A close friend that I met online (we both started Bible study around the same time) once walked with Christ… but now stumbles in sin’s snare. He’s constantly tempted by self-pleasure. Though I tried to guide him from self-pleasure’s path, he’s turned from both our friendship and the Lord’s embrace.
I tried talking to him about it but he won’t turn from it. It seems to be getting worse… what can I say to him?
Your Prayer Delivered to the Holy Land
You don’t have to pray alone. Have your prayer submitted to the Holy Land as well as churches, monasteries, and prayer groups worldwide who will lift your intentions to God and pray on your behalf.
From the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to sacred sites across the globe, your prayer will be shared and remembered.
Whoa there, hold your horses!
Did I miss something? Last I heard, he was still Christian vibe. Let’s not put words in his mouth or read between the lines. Faith’s a personal journey, after all. Sometimes it’s smooth sailing, sometimes it’s choppy waters.
Only he knows where his heart’s at right now.
While the Bible doesn't directly address it, I believe we can glean some insights from Scripture.
The way I see it, God designed sex to be shared between husband and wife. It’s meant to be relational, giving, and unifying. So then masturbation, by its nature, is solitary and self-focused.
For singles struggling with desire, Paul suggests self-control or marriage as the solutions. He doesn’t mention self-gratification as an option.
I also think about how we’re called to honor God with our bodies and avoid being mastered by anything. Masturbation really just involves lust and can quickly become habit-forming (not in a positive way). While not explicitly forbidden… I find it hard to see how masturbation aligns with biblical principles of self-control, purity of thought, and God-honoring use of our bodies.
The path of temptation led him astray, and he turned away from a helping hand.
This isn’t your burden to bear. When faced with their own failings, people often react in one of two ways: they either lash out in anger or humbly acknowledge their mistakes.
Don’t treat him with anger or judgement. Let him know you’re available to talk but you can’t condone his actions.
Hopefully he finds the strength to confront his actions and seeks redemption.