<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]My greatest concern is the imposition of a human/cultural ethic on other people (which appears to be Jerry's goal here) rather than the calling of people to Christ and the formation of Christ in us. This leads to great bondage and, I suspect, has hurt many a young man who struggles in an area which really does not need to be a struggle if thought through and submitted to the Lord.</font><hr></blockquote><p>I see what you are saying, but I disagree a bit. I have thought the issue through and I STILL come to the same conclusion: That I should not masturbate. Back in Genesis I think it is, that one guy would sleep with the lady and spill his semen on the ground. While I have seen this passage used, it is out of context a lot of times, but I think the idea still holds somewhat. God was displeased with the fact that he wasn't doing honor to his brother by causing his wife to have children. My thinking is, if it makes God mad when someone dishonors their brother in that way, than it makes Him mad as well when we dishonor ourselves in a sexual way. I simply do not see masturbation as at all good and I see it as nothing other than sexual self-gratification, which, ANY self-gratification is idoltry, and we should strive to destroy that idol, not justify it by saying it is "healthy".<br>