Justin R. Lester (YouTube, Feb 15, 2024) examines fornication and masturbation through a scriptural lens. He begins by reframing how modern culture views sex versus Scripture, arguing that sex and sexual desire are God-created and not inherently shameful when expressed within covenant relationships. He claims biblical examples that imply masturbation (1 Samuel 24) and sanctioned sexual acts like oral sex (Song of Solomon 2:3; 4:16), and lists four scriptural affirmations about sex (creation blessing, the body as divine, given sexual desire, one-flesh union). He also describes historical differences in sexual norms, defines fornication as "perverting sex" (etymology: Latin fornicare), cites biblical condemnations (Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27–28; Galatians 5), and offers pastoral guidance to be mindful and intentional about sexual behavior.
Chapters
You know you wanted this topic. What about fornication and masturbation? Let's go to the scriptures. I promise you the answer we're going to get may not be the one you expected, but let's have some fun today. What is fornication? Is masturbation to sin? Now, before we get into this, I want to take a high level look at sex in scripture. Without cautions and without engaging with that. We run a risk of thinking that God looks at sex the way that our culture today looks at sex and sexuality. So let's understand sex and sexuality in scripture before we get into what this is for us today. For example, there are a few different scriptures where one actually masturbates in Scripture. We believe that in 1st Samuel, chapter 24, when Saul was refreshing in the corner, he was masturbating and God did not destroy him. And First Thessalonians, chapter four teaches us to learn to masturbate in such a way that it's appropriate and honorable to reject a covetous sexual appetite. In essence, God doesn't want us to imagine sex with somebody else. He wants you to control your sexual urges the same we see oral sex in Scripture. Song of Solomon, chapter 2, verse 3 is a woman performing oral sex on a man. Song of Solomon, chapter 4, verse 16 is a man performing oral sex on a woman. And both acts were met by approval from God, but here's where they were met by approval. In the safety of covenant mature relationships, masturbation and oral sex are not dirty. Masturbation, oral sex are not unclean, but they need to be practiced in covenant mature relationships. The issue here, and what makes sex difficult in scripture and sex difficult for us is when we talk about, we associate sex too much with shame in our culture because of what we've seen, pornography, what we've done, the sin we've engaged in, the guilt. We have our insecurities about ourselves, other people, what we see other people do, what we hear in music, we hear online, all these different things. When we move past our shame and see what's sex is, I think we can have a different conversation. It's not a taboo filled, shame filled, abusive topic. Sex in accordance to scripture is beautiful. Culture gives us so many messages about the human body and about nudity and about sex. And unfortunately, these taint our views on sexuality, causing us to feel shame about our bodies and the act of sex. For many people, and maybe you as well, for me, for a while in my life, it was associated with the words dirty and shame and guilt. Shame is not from Jesus. Guilt is not from Jesus. That's of Satan. God created our bodies, including our sexuality for good. Our bodies reflect God's image and God created sexuality as a fundamental part of our lives. If you want proof, here are four things that God affirms about sex. 1. Sex is one of the first acts that God blesses. Genesis 1:28 God blessed the physical relationship between Adam and Eve. Sex was God's idea and he created us for it. 2. The unclothed body is a divine creation. Our bodies are a beautiful beyond comprehension. Psalm 139:14 15 There is no shame or guilt in God's creation when we enter into a Christ centered sexual relationship with another person. 3. We were blessed with sexual desire. Our sexual desires are not a surprise to God. He made us. He gave us strong sexual desire to enjoy in the proper context. Matter of fact, in Songs of Solomon verses 4 and 7, the elaborate build up between a husband and wife shows the drive we have for intimacy that the drive we have in our vulnerability and how covenant in marriage provides the best context to spread these emotions. And lastly, God designed physical love to be a normal part of his creation. God's intention is to form an inseparable union through one flesh, through sex. 1:26 that's sex. I want you to understand too that sexual norms in scripture were different than they were in our times today. It's essential to understand that the norms of sex in the Bible times historically are different than what we have like at that time. Polygamy and having concubines was accepted in many villages and cultures, including the ancient Israelites. Women were seen as property and were expected to be virgin until marriage. Sexual taboos were common along with specific practices that were considered unclean and sinful. So if we're going to sit here and say we want to have sex like the Bible, then we're talking polygamy, we're talking concubines and we're talking people as property, right? So we have to see the differences between then and now. Secondly, our views on sex have evolved, our society evolved, so has sexuality. Today most people see sex as a vibrant expression of a healthy life and consent being a fundamental principle being. But if we go through history, cultural beliefs and attitudes of cultures and continents and countries have shaped sex. And lastly, historical context always has to be in conversation when we talk about sex, right? So what is fornication? And I'll end here. What is fornication? Fornication is not sex before marriage, it's perverting sex. It's a myriad of things. We've replaced fornication with words like premarital sex, extramarital sex, recreational sex. The word fornication comes from the Latin word fornicare, which means to prostitute oneself. In ancient Rome, fornication was a crime punishable by death. Fornication is mentioned in scripture in a myriad of ways. In the Old Testament, we see it condemned in the Ten Commandments. In Exodus 20:14. In the New Testament, it's condemned by Jesus. Matthew 5, 27, 28. Fornication leads to a loss of self respect. When you engage in fornication, you're using other people for your own pleasure. This leads to shaming someone else and shaming yourself. Fornication is you making a decision to yield your body to someone outside of covenant. And fornication is mentioned in Galatians 5 along with a myriad of other sin. Let's read it now. The works of the flesh are evident. Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalry, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like this. I warned you that people who do this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Meaning fornication is not ranked higher, lower than any other sin. It's just a fruit of the flesh. The challenge. I'm not going to beat you up for doing it because I believe that the scriptures teach us how to conquer it and to rule over our bodies. You don't rule over somebody else's body, you rule your own. You don't rule your bosses, your exes, your girlfriends, boyfriends. How are you honoring your body to me is the question fornication, when it comes to this sex, purpose is to produce. The goal is not to waste seed. The goal is to produce. There's no proverb or no scripture I want to be very clear that says don't have sex. When you think about sex, sex is a wonderful thing. God doesn't tell you either. When you get married to go crazy. Like, don't do, don't know anything. And as soon as you get married, have all the kids and go have all the crazy sex. Because when sex happens, souls touch. You touch someone's innermost being. Be careful who you have sex with. Be mindful of when you're having sex. And no sex is a beautiful thing. In accordance to scripture. I hope I didn't. I'm not here to condemn any of you. I'm here to make you aware of what the scripture says about it. Be mindful, be careful, be intentional. About where and how you use your body and make sure you're using it for the good of the gospel. Hey, if you want more truth like this, be sure to like and subscribe. And I pray that videos like this are encouraging you to be all that God's called you to be that and go forward and prosper and do what God's called you to do. God bless you.
