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AVOID PORNOGRAPHY! |
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"It's not the shouting of pornography that gives it so much power over men. It is the whispering of the lie."
- MJ Cusick
Pornography Statistics: Annual Report (Covenant Eyes)
10 Ugly Numbers Describing Pornography Use in 2017 - Tim Challies
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:
The Numbers Behind Pornography (2002-2003)
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.
Related Links and Recommended Reading:
Stop using porn.As evil and degrading as pornography is, here’s another reason to never look at it. Porn is part of the problem. If you are looking at pornography, you are perpetuating the industry of sex trafficking. I recently read a disturbing article, called “The Slave and the Porn Star: Sexual Trafficking and Pornography," in the Journal of Human Rights and Civil Society, which is a publication of the Protection Project based at Johns Hopkins University. The authors show various connections between pornography and sexual exploitation. Many of the individuals who appear in pornography are slaves. They have been trafficked, drugged, manipulated in some way, and are forced to be part of this wicked business. Then there are the forces of supply and demand, and the way that pornography creates more and more demand for the commercial sex industry. Pornography is like the gateway drug. People get addicted, and then they want something more. Pornography fuels prostitution (heightening the demand for sex), and a higher demand for sex means more lucrative opportunities for pimps, which means more women and children exploited by them for these purposes. So if you’re looking at porn, even if you’re not paying for it, you’re showing the advertisers and producers of pornography and all those involved in the sex business that demand is high, which then motivates them to shame and exploit even more people. Think about that the next time you’re tempted to click on that website. Your momentary “pleasure” is contributing to the absolute devastation of women and girls and boys around the world.
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Oversold ~ The inside story is incredible. The lead actress, Crissy Moran, was a porn model/actress for six years. In 2006, she dedicated her life to Christ (not sure if it was a conversion or rededication) and walked away from the industry. She also stopped accepting the money from the porn web sites, even though she was still legally entitled to it. More can be found at her MySpace page. This is a powerful, inspiring story. It really gives a clear picture of the pain experienced by the women who are used and abused so that others can make a quick buck. She is a sharp reminder that there are real people with real feelings behind the airbrushed images. I think that her performance in Oversold is going to be phenomenal, since she will be showing the emotions she experienced and not just making it up." ~ Thanks to my friend MWN for submitting his thoughts. 
Why Is Sex Outside Of Marriage So Destructive? | Tim Keller: The great porn experiment | Gary Wilson | TedxGlasgow: The Coolidge Effect: Men and the Power of the Visual | PragerU: It's Time For a War on Porn | Matt Walsh "It's no coincidence that a country addicted to porn would produce so many perverts and predators. Maybe it's time to have an awkward but necessary conversation about our porn problem." - Matt Walsh 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, former Associate Pastor for Ministries at Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) said, "Godly sorrow always comes from God and His Word, not our circumstances." The Temple of God's Spirit
You should know that your body
is a temple for the Holy Spirit who is in you. You have received the Holy Spirit from God. So you do not belong to yourselves.
1 Corinthians 6:19
You will live forever in this body. It will be different, mind you. What is now crooked will be straightened. What is now faulty will be fixed. Your body will be different, but you won't have a different body. You will have this one. Does that change the view you have of it? I hope so. God has a high regard for your body. You should as well. Respect it. I did not say worship it. But I did say respect it. It is after all the temple of God. Be careful how you feed it, use it, and maintain it. You wouldn't want anyone trashing your home; God doesn't want anyone trashing his. After all, it is his, isn't it? When Christ Comes ~Max Lucado |
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5 Types of Nonsexual Affairs You Probably Didn't Know About
Ask Pastor John: Fighting Porn Addiction with Grudem's Systematic Theology
Competing with Porn by Harvey Yoder
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