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3rd October 2007

The Issue of Masturbation

Hi Guys,

I've been a little busy with academic stuff so haven't been working on the site much lately.

But I want to briefly speak on a topic that affects all of us. The issue of masturbation.

People don't like talking about sexual issues. But you have to be open to all questions and deal with them wisely. So I'll try to record what I know.

Is it a natural event as some say that we have to do, just like passing urine or stool? Is it an action that we generate that is not natural to the functioning of the human body? Is it just related to easing tension or anxiety? Is it just because we are "sexual" creatures? (Which really isn't true. We are religious creatures. See Just A Man)

I will direct this mostly to males (though everyone is affected by it).

Sperm production takes place within the seminiferous tubules in the testes and is then stored in the epididymis (About 20 billion sperm are produced every month, compared to the one egg for the ovary).

A normal values:
1. A normal sperm count is about 60 - 150 million per ml (WHO says 20 million/ml is okay for fertility) of semen (semen is a mixture of sperm and secretions of the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, & the bulbourethral glands - which are two small glands on either side of the prostate);
2. Alkaline in nature (pH 7.8-8.0) (Alkalinity always creeps up in health issues. Think of cancer: thrives in an acid environment; hence the benefits of an alkaline diet.);
3. 80% of the sperm should be motile (capable of moving) and 80% should be of a normal shape.
4. An ejaculate roughly contains about 2-5mls of semen.

All these factors tie into male infertility/fertility.

(The following facts & quote are taken from WebMD. - The Semen Factor by M. Rosenthal & Dr. Walsh's book Surviving Prostate Cancer - )

It takes about 74 days (2-3 months) for sperm to mature within the testes (their final maturation site is in the epididymis which sits on top on each testis), a temperature of 35 degrees C (95 degrees F) is optimal (about 2 degrees C less than the abdominal cavity).

"What happens to the sperm if no ejaculation takes place? They die and are reabsorbed by the body. This is as close as a man comes to having a 'period' ".

Now remember that the final storage site is the epididymis. Dr Walsh excellently describes this structure "as large and serpentine as the Amazon: Each tubule (one on each side), though only a millimeter wide, could be uncoiled to reach a remarkable length of fifteen to twenty feet".

Now when all this fluid builds up and is not reabsorbed it can be released spontaneously. As this frequently happens at night while asleep - it's called a "nocturnal emision". This is said to be a normal process, as are the early morning erections. This may be accompanied by sexual dreams (called "wet dreams"), although some people notice it when they dream of just urinating. Sexual frequency appears not to relate to the frequency of night-time emissions according to research. The nocturnal emission frequency will vary for everyone, though moreso around puberty. Some have been said to have had only 1 or 2 in a lifetime! So the pathways may be the same, but the process isn't.

[Remember also that the Prostate gland needs Zinc to function properly (so for all you Zinc-deficient guys...!!!).]

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Okay, so I've talked about the normal process a little. Where does self-gratifying masturbation come into all this? There is no specific command in Scripture. Just like there is no specific command for a lot of things! We are not meant to be just robots ruled by rules -- we are meant to be led from the Spirit within. The Law of Moses (10 commandments) is our Schoolmaster, not our Father! (See Commandments, Commandments).

The Old Testament does talk about being unclean from a nocturnal emission for men (Deu 23:10-11), just like being unclean during menstrual period-time for women (Lev 15:19), or being spat on by someone (Lev 15:8).

There are spiritual realities in all the laws. May Father reveal them to us!

Father gave me two parts on self esteem ( the other part I placed separately as Two Sides of the Cross).

This part of the word has to do with masturbation.

It was this: "Masturbation is NOT a sexual issue. It IS a self-esteem one".

As one masturbates (which is invariably not an isolated process, as much as some try to protest that it can be unconnected to sexual thoughts), this is the signal being sent out: "I do not love myself enough, so I must generate that love by fixating on something which I think can give me that love." The relief obtained is a chemical one. Albeit briefly, before the next "fix" is needed.

It is not a question of releasing built-up fluid - the body can do that naturally and masturbation will not stop that. We humans have self-control built into us. We use it as we so desire.

There is nothing "beyond control".

Let's not try and use scripture to gratify desires that are part of the natural man and not of the Spirit of Life. For only those who follow this law of the Spirit are the sons of God.

Let everyone be fully persuaded in his own mind in this matter. But heed the voice of the Spirit!

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Related: The Issue of Homosexuality | Those still struggling | Every young man's battle | Alien Molestations | Not Just A Man's World

Other Resources: www.purelifeministries.org | www.newlife.com