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Date:         Fri, 31 Jul 1992 08:47:00 EST
From:         "Taste and see that the Lord is good" <02RSMILLER@BSUVAX1.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Masturbation: Gift of God or Sin from the Devil?

Roger Phyall has subtly (smiles) requested that some of us females
Christia members reply honestly to the masturbation issue.

Well, I can't speak for anybody but myself, but since I
do happen to be female and this issue does touch
close to home, I will comply with an honest reply.

I have struggled with masturbation since I was 15 years old.
At the time, I was not a Christian, and I did not begin living
for Jesus until I was 19.  The first several months of living
for the Lord were wonderful times and the freedom was
wonderful.  I found freedom in several areas, and freedom
from masturbation was one of them.  Yet, like an idiot human
fleshly type (smiles), I allowed masturbation back into my
life, and it has been a sort of "thorn in my side" ever
since.

I have struggled with various rationales for it, ranging
from it is a "needed release" to it is "okay, if you don't
think about anyone in particular lusting in your heart" to
it is plain, outright, dirty, ugly sin.

I do feel that God does not desire that I masturbate.  I
believe that it does not edify me in anyway, thus it's
not expedient.  I don't really feel that it's a "needed
release" anymore, but that it tends to stir things up
more than it alleviates them.   Even so, I still struggle,
and God still helps me through all the frustration and
self-condemnation (not to mention, the foothold it gives
Satan into my conscience.)  I know that He still loves
me and I know that if I truly turn to Him for help, He
will indeed help.  Unfortunately, I tend to, at weak
moments, really *want* to please my flesh.

Further, I feel that not only should we not give the devil
such "footholds," but also that God would not have
us be mastered by anything.

As far as how masturbation may fall into scripture,
although it does not seem to be directly addressed, I
rather wonder if the scriptures dealing with not
giving into the fruits of the flesh, one being
sensuality (sensuality, IMO, having to do with the
desire to please the flesh in a rather hedonistic
or gluttonous manner) might deal with the issue of
masturbation.  In fact, as far as my own personal
experience goes, I feel that this might hit close to
home, especially since I tend to be rather gluttonous
with food at the same time that I am being gluttonous
with my flesh through masturbation.

Well, these are my feelings and thoughts on the issue
of masturbation, especially as it applies to my own life.
I still struggle with it and I still pray about it, and
I know that I will not overcome it on my own.  I need
God's help and the strength that comes through Him.  I
have heard people say that they never kicked the habit
until they were married, and although I hope that I
do not have to wait to find freedom from this until
marriage, if that is what it takes, then...  Yet I continue
to claim Philipians 4:13, "I can do all things through
Christ who gives me strength."  So be it!

BTW, I can't say how many women masturbate
in comparison to men (I'm sure some people wonder, as it
seems to be the general idea that men do more), but I
can say that since God has allowed me to be open and
honest about this problem with people in my life, I have
found that I am not the only female.  I would almost
tend to think that it is easier for women to masturbate
in the physical sense.  Still, all of my comments are
merely my own, as I am only speaking from my own
experience.

Well, Roger (and others interested), that's the scoop
from at least one Christia female.  I hope it helps.
Blessings!

Love is an action verb,
Becky
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