. The discrepancies are due to what we know as the civilization of technology. As the year and generation progress, there are new names for sins and funnily, these would make them have an absence of identity in the Holy Bible, even just like self-pleasure.
Psalms 64:5-6, “They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.” One thing is peculiar to every age. New emergence of how sins are committed. They often get names for sins that are nowhere to be found as avowed in the Holy Scripture. But the definitive posture of some would be that this sin was not mentioned in the Bible.
Is The Bible Truly Silent on Self-Pleasure Sins?
There is a line that needs to be penciled as an intrepid conviction; Is the Bible truly silent? This question is a foundational point. The Bible is not silent on the environment of self-pleasure sin, but is silent on the specific act itself. There is the absence of a Bible command on the sin itself; “thou shalt not commit this against your flesh to derive pleasure.” This, however, becomes an argument that it is not a sin, especially if not done without lustful fantasy involving another person; whether one is married or not married.
The Bible could be silent on the act, but, admittedly, there is the tone the New Testament established that captures every sin; the immoralities of the flesh include lust and fornication. If there were sincerity, self-pleasure falls under this umbrella. The question is, can the sin of self-pleasure be motivated by lust (as defined by Jesus Christ)?
Matthew 5:27-28, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Some theologians posit that this Bible passage can not be applied to self-pleasure, justifying people can continue engaging in the act since they are done outside of lust. Though, this passage shifts attention from the physical act to the inner state and the intent of the heart, and by this verdict, if the act is not driven by lust, the primary biblical objection is removed.
The reality is that, the action can not be carried out without an imagery manifestation of the act in the first place in any form, either in practical life or in the virtual worlds. By the figure of things seen and consumed in the heart. The eyes and the heart are the engines that make lust thrive. By this, how can people be engaging in self-pleasure without lust? It is impossible!
James 1:13-15 (KJV) “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” It is obvious that man fulfills the desires of the flesh through the work of lusts and the end is what the Bible regarded as death; the outcome of the sin.
The body is not made for man to consume the excesses of self-pleasure. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit… Therefore honor God with your bodies.” The message of this text demands an extreme respect for one’s body. Does self-pleasure honor or dishonor God? There are some positions in which self-pleasure could be done to lower body tension and is not inherently dishonoring. But, this is often done as self-seeking and this appears to be dishonoring. The mind that pictures our body as a temple of the Holy Ghost makes self-pleasure sins difficult to stay in the flesh.
The Nature of Moral Neutrality and Conditional Sin Of Self-Pleasure
There are perspectives on the sins by various theological virtues in Christianity. There are three viewpoints. While those perspectives are observable, it is more important to draw a connection and ethical considerations from the Holy Bible which we are trying to figure out in this article.
Traditional/Conservative, posits that self-pleasure is “Always a Sin. It is seen as a misuse of the sexual faculty, which is intended solely for marital procreation and bonding.” And defending that the foremost justification gained from the Onan story (as traditionally misinterpreted) and 1 Corinthians 6 (body as a temple).
Conditional Sin, Sinful if done with Lust. The act itself is morally neutral, but it is sinful if it involves lustful fantasy, pornography, or compulsive behavior.”, Matthew 5:28 (Lust) and 1 Corinthians 6:12 (Enslavement).
Morally Neutral, Not a Sin. The Bible’s silence means it is a matter of personal Christian liberty. It is considered a normal, biological function that does not violate love for God or neighbor.” The correct interpretation of the Onan story (Genesis 38) and the focus on internal purity.
Sexual Morality and the Heart’s Intention
The state of our hearts makes us carry out some specific activities. When the heart is rightly tightened up to those things that are moral, it is difficult to commit the sins of sexual immorality. 1 Cor 6:18, “Flee fornication… Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” There is one thing we must see beyond. We must see beyond the ‘Fornication’ from this text and underline the line that follows, ‘sin against his own body’.
Does {Pornēia} (a broad term for illicit sex) encompass self-pleasure? Traditional views say yes, as it is non-procreative and outside marriage. Conditional views say no, as it does not involve the misuse of a relationship with another person, but from the above passage, it counters the conditional view that states the otherwise. ‘sin against own body’ is critical, though they have dimensional names. However, they are all the same.
The Christian Living And Growth
Regardless of whether the act is a sin, Paul provides principles for living a life that glorifies God.
Glorifying God (1 Corinthians 10:31): “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” This prompts the question: Does self-pleasure bring glory to God? This is a conscience-driven matter (Romans 14:23).
Self-Control and Enslavement (1 Corinthians 6:12; Galatians 5:23): Paul writes, “I will not be mastered by anything.” If the behavior becomes compulsive, addictive, or leads to guilt and shame, it is clearly a spiritual danger because it has become a master, violating the principle of self-control (a Fruit of the Spirit).
One thing that becomes essential in this discussion is that for every believer, put on Jesus Christ. Romans 13:14, Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts. It is better to abstain than to fight over the caging of the sin. Addiction to sin is bad.
