Is masturbation wrong? When I was a teenager, we talked about this during a church gathering. Nobody really had an answer. I figured it would be wrong if you thought about someone while doing the act, but I’ve come to realize that… First, let’s explore what sex symbolizes and what it’s meant for.
What is the Purpose of Sex (or Love Making)?
Well, love-making is a symbol of the intimacy Christ’s Bride (aka future wedding guests) has with God (Songs of Solomon)(2 Corinthians 11:2-3)(Isaiah 62:4-5)(John 3:29) (Matthew 9:15)(Ephesians 5:25-32)(Revelation 19:7-9); it symbolizes the oneness we have with him through Jesus Christ, our mediator (1 Corinthians 6:17, Romans 12:5). And, if you are truly his, you will be fruitful (John 15:8)(Matthew 7:20). So, God created sex for intimacy, an expression of love, oneness, and for being fruitful on earth (Genesis 1:28).
A relationship with God can also be blissful at times. You can feel this during sex and with your mate in your day to day life. We reveal ourselves and confess our sins to God, and you also reveal yourself to your husband or wife when naked and with secret thoughts. He or she may know you better than anyone else. But God knows you better than anyone will ever know you.
But when you masturbate, you are feeding the desires of your flesh (Galatians 5:19). You are experiencing sexual pleasure that should be experienced with your husband or wife as we see in 1 Corinthians 7:2. It falls into unlawful sex, fornication (porneia), which we are commanded not to do. Masturbation may also dilute the sexual experience that you have with your wife or husband when you do get married. Of course, God can always fix and mend issues, but we should strive to be holy because it was commanded we do so (1 Peter 1:16).
But some say otherwise.