Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: ROBERT@kontu.utu.fi (Robert W. Johnson) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Masturbation, Wet Dreams, and keeping your eyes to yourself Message-ID: Date: 28 Apr 91 23:41:57 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 55 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu On one of these e-mail forums I belong to was a bunch of articles on masturbation. I forget which one, but I think that this topic is worthy of examining by everyone anyway, since it is a sin that so easily besets us. By a quick scan of "seed" in the OT (Lev. 15:16; 15;32; Lev. 18:21-23; Lev. 20:2; Lev. 22:4) it is obvious that wet dreams, and most probably masturbation, are an unclean act. The person involved in these things was unclean for at least a day, and had to stay away from the Holy things. It is clear that these things are unholy in the sight of God. Looking at the Neew Testament, we can be even clearer. Anybody that has eve been involved in these things knows that the lust of the flesh is involved, and that usually one visualizes some woman (in the case of a man) or some man (in the case of a woman) when committing these sins. Matt. 5:28 is real clear on the matter: but i say unto you, That whosoeve looketh upon a woman to lust after her hath comitted adultry with her already in his heart. What could be more clear? The flesh is strong, and I know that for a healthy unmarried man or woman (especially men) that this is a very hard burden to bear. As a young Christian seeking God with all my heart this sin would occassionally get me. Thank God we have the blood of Christ that we can claim over all sin and with repentance we are forgiven. this brings up another question. I know that when I am walking down the street or even watching televsion commercials that my eye is immediately drawn to those gorgious looking women. Is this sin? Someone once asked Watchman nee the same question, since by nature we do this. His answer was: The first look is not sin, it is the second look that is sin. I have been around so many men in my 43 years (being a man), and it seems that most everybody I meet just cannot take their eyes off of women. Matt 5:28 is real clear on the matter, this is absolutely an abomination to God. I know from personal experience that it is entirely possible to keep Matt. 5:28. After i got married, I determined tht i would not even look at another women. I did this more to honor my wife than to keep Matt. 5.28 (I don't think I was even aware of Matt. 5:28 at the time). If you practice "walKing in the Spirit," so can you, and thus honor God. ----- Robert W. Johnson Computer center, The University of Turku, Turku Finland robert@kontu.utu.fi (InterNet) robert@firien.bitnet (BITNET) The preceeding is my opinion and may not express the opinion of my employer and furthermore has nothing to do with my employment. [Do your references contain a typo? I see some of the ones from Lev, but 18:21-23 and 20:2 don't seem right. 18:21-23 talks about human sacrifice, homosexuality, and sexual relations with animals. 20:2 talks about human sacrifice (at least I assume that's what the reference means). --clh]