Cross-Cultural Worker killed Onan for doing it. is a violation of one’s duty to himself.” What angered God was that Onan failed • Micah 2:1 (KJV): “Woe to them that Its immorality is because “ a man gives up to carry out the Levirate marriage law Singles Issues: devise iniquity, and work evil upon their his personality” when he masturbates. (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). th beds! When the morning is light, they • 19 century: dozens of examples • Micah 2:1(NIV): “Woe to those who plan Probably no other sexual topic produces practice it, because it is in the power of available. iniquity, to those who plot evil on their more disagreement among Christians at the their hand.” People who masturbated with • 1888-1917, Dr John Kellogg was an beds! At morning’s light they carry it present time than masturbation, the deliberate their hands in bed in the morning probably American physician (to Henry Ford and out because it is in their power to do it.” physical sexual stimulation of oneself. A projected what they were doing into the Thomas Edison), inventor (corn flakes), This verse refers to evil in general being century ago most Christians, and nearly particular wording of the KJV. Therefore, and educator (American Medical Miss planned at night and carried out during everyone else in Western culture, would have masturbation was evil. College). He published multiple editions the day. agreed that it was wrong and that people, • 1 Corinthians 6:9 (KJV): “…abusers of Plain Facts for Old and Young , • 1 Corinthians 6:9 (KJV): “homosexual including single cross-cultural workers, should of themselves with mankind,” are listed devoting 97 pages to the “Secret Vice offenders” are listed along with not masturbate. along with adulterers, thieves, and many (Solitary Vice or Self Abuse).” adulterers, thieves, and many others as Ancient rock paintings and other kinds others as people who will not “inherit the • 1914, Robert Baden-Powell, Britain, those who will not “inherit the kingdom of art as well as early literature from many kingdom of God.” Masturbation (self- founder of Boy Scouts added a passage in of God.” Nothing is said about people cultures depict both men and women abuse) would keep people out of the Scouting for Boys warning them of the abusing themselves. masturbating. Even the gods in some cultures kingdom. dangers of masturbation. This was The fact is that the Bible says nothing were depicted as masturbating. Apparently few gradually changed to saying that to “be about masturbation. Even most people who of these cultures considered it wrong. To find What did people say then? prepared,” scouts had to avoid wasting believe that masturbation is sinful agree that out why this change occurred in Western vital fluids to conserve their virility, and the Bible says nothing specific about it. They culture, one needs to consider what brought During the 18 th century masturbation this warning was not removed until 1945. typically attempt to interpret general verses about this change. Christianity was involved. was condemned by people in many walks of Clearly, masturbation was condemned about evil as applying to masturbation life throughout Western culture. for many reasons. It was considered not only specifically. What did the Bible say? • 1716, Dutch theologian, Dr. Balthazar to be immoral, but also to be harmful to

Bekker wrote a pamphlet, “Onania, or the people physically, mentally, emotionally, What do people say now? The King James Version (KJV) of the heinous sin of self-pollution, and all its spiritually and in many other ways. Bible appeared in the early 17 th century and frightful consequences in both sexes.” By the middle of the twentieth became widely used. The English words The pamphlet was published in more than What does the Bible say? century physicians and psychologists chosen to translate some of the original Greek 60 editions in several languages. believed that masturbation caused neither and Hebrew manuscripts became influential in • Only during the last half of the 20 th physical nor mental illness. Rather than writing about masturbation. 1760, Swiss physician, Samuel-Auguste century were the three KJV passages seeing it as harmful, people began • Genesis 38: 9-10 (KJV). Onanism: “And Tissot published “L’Onanisme,” a medical understood more correctly. Some of the encouraging masturbation. They said that it Onan knew that the seed should not be his; treatise saying that the loss of changes were made earlier, but all the needed felt good, was legal, was always available, and it came to pass, when he went in unto through masturbation would cause loss of changes did not occur until then. The popular was not hazardous to health, and released his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the strength, memory, reason, and vision. It New International Version (NIV) made them tension to help avoid premarital sex. ground, lest that he should give seed to his would also cause gout, rheumatism and all when it appeared in 1978. Since the Bible does not mention brother. And the thing which he did headaches—along with dozens of other • Genesis 38: 9-10 (NIV) is changed little, masturbation, and since modern medicine has displeased the Lord: wherefore He slew him diseases. • but today people agree that Onan not found it harmful to health, modern also.” Early readers of the KJV believed 1797, German philosopher, Immanuel practiced (a form of Christians have come to many different that Onan had masturbated, so they Kant published Metaphysics of Morals in birth control), withdrawing before conclusions about masturbation. In fact, by sometimes called it “Onanism” and which he maintained that “such an , rather than masturbation. 1975 they had taken two extreme positions as condemned it as sinful because God had unnatural use of one’s sexual attributes … well as ones in between. Bible does not say anything specifically about • 1968, “Masturbation—Gift of God.” This a topic, Christians reach many different Ronald Koteskey is a chapter title in The Stork is Dead by conclusions about it. Member Care Consultant Charlie Shedd. He noted that perhaps past GO InterNational Cross-cultural generations were just blind to the truth, that Conclusions masturbation may simply be the “wise This brochure is one of a series, and worker Singles provision of a very wise Creator” who Although masturbation has been you are invited to suggest other topics you “gave it to us because he knew we’d need practiced in many cultures for thousands of would like to know about to the following: Issues: it.” He advised teens to thank God for it years, the Bible does not even mention it. and to use it as a blessing. Although for a couple centuries many Ronald Koteskey Masturbation • 1971, Masturbation—sometimes sinful, Christians reading the KJV interpreted three 122 Lowry Lane Wilmore, KY 40390 sometimes not. In Sexual Understanding passages as being about masturbation, now

Before Marriage , Herbert Miles has chapter most people agree that the Bible says nothing. Ronald L. Koteskey What are single cross-cultural workers to do? Phone: (859) 858-3436 sections on “When is masturbation sinful?” and “When is masturbation not sinful?” He • Related things tend to happen when concludes that though masturbation may be people masturbate, so Jay Adams’ first e-mail: [email protected]

sinful in some cases, when practiced on a two points need to be taken very Visit the following web site to access limited, temporary basis for the purpose of seriously. If single cross-cultural workers other brochures in the series: self-control, guided by Christian principles, are not able to control masturbation, it is a

and with no evil results, it is acceptable. problem (1 Corinthians 6:12). If they are www.crossculturalworkers.com • 1973, “Masturbation Is Sin.” This is a engaging in lustful fantasy (Matthew chapter section title in The Christian 5:27-28) during masturbation, it is sin. Counselor’s Manual by Jay Adams. • Masturbation is usually not physically Agreeing that the Bible has no direct harmful to an individual. It does not references to masturbation, Adams cause all of the debilitating illnesses maintains that it is sinful for four reasons: attributed to it during the last two (1) In 1 Corinthians 6:12 Paul notes that he centuries. However, single cross-cultural would not be brought under the power of workers need to be aware that some forms anything. Some people are unable to of it may lead to physical damage or control their masturbation; therefore, it is sexual dysfunction. See details on sin. (2) In Matthew 5:27-28 Jesus says that WebMD at sexual fantasy is adultery. Many people http://men.webmd.com/features/masturbat fantasize during masturbation; therefore, it ion-5-things-you-didnt-know is sin. (3) The Bible does not present • We must be careful about loading guilt on masturbation as a sexual option; therefore it people about masturbation. Condemning is sin. (4) Adams says that masturbation is them for something not mentioned in a perversion of the sexual act; therefore, it Scripture should not be done. is sin. • If masturbation is done in public or This brochure may be reproduced without Obviously Christians do not agree interferes with social contact or daily life, change and in its entirety for non-commercial GO InterNational about the rightness or wrongness of we need to help the person overcome this purposes without permission. masturbation. As is often the case when the practice.