Is masturbation a sexually immoral act?

This is a very sensitive topic for Christian believers, and one on which there will probably a certain amount of disagreement. The Bible does not often describe the exact definition of "immorality," but most believers would agree that "immoral" means not in line with the moral code God gives us in the Holy Bible. Since sex and sexual activity were designed by God to be healthy and safely enjoyed only within the bonds of marriage, masturbation outside of marriage is not healthy in a moral sense. The Bible describes anything that takes a shortcut to pleasure or fulfillment apart from God's will and guidance as compromise, and compromise in a moral choice is not God's best for us.