Originally Posted by parable

If you will note, I qualified my post with the phrase "biblical perspective". Anyone is free to consider the question from any other perspective they wish. My post is valid only in the context I prescribed.

The whole point with my post was to say that the Bible does not expressly addresss masturbation. Some argue that masturbation is a sin based on certain statements by Paul in Romans, for example. As I recall, and I haven't checked this, the OT concern about spilling one's seed on the ground is about pulling out before ejaculation to avoid conception when its your duty to produce an heir for your brother by impregnating his widow. Clearly, some of the customs from those days no longer apply. As for the new covenant, I'm all for grace and mercy rather than the law and justice. Only God knows for sure if what someone does is a sin, but we can get an idea by how what we do affects our relationship with Him. If what we do hinders our holding Him first and foremost in our lives, then guess what? Whatever it is that is more important than God has become an idol, and that's the problem.

I thought my post was clear enough that each person must come to terms with masturbation for themselves, and the principles I noted can serve as reasonable guides to those who actually care.

Parable

p.s. my dad was an ordained Episcopal priest with a masters in divinity and doctorate in ministry