Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 11/10/2010

Question
Hey Pastor Don,

Saw your previous answer on masturbation in which you cite Hebrews 13:4 and Matthew 5:27-28 and a few things still don't make sense to me.  

Isn't a whoremonger defined as someone who consorts with whores?  Am I a whore?  And, doesn't one need to be married to even open up the possibility of adultery?  If I can't commit adultery, how can I be an adulterer?  And, I have no intention of committing this act in my bed, but if I do, I'll make sure to buy a new one before I get married.  So, my marriage bed won't be defiled, right?

And, let's face it.  I don't actually lust after the women themselves when I bring a magazine with me to help out, but even if I was, could I switch to thinking about men?  I don't see anything about that.  I'll never actually lay with a man as I would a woman, just think about them when I masturbate.  So I'm OK with God, right?

Thanks,

Bob

Answer
Hi Bob,

You have an interesting view of these things.  Whoremonger actually is speaking of any kind of fornication.  The word fornication is pornea, which covers all kinds of sexual activity.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

The only kind of sex that is blessed by God is within marriage.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don