My therapist and I had this exact same conversation during my session a few weeks ago. Just a little background... I was raised a Pentacostal Christian, and still identify that way. My therapist is Christian too. I have always lived very conservatively. I've never smoked a cigarette, tried drugs, tasted alcoholic beverages, etc etc... But I have masturbated since I was like 6 or maybe younger. It's always been very pleasurable to me.

We concluded that it is a choice that each person should make for themselves whether or not it's wrong. Fact is that it is human nature. That verse in the Bible probably means that he pulled out. There are no other specific Scriptures that I know of that directly addresses masturbation. Masturbation is good for abstaining from sex before marriage. She said if you're in a marriage that you should NOT be withholding from your partner. If porn, or compulsion, or fantasy is involved then masturbation tends to be sinful in nature. But if you have a strong libido and need the sexual release through masturbation and only do it for pleasure then it's probably not a sin. For me, I struggle with guilt. She said for me to pray and seek out whether the guilt is coming from God or man. In my opinion, it's okay for me to do. Since my session a few weeks ago, I've been pleasuring myself without so much guilt around the matter. It's great to learn your own body in this kind of way. God made us and even the sexual part of us. As long as things stay in balance then it's ok. Good luck with this