Will I Go To Hell For Masturbating?

If you've been wondering, "will I go to Hell for masturbating?" or "is masturbation a sin?", you're on the right track.

It's hard to find anything online about masturbation that feels true and reliable, or that aligns with religious views on masturbation. In this article, we'll go over some accurate information about masturbation, what the Bible has to say, whether you need to worry about going to Hell, and five steps you can take to work towards overcoming masturbation addiction.

While masturbation is considered a sin in many Christian circles, it isn't a fast pass ticket to Hell, either. With a little bit of faith, hard work, and God's love, you can live a life free from shame and guilt about masturbation.

Some Facts About Masturbation

If you've been asking yourself, "am I going to Hell for masturbating?", you've probably started looking for help online. As you've probably noticed, it's hard to find real facts about masturbation on the internet, especially from a Christian perspective.

The culture of the internet today is one that encourages you to "explore your body" and "get in touch with your sexuality," and while these sound like positive and helpful things, it only takes a few clicks more to find warnings about how habit-forming—even addictive—masturbation can become.

But that isn't why Christians avoid it. As Christians, we believe that our bodies and our sexuality are gifts from God. Masturbation—the practice of stimulating yourself sexually to achieve an orgasm—is using those gifts without their proper context. The Bible teaches us that our sexuality is reserved for marriage. Anything outside of this is considered a sin.

In 1 Corinthians 6:20, the Bible says, "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." Masturbation leads us to put our wants and sexual desires above this charge to glorify God and use His gifts in the way He instructed us to.

There is also a link between masturbation and pornography use, from the Bible, we know to be wrong. Pornography is designed to be as habit-forming as possible. If you've been struggling with a pornography habit along with masturbation, you can find help here.

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Will I Go to Hell for Masturbating?

Hell is a tough concept for many Christians to wrap their minds around, especially when wondering, "Will masturbation condemn me to Hell?" or "Do you go to Hell for masturbating?"

Teachings on Hell can vary between churches, but they all have one thing in common. They all teach that Hell is to be separated from the presence of God. You may have felt some of this separation already due to your struggle with masturbation and sexual thoughts. These feelings, like guilt and shame, may be intense, but this does not automatically mean you’re going to Hell.

Guilt Is a Sign to Repent, Not a Sign You’re Going to Hell

When we do something wrong, we experience feelings of guilt. This guilt may be what led you to worry about going to Hell in the first place, but in reality, these feelings are a way that God tries to encourage us to leave sinful and negative behavior behind and seek repentance.

We know that sin keeps us out of God's presence. Masturbation is considered a sin; much like stealing, lying, or hurting someone else. If we were to commit sin after sin, never regret it, never change, and never repent, then yes, we would need to worry about going to Hell.

However, God knew that we would sin when He created us. He provided a Savior—Jesus Christ—to pay the price for those sins so that we could return to be with Him in Heaven after we die, and not have to go to Hell. Through Jesus Christ, we can be free from guilt and sin... even from a masturbation habit.

How Do I Stop Masturbating?

In order to fully repent and be cleansed from sin, we need to stop the sinful behavior. However, we've already acknowledged that masturbation can be highly habit-forming. Maybe you've already tried to stop, but found it to be incredibly challenging. It might be time to look into resources for overcoming masturbation addiction, like online support groups or therapy—we'll talk more about this when we get into the five steps you can take to work on quitting.

Before we do, let's take a moment to remember whose side you're on: the side of the one who freed you from Hell! Jesus Christ can take all your sins away. He can fill you with the power you'll need to stop masturbating for good, and to use your body in its proper and holy context. The Bible teaches:

• Romans 6:14 (NIV): "For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace."
• Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV): "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

As you try to overcome a masturbation habit and deal with sexual urges, you might face some challenges. You might run into some ups and downs. But remember that no matter what happens, you have a loving God to support and empower you, and a Savior who has already paid for what you've done wrong.

Five Steps to Quit Masturbation

1. Get Outside Help

It is almost impossible to overcome a habit like this one on your own. You need the advice and support of other people who understand your struggle with sexual habits. This could be a therapist, a church leader, or an online support group.

At Relay, we've developed the #1 recovery program. Our unique approach pairs you with peers who understand your struggle, creating an environment of healthy accountability, and helping you access the scientifically-proven benefits of support groups. Through psychologist-built curriculum and regular check-ins, Relay is the tool that will help you move past a masturbation habit for good.

2. Set a Game Plan

Take a moment of honesty with yourself and think about your masturbation habits. Answer these questions in your mind, on a note-taking/journaling app, or on paper.

• What time of day do you feel the most tempted to masturbate?
• What kind of feelings trigger your desire to masturbate?
• Is there something you're using masturbation to deal with?

Using masturbation as an outlet for your emotions is a big red flag to be aware of. If this is you, it's time to stop. Thankfully, there are many resources available to you for overcoming sin and addressing sexual morality.

Now that you've identified the times and emotional states when you feel most vulnerable towards masturbation, take a moment to set a plan in motion for what you will do when you notice yourself start to feel tempted, instead of giving in.

It's important not to just try and eliminate masturbating; you need to replace it with something better—something that will take your mind off the temptation and promote spiritual growth. Turn on an exciting show, go for a walk, call your mom or a close friend and just chat! Whatever you can do to get your mind away from the temptation, and lift your mood in a healthier way.

It isn’t easy, but soon you’ll feel much closer to God and start seeing the benefits of not masturbating.

3. Talk to the People Who Care About You!

We know that the fastest way to end a negative behavioral pattern is to form solid connections with the people around you. These can be your supporters in your Relay group, your roommates, or even just your friends.

The best part is, you don't even have to talk to them about the habit you're trying to break. You just need to connect with them! Spending your time in social settings, building real bonds with the people around you, is far more helpful to overcoming a negative sexual habit than it seems. Plan specific times to see the people you care about.

4. Select Supporters

Although struggling with a masturbation habit feels incredibly isolating, it's actually a fairly common problem. Chances are, someone in your life knows a lot more about your struggle than meets the eye.

Choose a few of the people in your life that you feel the very safest with, and open up to them about what you feel. This will be challenging, but it's key to quitting a masturbation habit. Share with them your struggles, your game plan, and your commitment to quitting and seeking repentance for masturbation. These supporters can help you to stay accountable to your goals, the goals from your therapist or Relay group, and your commitment to change.

5. Set Specific Boundaries

Now, your relationship with these people shouldn't become all about you overcoming masturbation. An example of a healthy boundary is saying, "I would like you to check in on my progress, but I only feel comfortable talking about this once a week or so. Let's pick a day together that you can check in and ask me questions, and then on all the other days, it will just be us being friends like normal."

A boundary with yourself can look like this: "If I usually masturbate while watching porn on my phone right before I go to sleep, I'm going to start charging my phone outside my room, so I'm not tempted at night."

These boundaries will help you live up to the commitment you've made to change. You can share them with your supporters or therapist, and get their input on maintaining sexual purity and following biblical principles.

It Isn't Easy, But That Doesn't Make It Impossible!

Keep in mind that the road to freedom from a masturbation habit is not an easy little walk. While this sin won't automatically send you to Hell, you may sometimes feel that it already has. Again, it's important to remember whose side you're on. Jesus has already paid the price for your sins, so that you will be able to repent and be freed from them.

In 1 John 1:7, we learn: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

Each one of us—you included!—can be freed from our sins and from the doom of Hell by repenting and inviting Jesus to forgive our sins. You may stumble and mess up a few more times as you strive to quit masturbating, but that doesn't mean you're going to Hell. It means you're trying! With Jesus on your side and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you can overcome this spiritual struggle and experience God's forgiveness and redemption as you quit masturbation for good.

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