AVOID PORNOGRAPHY!

Internet Pornography Statistics Statistics

Based on data from 2006 and Grace Transformed Sexuality (information that takes an intentional grace-centered approach to helping men in this battle) by Gary Yagel:

• At any given moment in time, of those on the Internet, 43% are looking at pornography.
• In 2003, there were 1.3 million porn sites. In 2006, the number went to 273 million porn sites. For those three years over 250,000 porn sites were created per day.
• 25% of all Internet searches are for pornography.
• 35% of downloads from the Internet are pornography.
• The average age of first exposure to pornography on the Internet is 11.
• In a study of 8-16 year olds, 90% admitted looking at pornography.
• In a study of 15-17 year olds, 80% admitted having multiple exposure to hard core pornography.
• 47% of Christians say that pornography is a problem in their home.

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Definition & Scripture

Webster Definition for "pornography"
por.nog.ra.phy \po.r-'na:g-r*-fe-\ n [Gk pornographos, adj., writing of harlots, fr. porne - harlot + graphein to write; a kin to Gk pernanai to sell, poros journey - more at FARE, CARVE] 1: the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement 2: pornographic material

Look at the definition of the word and its roots. Pornography literally means "the writing of whores." Refer to the following verses that are applicable to pornography: Exodus 20:14 (Adultery? See Matthew 5:28), Deuteronomy 5:18 (Adultery? See Matthew 5:28), Job 31:1, Proverbs 6:23-26, Proverbs 17:24, Matthew 5:28, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Philippians 4:8, I Thessalonians 4:4-5, 2 Peter 2:14, and 1 John 2:16 (and there are others!). If you have fallen into the trap of pornography, read Hebrews 4:16. Realize the sin, confess it to others in the faith and to God, ask His forgiveness, and repent (turn your back on it). If you mess up, you are not a failure. Go to God, scrape off your knees, and keep moving forward with Him.

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A word about repentance . . .

Repentance is turning your back on sin, but it is more than that. Sin produces death in many forms. For a specific sin, the death could be physical or spiritual (such as in blasphemy of the Holy Spirit or never receiving Christ as Lord and Savior). Sin results in consequences, which bring anguish to the mind, brokenness to the heart, and hurt to relationships with God and with others. Many times, we feel "bad" after we sin, but we "repent" only out of a desire to not feel "bad." We "repent" out of self-centered motives. True repentance is not about finding a quick ticket to not feel bad about sin. I'm not saying God cannot use our feeling bad about sin in the role of repentance. However, true repentance is the pursuit of God's holiness. Do we repent because we hunger and thirst for God or simply so we won't feel bad anymore? We do not naturally desire God. Only His Spirit can give us that desire. It is an act of His grace. We cannot depend on external things to make us repent (not that accountability and measures aren't helpful), but we must depend on God. Repentance is a heart change. Pray to God regarding faith and repentance. He will answer. Bill Leach, Associate Pastor for Ministries at Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) said, "Godly sorrow always comes from God and His Word, not our circumstances."

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Questions

1. Are you setting yourself up for failure by the company you keep, the places you go (in reality or online), the way you spend your time, or keeping a hidden cache of pornographic materials?
2. Are you repenting so you simply feel better or are you pursuing God in your repentance?
3. Since idolatry is what's behind lust, what idols do you need to leave behind?
4. How is your walk with God going? Do you see your need for God?
5. What situations lead to your falling and how can you trust God to help you cope differently?
6. Do you think any less of yourself (denying your dignity as a person) for having fallen into this sin?
7. Do you realize that you are not so bad that you are beyond God's grace nor so good that you don't need God's grace?
   * * * God can reach you and you need Him! * * *
8. Have you made a covenant with your eyes and taken every thought captive?
9. Are you meeting with someone for accountability/discipleship?
10. Are you setting reasonable goals (1 week, 1 month, 2 months…) with an accountability partner keeping you in check?
11. Are you claiming victory even in the small battles (e.g. "went a week without")?
12. Are you going to the throne of God in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16) instead of beating yourself up when you relapse?
13. Are you fleeing even the appearance of evil (as subtle as a celebrity news link to as tempting as a swimwear ad to as blatant as an obvious link to sexualized material)?
14. Do you think that perhaps God has called you to be on the vanguard of this battle and that is why you may have wrestled with it?
15. Do you believe that the battle belongs to the Lord?
16. How might God use your adversity for ministry?
17. Can you praise and worship God in spite of yourself? With your lips? With your mind? With your eyes? With your body?

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Recommended Reading:

When Good Men Are Tempted by Bill Perkins; published by Zondervan Publishing House (Grand Rapids, Michigan); copyright 1997.

13 Ways to Ruin Your Life by Jarrod Jones; published by Gresham Hill Publishing; copyright 2008.

Virtual Integrity: Faithfully Navigating the Brave New Web by Daniel J. Lohrmann; published by Baker Publishing Group; copyright 2008.

"How and Why Pornography Hurts a Marriage" by Nicholas Black, Harvest News, Harvest USA

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