The Destructive Nature of Pornography

As we continue our study in purity, it is important to address the problem of pornography. Statistics have shown that…

• 90% of children ages 8-16 have viewed porn

• 70% of men ages 18-34 visit a porn site in a typical month

• 1 in every 6 women struggle with porn addiction

• The pornography industry is larger than the revenues of the top technology companies combined: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix and EarthLink—10-14 billion dollars a year.

• Women, more than men, are likely to act out their behaviors in real life, such as having multiple partners, casual sex, or affairs.

Pornography isn’t just a problem among non-Christians, it is also common in the church. In fact, some have said that porn is the number one problem in the church today. A few more stats indicate that 7 of 10 lay leaders in the church admitted to visiting pornographic web sites at least once a week
 and 5 out of 10 pastors said they did the same.

These statistics are clear indicators that we, as the church, are failing to pursue God in purity! It seems that purity is esteemed too little and desired too late. And rather than receiving God’s truths in this area, Christians ignore the Lord’s warnings and continue down a path that only brings death. Pornography is a problem in the church because of the refusal to believe that God’s way is best and that sin is destructive. In this post, we will highlight the serious consequences of pornography.

As we’ve established in anther post, sex is to be an act of love towards a spouse. Pornography essentially trains men and women to be consumers, not lovers. When sex becomes self-focused, it only fuels pride and selfishness. Porn treats sex as a commodity, something on-tap, and made to order. It encourages self-indulgence rather than a gift God gave to husband and wife for the mutual pleasure of each other. 

1. Porn Decreases Sexual Satisfaction.

Pornography trains a person to desire a variety of partners. God has called a man or woman to be devoted to their spouse alone. In Proverbs 5:19, wisdom calls out to the married person to be delighted in their spouse. The Bible teaches that your husband or wife is to be your standard of beauty!

Like Hollywood, Pornography puts on display those who are exceptionally beautiful and who have perfect bodies that are often altered by plastic surgery (and Photoshop). An extensive study of the effects of pornography stated that those who engaged in watching porn were less likely to be pleased with their partner’s physical appearance, affection, and sexual performance. When men and women were exposed to pictures of female centerfold models from pornographic magazines, it significantly lowered their judgment about the attractiveness of “average” people.

Whether single or married, porn fuels lust and conditions a person to desire something that is only a fantasy. Men (and women) who believe they can look at a naked person without those images being imbedded in their minds and haunting them in the marriage bed are fools. We must remember that God is the creator of sexual satisfaction and has designed marriage, not porn, for its enjoyment.

2. Porn Disconnects Us from Real Relationships. 
It trains us to detach emotional involvement from sexual experience. Sex was created by God to be an intimate and emotional experience that is to be guarded and reserved for marriage. Pornography trains men to be digital voyeurs, to prefer looking at women more than seeking out genuine intimacy. If Satan can successfully detach our hearts from sex, he can successfully train us to compartmentalize other areas of our lives. This is what characterizes a hypocrite! A person who can “casually” engage in sexual activity is one who has become desensitized to the way God created them. If sinful actions no longer cause you to be remorseful, you are in danger of quenching the Holy Spirit’s work in your life.

3. Porn Lowers Our View of Women (and men).

It trains us to see others as sexual commodities. I Tim 5:1-2 tells us that we are to view others as brothers and sisters in Christ with ALL purity. Dr. Zillmann, who conducted extensive research on pornography, said, “Men who view pornographic lust invariably see women as objects with parts and are incapable of being friendly with attractive young women because they cannot view such women in a non-sexual manner.” God has created men and women in His image. People are not sexual commodities but are worthy of great honor (Gen 1:27, 1 Pet. 3:7)! 

4. Porn Makes Us Want to Watch More Porn.

Porn can actually effect the neuro-circuitry of our brains, making us desire more and more. Proverbs 27:20 says that the eyes of man are never satisfied. Lust only fuels more lust. Dr. Zillmann’s continued research in this area found that the habitual use of pornography led to greater tolerance of sexually explicit material over time, requiring the viewer to consume more novel and bizarre material to achieve the same level of arousal or interest. Sin only leads to more sin, and the addictive nature of pornography is certainly no exception.

It is very interesting that even non-Christians have come to see the damaging nature of porn. Here is a 5 minute video from a psychologist who explains how porn is effecting men: http://www.ted.com/talks/zimchallenge.html 

And here is another interesting (secular) presentation on porn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSF82AwSDiU 

More than maybe we even realized, pornography is eroding away the purity of the church. We cannot simultaneously allow ourselves to be exploring the boundaries of purity while pursuing righteousness at the same time. So, how DO we overcome giving into pornography and avoid from becoming another statistic? God’s Word gives us ample verses to help us in our quest for purity. Here are a few… 

1 John 1:9-
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 

The first step towards change is always repentance! Repentance not only involves an acknowledgement of sin but also a follow-through of forsaking that sin. We must see sin how God sees sin and then turn from it by obeying Him. 

Ps 119:9-11-

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” 

David, the Psalmist, pursued purity by clinging to the principles found in God’s Word. If we are constantly renewing our mind in the truths of Scripture, we will be strengthened by the promises God has for those who follow Him. For example, Psalm 1 talks about the person who is strong enough to stand the storms of life… all because he takes delight in God’s Word. If you are rooted in truth, even when temptation comes, you will be able to resist it. 

2 Tim 2:22-

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 

Avoiding sexual temptation is only half the battle. Without the other half, we are doomed to failure. This verse says to flee AND pursue. Loving God is not just about hating evil but also learning to love that which is good. In order to overcome bad habits, good habits must be developed in their place. Striving after purity is active, not passive. 

Proverbs 28:13-

“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” 

In order to deal with sexual sin, we must get it out in the light! Do you have a trusted friend (of the same sex) who can help hold you accountable? Confessing your struggles to someone is a great way to start the process of overcoming porn. If you want to have joy and peace in life, concealing sin will not get you there. 

James 5:16-

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” 

Again, the process of overcoming sexual sin involves confessing to others who can help strengthen you in your weakness through accountability (Hebrews 10:24-25). 

Proverbs 24:6-

“For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory.” 

Fighting sin is a war! Overcoming porn is a battle. My little brother is a Marine, and has been going through extensive training over the past year. The more he learns from those who are experienced, the more success he will achieve in wartime. The Christian walk is no different… we need to be seeking out the wise counsel of others so that we are prepared. 

Proverbs 24:3-

“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.” 

Before embarking on the construction of a house, it is important to carefully draw up detailed plans that consider every aspect of the building process. Spiritually speaking, if we are going to build the foundation of purity in our lives, it also will take careful planning. What are some practical steps you can take in your life to plot out the plan of purity? When do you find yourself tempted? James 1:21 says to “get rid of all moral filth” in our lives… what will this take in your situation? Do you need to get rid of your smart phone? Do you need to have your door open at all times so your roommates can hold you accountable? Do you need to limit who you spend time with or avoid those people/places all together? Do you need to find a healthy roommate situation? What will it take? How will you develop your plan?

As we have seen, pornography is destructive and has HUGE consequences in how a person thinks and views sex and other people. If you struggle with porn, please take the necessary steps to overcome this sin in your life. If you need help and encouragement, my wife and I are available to help you in the process. Please don’t hesitate to contact us: 29eleven@mvcchurch.org

~AF