Sex is a gift from God, a beautiful and powerful expression of love and intimacy between a man and a woman who are united in marriage. It is also a participation in Godโs creative work, as it can bring forth new life. Sex is not only a physical act, but also a spiritual and emotional one, involving the whole person:ย body, soul, and mind.
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However, it can also be misused and abused, when it is separated from its proper context and purpose. When we masturbate or watching pornography, it goes against Godโs design and will for human sexuality. These acts are sinful and harmful, because they devalue yourself, others, and God.
B. BODY
1. YOURSELFย
First of all, fap & porn devalues yourself, because it violates your dignity and integrity as a human being made in Godโs image and likeness. You are not an animal driven by instincts, but a rational being with free will and conscience. You are not a machine that needs to be serviced, but a person with a heart and a soul. You are not an object to be used for pleasure, but a subject with dignity and worth. When you engage in masturbation, you degrade yourself to the level of a thing, rather than a person. You treat your body as a tool for gratification, rather than a temple of the Holy Spirit. You ignore your conscience that tells you what is right and wrong, rather than listening to Godโs voice. You damage your psychological health and well-being, rather than growing in maturity and holiness.
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The Bible warns us to flee from fap & porn, because it is a sin against our own body (1 Corinthians 6,18). It also tells us to control our own body in holiness and honor, not in passionate lust like the pagans who do not know God (1 Thessalonians 4,3-5). It reminds us that we are not our own, but we belong to God who bought us with a price (1 Corinthians 6,19-20). ย Therefore, we should honor God with our body (1 Corinthians 6,20). Masturbation is an act of self-stimulation that seeks sexual pleasure without any reference to love or life. It is an act of selfishness and isolation that cuts you off from real relationships. Psychologists have proved that pornography can hijack the brainโs reward system and make it less responsive to natural stimuli, such as social interaction, affection, and love (and also other productive activities like studying, working and going to the gym). As a result, you slowly find it easier to get a sudden hit of dopamine watching porn than going out and find an actual wife for Godโs plan. It will distort your expectations and preferences for sexual partners and activities, making it harder to form healthy and satisfying bonds with others. This can have a much more tremendous impact on marriage life later on. It can also lead to addiction, guilt, shame, and loss of self-control. It can distort your view of sexuality and make you unable to appreciate the true meaning and beauty of sex within marriage.
ย 2. OTHERS
Secondly, fap & porn devalues others, because it violates their dignity and rights as human beings made in Godโs image and likeness. They are not commodities to be bought and sold, but persons with dignity and worth. They are not means to an end, but ends in themselves. They are not toys to be played with and discarded, but partners to be loved and respected.ย When you engage in fap & porn, you exploit others for your own benefit, rather than serving them for their good. You treat them as objects for your pleasure, rather than subjects with feelings and needs. You ignore their consent and freedom, rather than respecting their choices and boundaries. You harm their physical health and safety, rather than protecting them from harm and disease. You damage their psychological health and well-being, rather than supporting them in their growth and happiness. Pornography is in and of itself an act of voyeurism that exposes real or simulated sexual acts to third parties for their entertainment. It is an act of exploitation and degradation that violates the privacy and dignity of the persons involved, and reduces them to objects of sexual gratification. It can also lead to addiction, impotence, violence, exploitation, and degradation. It distorts your view of sexuality and make you unable to appreciate the true meaning and beauty of sex within marriage.
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The Bible warns us to avoid fap & porn and all impurity or greed, as these are improper for Godโs holy people (Ephesians 5,3). It also tells us to put to death what is earthly in us, sexualy immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry (Colossians 3,5). Matthew 5:27-30 said that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Whether you are having a spouse or the one you are watching have a spouse, this is not an exception. And you should understand that this is very serious. ย Furthermore, the inappropriate videos can also harm the reputation and dignity of the people who are depicted in them, especially if they are used for malicious purposes such as blackmail, harassment, or defamation. They can violate peopleโs privacy and consent, and cause psychological distress and trauma. The Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force found 46 published research studies suggesting that prolonged pornographic exposure leaves people at a higer risk of committing a sexual offense, sometimes even seeking out prostitution to do so. Therefore, it can be said that porn may leave you in even more servere sins. That is not to mention when you are watching these contents, you are fueling the algorithm so that more and more people will be affected.
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3. GOD
Thirdly, fap & porn offense God, because it goes against his design and will for human sexuality. Genesis 38 tells the story of Onan, who was instructed by his father Judah to marry his brotherโs widow Tamar and raise up offspring for him. However, Onan refused to fulfill his duty and spilled his semen on the ground whenever he slept with Tamar. This displeased God and he put Onan to death. This is the exact passage where God condemn masturbation (and contraception) as it is opposite to the natural purpose of sex, which is procreation. Interstingly, the story of Onan is such a scandal that it has an influence on the English word โonanismโ. God is the creator and giver of sex, who made it good and beautiful in the very beginning (Genesis 1,27-28; 2,18-25). He is the author and sustainer of marriage, who instituted it as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman (Genesis 2,24; Matthew 19,4-6). He is the judge and redeemer of sex, who condemns its misuse and abuse, but also offers forgiveness and restoration to those who repent (1 Corinthians 6,9-11). When you engage in fap & porn, you rebel against Godโs authority and wisdom, rather than submitting to his lordship and guidance. You dishonor Godโs name and glory, rather than glorifying him with your body. You grieve Godโs Spirit and heart, rather than pleasing him with your obedience. You forfeit Godโs blessing and reward, rather than enjoying his favor and grace.
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Indeed, masturbation is an act of perversion that goes against the natural order and purpose of sex. It is an act of rebellion and idolatry that exchanges the truth of God for a lie, and worships the creature rather than the Creator (Romans 1,24-27). It can distort your view of sexuality and make you unable to appreciate the true meaning and beauty of sex within marriage. The Bible warns us that watching pornography and masturbation is a sin against God himself, who created us in his image and likeness (Genesis 9,6; Acts 17,28-29). It also tells us that God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous (Hebrews 13,4). It reminds us that we are accountable to God for our thoughts, words, and deeds (Matthew 12,36-37; Romans 14,12). Therefore, we should fear God and keep his commandments (Ecclesiastes 12,13). It reminds us that we are called to be holy, as God is holy (1 Peter 1,15-16). Therefore, we should honor God with our body (1 Corinthians 6,20).ย
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C. CONCLUSION
To conclude, fap & porn devalues yourself, others, and God.ย It is a very serious sin that can lead you into anย irreversible vicious circle of mortal sins.ย To all Christians here, I want to end my argument with this quote from saint Paul in Romans 13, 13-14: โLet us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the fleshโ๐๐๐