Are Using Sex Toys – Like Vibrators Or Dildos – A Sin?

Is It A Sin To Use Sex Toys Like Vibrators Or Dildos?

It might be a sin to use a sex toy, but only because there is almost never a clear-cut “yes” or “no” answer where religious beliefs are concerned.

Dr. Christie Hartman, a psychologist on our medical review board, said, “The use of sex toys is a personal choice, but if religious faith is an important part of your life, it’s natural that you might wonder if doing so is ‘okay’ or a big no-no.”

Vibrator use, whether alone or with a partner, may be considered a sinful act to some religious people, but not to everyone — and not necessarily in every circumstance.

The same thing applies to any other type of sex toy, like dildos.

For instance, one person might feel that sex toy use occurring between a married couple is perfectly fine and a healthy reflection of their love and commitment to one another.

Someone else might feel that any sexual use of an inanimate object, such as a dildo or a vibrator, is sinful no matter what — or even a form of premarital sex — because they view the act as one that is lustful or sexually immoral.

Lust and sexual immorality are addressed in many religious texts as something to avoid because it goes against God.

However, those passages are widely open to personal interpretation, as we’ll talk about in just a bit.

Many people see human sexuality as something to be celebrated (just as we do at Women’s Health Interactive), and as such, sexual stimulation from a vibrator is then viewed as a celebration of God or the divine.

Life — and the sexual pleasure it can bring, including orgasms from vibrators — are considered to be gifts that were meant to be enjoyed.

If you personally look at it this way, vibrator use might be viewed as anything but a sin.

That said, many religious beliefs preach the practice of self-restraint and an avoidance of anything considered to be sexually immoral or lustful.

Again, what you consider to be sexually immoral or lustful might be considerably different from your neighbor sitting in the pew behind you at church on Sunday.

1 Peter 2:11 NIV advises, “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.”

Bearing this in mind, if you consider vibrator use to be a sinful desire, it is.

What Does The Bible Say About Sex Toys?

The Bible does not specifically say anything about sex toys — not a single word.

In fact, terms like masturbation, dildos, or vibrators are not found anywhere within its texts — although to be fair, vibrators are a relatively recent invention.

(Dildos, on the other hand, have been around for centuries.)

While the Bible doesn’t address sex toys, there are, however, many passages within the Bible that can be construed as speaking out against masturbation or immoral acts, and by association, the use of sex toys.

For instance, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6 says:

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified; that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.”

After reading that passage, it’s clear that sexual immorality and a loss of self-control are sins that are addressed in the Bible, which could be applied to the use of sex toys — but indirectly.

Galatians 6:8 NIV warns, “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

This is another passage that could be construed to relate specifically to masturbation or using sex toys — after all, the very act involves doing something to please your flesh.

That said, it could also apply to eating a piece of cake, taking a nap, or any other activity that makes you feel good.

Romans 13:14 NIV advises us to “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Again, this is open to interpretation.

If you’re thinking about using a sex toy, you’re also clearly thinking about how to gratify the desires of your flesh.

Lustful deeds that evoke physical pleasure are admonished throughout the Bible in far too many places to count.

In fact, lust is written about — repeatedly — in many other books, including Ephesians, Matthew, Peter, Proverbs, and perhaps most famously, Leviticus.

The book of Leviticus is full of instructions that relate to who (or what) people can have sexual relations with (and when) — but even that does not specifically state anything about objects like sex toys.

And if any book of the Bible was going to talk about sex toys like vibrators or dildos, we all know it would be Leviticus.

The Final Verdict

Ultimately, sex toy use is sinful only if your personal religious beliefs (or your interpretation of the Bible) lead you to feel that way.

The Bible does not directly address the use of sex toys specifically, however, many passages discuss sexual immorality, fleshly pleasures, or lust as vehicles for sin.

The way you interpret those passages as they relate to sexual pleasure or the use of sex toys is rooted in your personal beliefs on the subject.

Dr. Christie Hartman, the psychologist on our medical review team we spoke with earlier, explained, “What’s important here is that your actions (e.g. your use of sex toys) are consistent with your belief system.”

“When these don’t match, it creates guilt, frustration, or other problems,” she added.

If you don’t feel that the use of vibrators or sex toys is an act that’s considered to be lustful or sexually immoral, you’re not sinning against God if you use them.

Many people consider sexual pleasure to be a God-given gift that should be celebrated — sin-free — but again, it all comes down to the way you personally feel about it.

Only you can answer that question for yourself.