What about divorced people: what should they do?

I find that lessons pertaining to masturbation are not commonly taught. These are my thoughts on the matter, and I thought these thoughts could profitably be addressed to our youth.

1st. There is no command "Thou shalt not masturbate." It being the case that the Lord is silent on the topic, it might be considered downright impertinent of anyone to inquire into the matter, much less instruct us on the topic. However, there are those who see it as a mark of hypocrisy, and the impossibility of obeying the Lord's commands. We need to be able to answer these deceitful attackers from the Lord's word with real confidence.

2nd. The example given by Jesus of the woman caught in adultery is not relevant to the discussion. Surely the man without sin can be asked to cast the first stone. Christ said neither do I condemn thee, go thy way and sin no more. However, adultery was still wrong. To tell a young Christian "no one is casting any stones at you, go thy way and transgress your conscience with a clear conscience" is a rather confused signal.

3rd. By Col 3:17 it is not enough that there should be no command not to masturbate, one must have godly authority for one's activities. How is this then accomplished?
3:[ 17] And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

It follows that 1 Cor 6:18 should come under consideration. Flee fornication! How is this accomplished? There is no shortage of people who say: Masturbation cannot be accomplished without lust, and lust is adultery, therefore masturbation is fornication, adultery, and go thy way and sin as you see fit... just don't feel guilty! Lust is lust, but masturbation is just not adultery!
1 Cor 6:[18] Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commiteth fornication sinneth against his own body.


If Lust is the problem, consider Jas 1: [13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
[14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
[15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Here we see the progression of how sin becomes reality. Lust when it is conceived brings forth Sin. Sin when it is finished brings forth spiritual death. We should maintain that fornication is the completion of sin, not the conception of lust.

What of those persons who, whether from malice or mistake equate fornication WITH masturbation? Consider Mt 19: [9] And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

Is it the case that one can justify scriptural divorce for masturbation? That would be a perverse conscience indeed. I would contend that when the temptation is upon one to fornicate, masturbation serves to implement the decision to flee fornication.

This should not be confused with the argument that one MUST masturbate to flee fornication, or that this is the ONLY way to flee fornication. Fleeing fornication rigorously satisfies Col 3:17, but it is curious that when we think of Jas 4:7, we almost surely think of desisting from the practice.
Jas 4:[7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you

Should one make this an immoderate practice? Pr 31:3, has application here as well. The next verse has the context of alcohol abuse, the addictive quality of which is mirrored by masturbation. Just as we flee fornication as best we know how, we do not drink with the goal of getting drunk. Being drunken is a sin, but drinking is not condemned. Don't get drunk, and don't give your strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. We should certainly not fall to the conclusion that if we do not masturbate, we are not properly fleeing fornication. When you make the effort to quit, you learn a valuable lesson about addictive behavior. Later on, the memory of struggles in this area can inform your thoughts on how difficult it might be to stop smoking, or drug use.
Pr 31:[3] Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings

I wanted to resolve lingering doubts that one can keep the Lord's word sincerely with a pure heart. Finally, I wanted to re-enforce a strong foundation that the Lord's word is indeed word by word inspired, and does not contradict itself in the specific mechanics.

Masturbation does not entail hypocrisy. If it did, I could prove that you hate all Christians.

Masturbation is hypocrisy;
All Christians have masturbated;
All Christians are hypocrites.
You hate hypocrites;
You hate all Christians.