Is masturbation addictive?

"Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires." —Romans 6:12 (NLT)

When we receive salvation through Jesus, we're agreeing that we're sinners, and that, because of our sin, Jesus died to take OUR punishment, and He came back to life after three days. Then we start the process of accepting that Jesus' ways are the best, most beneficial ways and making changes in our lives to follow them.

When we're saved, the Holy Spirit works in our lives to make us see our sin, find healthier alternatives, and start to want to sin LESS. We can help with His work by avoiding temptations, reading the Bible, talking to God regularly, and filling our lives with things and people that please God.

Temptations Don't Disappear Automatically

"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." —1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

Even after we accept Christ, we still live in a fallen world full of temptations. In fact, Satan doesn't give up on trying to influence us just because we're saved (1 Peter 5:8). Christians still struggle with sin their entire lives. We no longer need to be slaves to those desires, but it's still going to be an effort and a sometimes a downright fight (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Sometimes, Christians struggle with an ongoing sin—like masturbation. But please know that addictions don't cause us to lose our salvation (Romans 8:35-39). There's no sin "too terrible" for God to forgive (1 John 1:9) and no sin that Jesus won't help us overcome (Hebrews 2:18).

Why Masturbation is Addictive

"Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living." —Romans 6:16 (NLT)

All addictions are sinful because they give control of our lives to something other than God (Romans 6:16). Masturbation is a particularly difficult addiction to kick for several reasons:

Masturbation doesn't require other people, substances, or equipment.
Masturbation doesn't require a particular place or time.
Shows, movies, books, and the internet are filled with sexual triggers.
Some doctors claim masturbation is good and healthy, yet the harm it does outweighs any perceived benefit.
Masturbation causes dopamine hits and changes your brain structure to make you crave more.

How Masturbation Can Hurt Us

"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other." —Matthew 6:24a (NLT)

We should work to overcome addictions because they cause us harm and damage our relationships with others and with God (Matthew 6:24). Masturbation hurts us in some very specific ways:

Habitual self-stimulation leads to unhealthy marital sex experiences.
Self-stimulation can lead to a difficulty to reach sexual satisfaction with a marriage partner.
Masturbation can form unrealistic expectations that will be impossible for a partner to achieve.
Replaying lustful fantasies solidifies the wrongful thinking that other humans are merely objects for personal pleasure.
Feelings of loneliness, regret, or shame over sexual sin can affect our mental health.

The desire to masturbate is often rooted in deeper issues that may only be revealed through self-reflection, prayer, or professional therapy. Finding the source of the desire to chase pleasures and physical sensations is KEY in overcoming any kind of addiction—including masturbation.

The Benefits of Overcoming Addiction

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." —James 1:2 (NLT)

Remember, addiction to masturbation doesn't make a Christian lose salvation. Nor is it automatic proof that someone was never saved. Choosing to begin the journey of overcoming an addiction provides an opportunity to grow in our relationship with God (James 1:2-4).

An Opportunity to Test Your Faith

"Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith." —2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT)

This may be a good opportunity to make sure you are actually a Christian. Make sure you understand how to be saved. Then, think about your relationship with God.

Do you feel like He's disciplining you when you sin (Hebrews 12:5-7)? Are you growing in other areas of your life (Philippians 1:6)? Do you regret and confess your sin (1 John 1:9)? If so, then you're very likely already saved.

Keep fighting against sinful temptations and asking the Holy Spirit to guide you, and try not to be discouraged.

An Opportunity to Strengthen Your Faith

Fighting against strong temptations can strengthen your faith and mature you as a follower of Christ. Overcoming temptation uses the same tools as spiritual growth—but at a higher intensity.

Practice going to God in every moment of temptation. Fill your mind with godly thoughts by reading, memorizing, and living by His Word. Surround yourself with other believers and ask for their help.

Overcoming an addiction to masturbation isn't an impossible task, though it won't be easy either. And there will probably be days when you fail and have to get back up again. But perfection isn't the goal—progress is. Choose to live in sexual purity and ask God to give you the strength and power to stay on track (Philippians 4:13).

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