Masturbation

Sex, masturbation and pornography are topics not normally preached from the pulpit. Mostly, churches have avoided any issues morally or immorally acceptable with sex. And if the spiritual aspect of sex is not enough to keep in mind there is the medical opinion that some say needs to be considered. Last but not least, there is the discussion involving married couples and what they should or should not do to keep the flame burning BRIGHT and hot.

What usually initiates a masturbation controversy is one or more of the following questions:

Does the bible say that it's OK to masturbate?

Is it healthy or unhealthy to masturbate?

Will masturbation improve a couples sex life?

Should I feel embarrassed or just not care?

Whether you are a spiritual or a non-spiritual person, most people agree that sex outside of marriage and pornography are at least one or more socially, morally and medically objectionable. However, with varying opinions of whether masturbation is or is not acceptable, we choose not express opinion and allow the facts to speak for themselves. 

Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. - Galatians 5:16

Masturbation

Commonly defined as touching one’s own body, sexual stimulation of one's own genitals for sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm but not always.

Slang Terms

jacking off
cast off
getting off
spanking the monkey
self-love

When do people usually start masturbating

People may start masturbating at any time in their lives. Many children begin masturbating as they grow and explore their changing bodies. They often discover early that it feels good to touch their genitals. Children usually begin masturbating long before puberty. Young children do not have sexual fantasies while masturbating, but during adolescence it becomes much more sexual.

Why do people masturbate

The most common reasons adults give for masturbating are to

relieve sexual tension
achieve sexual pleasure
have sex when partners are unavailable
keep from contracting sexually transmitted diseases
Relieving stress
curiosity about the body

1.) Can masturbation can cause testosterone levels to drop too low?
 

Primarily, men need testosterone for the development of male reproductive organs and for muscle, bone and hair growth. 

Although higher testosterone levels are seen with abstinence,[4] orgasm (ejaculation) does not acutely affect testosterone levels in the blood.[3] It is widely suggested that low testosterone is caused by age, activity and obesity.

2.) Watching porn and masturbating is publicly unacceptable?

Depending upon on the country, openly stating that a person is watching porn and masturbating is commonly not acceptable. It is insinuated in the media, marketing and fashion industries as being acceptable but still it is considered to be an act which is not discussed in conversation or with people you do not know. Of course the general public is not going to be receptive to watching someone actively watching porn and masturbating.
When people masturbate they do it privately and keep it a secret from parents, spouses, friends, co-workers and especially the church. Statistically, most people masturbate to porn and so with porn being publicly offensive the masturbation is as well.

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.  - 1 Corinthians 6:18

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor. - 1 Thessalonians 4:3,4

References

[3] Exton MS, et al Endocrine response to masturbation-induced orgasm in healthy men following a 3-week sexual abstinence . World J Urol. (2001)

[4] Jiang M, et al A research on the relationship between ejaculation and serum testosterone level in men . J Zhejiang Univ Sci. (2003)