Jsd,

I strongly agree with your statements about shame and confession in the last paragraph of this post. However, in order to better consider where you are coming from in the early part I'd really like to see you put some scriptural support behind some of these statements:

"Masturbation is really the physical action/reaction to lust."

"the hidden assertion in that statement is that somehow one is incapable of controlling their urges and for most people that is not true". (this one in the light of 1 Cor 7:5&9).

"It is possible not to masturbate, or at least to try to not do it, and that is what the true christian will try to do". Based on what Scriptural commands would he do this?

I think it is really important to explore this subject and I am not settled dogmatically on my own position. I am also concerned that Christian moralists have perhaps been guilty of putting burdens on people that are unable to be borne in the intrests of pseudo-holiness, which in reality no one is able to live up to anyway (Matthew 23:4).

Thanks for responding.
Blessings
Cat.