Dear Greg:<br><br>You made the following statement:<br><br>"re: Jerry White<br>I see a number of obvious fallacies in Jerry's reasoning as I believe any good exegete would see. 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."<br><br>I of course respect your right to hold this opinion, but I must disagree. <br><br>I believe masturbation is clearly a sexual act because it involves all of the physiological sensations assoicated with sex. The emission of seminal fluid is a physiological by product of the act which is primarily emotional/sensational/behavioural in nature. There are those in the medical community that disagree with this of course but there are also those that support it. <br><br>Therefore, taken together with the scripture on fornication, or pornia in the greek, and it's differentitation from adultery, auto eroticism is generally considered by most conservative and respected divines to be sex outside of the bonds of God's ordained system. That Paul addresses the issue of "tis better to marry than to burn (with desire)" and he does this in the context of his teaching about marriage vs singleness and he mentions celebacy as a gift, as the alternative, it follows that there is a natural functional drive that most people have, but some do not, because of the gift of celebacy. The Lord addressed the various ways one becomes a "eunich" in another passage which I believe also has application here.<br><br>Your comments about those engaging in masturbation as being free from "bondage" are the most troubling. Having some training in and having done some counseling and being familiar with the literature on sexual deviation and psychological disorders associated with it, I can state that masterbation is invariably assoicated with all deviant behaviour that involves sexual and sexual/criminal behaviour, including pedophilia, coprophilia, exhibitionism, homosexuality, canibalism with concomitant sexual behaviour (ala Jeffey Domer) and so on. Further, the case files of countless Biblical and Christian Counselors are full of men who are overwhelmed with guilt over this act, which guilt, occurred BEFORE they ever heard a word either way about scriptural denunication of it, indicating that that Guilt is a function of the CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, not some man imposed system as you imply.<br><br>May the Lord lead you into a clearer knowledge of the danger and inevitable consequences of engaging in and encouraging this behaviour in others.<br><br>IN HIM,<br><br>Gerry<br>
