Dear Pastor,

I have two questions. Is it right to do phone sex, and is it ok to masturbate?

Curious, New York, USA

Dear Curious,

Your questions do not require yes or no answers. Some married couples, who are apart from each other, do engage in phone sex. Some people may condemn this sort of behaviour but these people are married and, because of circumstances, are not living together. One may be living in Jamaica and the other in America and they keep each other's company by enjoying phone sex. Is it right for married couples to engage in phone sex? You be the judge.

On the other hand, there are some people, who are not married, don't know each other, meet online, and engage in phone sex. This cannot be viewed the same way. Engaging phone sex usually involves masturbation and the use of suggestive language, etc. Should single people engage in such behaviour? You be the judge.

Some single people masturbate regularly. They do so by themselves. Some counsellors condemn such behaviour, others don't. I have been saying for years that the Bible is silent on masturbation and when it comes to certain subjects where the Bible is silent, then I am silent.

Pastor