Masturbation: Your perspectives on this Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s counsel

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome founder of Christ Embassy International, is undoubtedly one of most popular preachers in Nigeria and probably in black Africa.
This video clip airs his official counsel to those struggling with masturbation.
If you can’t play the video clip or have problem hearing his words, please read the transcript below.

[Transcript of Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s
counsel on Masturbation in a TV program.]

Kwaku from Ghana: “Pastor how does one
overcome masturbation?”

One of Pastor Chris’ Assistants: “Firstly, it is a thing of
the mind. You’ve allowed it… which has become a habit to you I’m sure…
em… is first stop it and you have the power to do that as a child of God. You
don’t want something, you can stop it. So, don’t think about it, don’t go in
that direction and stop it. You obviously have a problem with it and that’s why
you are needing solution. And the Bible says that “…God is at work in us both to will
and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13 The ability of Christ is
in you to stop anything you don’t want and you can. If you don’t want it.”

Pastor Chris: “It’s… that simple. The question is,
“How does one overcome masturbation?” The reason you are thinking of overcoming it is because it has become a
habit for you. It’s the way you stop any habit. Masturbation is not more of a
habit than any other habit. Okay so, once you make up your mind to break a
particular habit, you do it. You just stop it, by getting your mind to just
think of something else. In fact the way you destroy a habit is to replace that
habit with another habit, and it’s the habit of not doing it. But there’s something
I’ll like to bring to your mind that may be of help to you is that the reason
you want to stop this, is because of what you think it is. If you were in the
habit of playing football, you probably wouldn’t ask us how can I stop playing
football. Because you think there’s something wrong with this, alright, so,
that is where your problem is coming from. But no matter how wrong it is in
your mind, get this straight, in itself, it is not a sin against God. Now, I
say that for a reason, that many Christian will think it is a sin against God
and Satan uses it in oppressing them, oppressing their minds and making them
feel ineffective and inefficient in the things of God. But once you get to
understand it’s got nothing to do with God it’s you and your own body, then
Satan loses his power to use it to accuse you. Alright, so if you don’t like
it, stop it. But, God’s got nothing to do with it. It’s your own body.
Masturbation is about you and your body. God is not offended by it, He’s only
offended by any habit that takes a hold of your mind and if this takes a hold
of your mind and dominates you, God is offended by the fac” [end of clip]

Do you agree with him/them?
Why or how is masturbation a sin against God?
Has Pastor Chris’ counsel (or something similar to it) helped you if you once felt ensnared by this habit?
If you’ve stopped the habit of masturbation, how did you do it?
Kindly use the Reader Comments box below to share your views;
freely critic Pastor Chris’ counsel on this subject if you so wish but
please don’t attack his character.
Your candid response and perspectives on this matter could be of great help to someone, somewhere, somehow, someday.
Unknown's avatar

Author: Uche Izuora

I'm inspired by God’s passion for His name in every generation, which provokes global worship through Jesus Christ. Becoming an emotionally healthy and transformative disciple, I aim to mobilize the Church to engage in cross-cultural missions and raise other like-minded disciples who discover themselves in Christ and seek to present and represent Him as Savior and Lord among the nations northward of Uganda.

14 thoughts on “Masturbation: Your perspectives on this Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s counsel” 

  1.             Masturbation is sin against God, in the light of this Scripture.[1cor 6:18,19]. Our bodies are Temples of the HOLY SPIRIT,he who defiles his/her body God will destroy.

    Overcoming it has do with first take repentance to God, pray and fast. Get involved in accountability group, tell people who can call you to check on you., or you can call when you begin to feel a pressure. Go for a walk, do hide it, it will loose its power. You may benefit from the book, Managing your sexuality.

    Like

    Reply
  2.             This is one of the wrong doctrines from the pit of hell sent by the devil to further ensnare today's youths in sexual immoralities. I pray someone comes up with a better & bible based teaching on this subject.

    Like

    Reply
  3.             Dear Past.Uche,

    Please beg to disagree with their view,Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, our body should be used for righteousness, holiness and to honour and glorify God.The question we should ask our yourselves is the habit good or bad? This is serious bad habit and behaviour against yourself and God. THE HABIT OR ACT OF MASTURBATION IS SIN AGAINST GOD. THE TRUE MUST BE TOLD.

    Thanks

    Pius

    Like

    Reply
  4.             All things are lawful but all things are not expedient, all things are lawful but a child of God must not be brought under the power, influence or dominion of anything. The bible exhorts us to keep our mind pure and most often than not, masturbation is borne out of impure mind and is often an invisible act of either fornication or adultery. I am persuaded that it is unacceptable to God and it should be to us as well.

    Like

    Reply
  5.             Extremely disturbing. I hope it is not some doctored voice over. A child of God doesn't really own his/her body. Masturbation is not mentioned expressly in scripture but certainly falls in with Gal 5vs 19 (works of the flesh). It is literary impossible to indulge in it without polluting one's mind. Pretty much like exposure to pornography!

    As many as are led by the Spirit of God…….mmmmmh

    Like

    Reply
  6.             I shudder as I think about the state of the church in Nigeria; the lack of depth, the pervasive spiritual and scriptural illiteracy  and the arrogance of our Leadership. I have asked over and over for a long time, "to whom do our so called spiritual fathers and (big) Men of God in Nigeria deffer their revelations and doctrines for judgement, or are they above it? The lack of such doctrinal accountability is the reason why our dear brother Pastor Chris (I have to insert his title immediately before I am accused of irreverence) will hold such opinions on the christian walk/life and teach it without a spiritual authority over him calling him aside to properly explain scriptures to him in the matters of the sins of the flesh. To properly respond to Pastor Chris on the masturbation issue and also to the opinion stated above that masturbation is the purest and safest form of sexual activity, I ask the first question, Will Jesus Christ do it? This question almost sounds sacrilegous, but the scriptures teaches  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. The answer is obvious to not just believers in Christ but to his worst critic. The answer is NO, so if it would not be mentioned in relation to the Lord Jesus, it should be viewed as not becoming of saints.

    Furthermore, masturbation is not an isolated act, rather it is a temporary stopage on a failed struggle against lust. It is far from being just between you and your body. No one suddently gets up and masturbates. It begins with imaginations, sensual/sexual fantacies, some times pornographic images help stimulate the tension before the person reaches out for release in masturbation. Masturbation is a by product of a mind set on lust, pornographic images and immorality, so for anyone to claim it is a harmless piece of fun is crass ignorance or self delusional. Meanwhile, The teaching of the gospel is that whoever will look at a woman/man to lust after him/her has committed adultery in the mind. The fantasies, longings and imaginations that lead to the act of masturbation is adultery. Let us recover sexual purity in the church as we seek to rest or sound doctrines and authentic christianity.. What have we really being saved from giving the level of fornication and adultery in the Nigerian church? God help us!!
    Sorry my brother, I wish I could be brief in this issue. I will write an article on it later on the scriptural and psychological pathway to victory. It is not as simple as saying to people, “just stop it”. If the caller or writer of the question could or knows how to, he would not have asked. I struggled with this issue as young christian, learned to walk in victory and have being a counsellor on such for over 15yrs, this you know my brother Uche. Keep the faith.

    Like

    Reply
  7.             Olive my brother, we learned the very hard way, with scars to show for it. I wish those who've traveled this lonely and dangerous path before divine recovery can share their experiences and give a soul somewhere reason to believe and be free. I appreciate you bro, this you know.

    Like

    Reply
  8.             The act of masturbation is an act just like adultery,fornication,smokin and drunkenness,as they'r mention together in d bible.I once was a victim of masturbation for many yrs,i tried many things to stop it but didnt wrk.By God's grace i'm a born again child of God and functionin accordin 2d grace of God upon me.I tried many ways to stop d act but didnt wrk.But by God's grace I'v stopped masturbation,yet if any1 asks me how,i tel u i dont knw,i just cant explain how i stopped it,i just no longer av passion for it.it was God workin in my life.As a matter of fact many children of God finds themselves doin it but I want to advice any1 who finds himself masturbating dt they Shld stop acting in d place of God to stop it.Let them blv God to stop it for them.This might sound unreasonable but God does nt need to do things reasonable to man.I knw preachers who outlined many ways to stop masturbation,though i'v neva heard of such msgs,but i assure u al d ways i devised myself,Whc i knw must also b included in dr outlined ways in dr msgs,did not wrk.It was wen i stopped doin anythin dt God took it up.

    Like

    Reply
  9.             Thank you so much Bro Mayor for sharing your personal struggle with this act. I appreciate your sincere comments here.

    I’m particularly happy to hear you acknowledge the mercy of God in “drying up” the desire for this act in you when you surrendered. Now you won’t have to look far to identity a great miracle in your life.

    May God do same for many of His children who love Him sincerely but feel helplessly trapped with this vice.

    Sir, you are right to say that not much is spoken or taught about how to overcome this. God always makes a way out.

    Please can you make it a discussion topic in your small group or your church so that people can discover God’s way out? You’ll be shocked to see how many (young and old, youths and adults, men and women) will admit to the act WHEN you share your experience.

    Like

    Reply
  10.             I vote no on masturbation. There may be other reasons why it is wrong. For now I rest my vote on the inevitable sexual images which accompany masturbation and which turn women into sexual objects. The sexual thoughts that enable masturbation do not help any man to treat women with greater respect. Therefore masturbation produces real and legitimate guilt and stands in the way of obedience.

    Like

    Reply
  11.             Thank you Oliver and Pastor John.

    Masturbation needs precise imagery of a known female (or even male in case of homosexuals) to reach the goal of sexual orgasm. This thing can’t happen if a mind is not focused on sex.

    But what if the image is one’s spouse? Any answers?

    However, I believe most people who masturbate use pornography and most people who use pornography are unfaithful in their marriage relationship.

    This thing is evil; short and simple.

    Like

    Reply
  12.             The first layer of Law is the Natural Law and masturbation failed at this stage. It's unnatural -  case closed. Animals don't do it. Spirit-fill Christians shouldn't. Sin or no sin is for legalists.

    Like

    Reply
  13.             I sympathize with this generation... really I do. Lately I started thinking intently about 'BOARDING SCHOOLS' and the 'good' they do to some of our children...(male/female). Make no mistake about it whether it's a Christian, Muslim, public or privately run, is not an issue where vices like masturbation, lesbianism, homosexuality, et al, are concerned...

    Like

    Reply
  14.             If masturbation is a sexual sin to you, treat it like other sins. But don't go around teaching it as a sin to others. Let everyone be fully persuaded in their own minds. The Bible said absolutely nothing about this. Outside married, it is the purest and safest form sexual activity among.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment