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Porn's destruction is infiltrating the church

sermonindex May 31, 2011

Foes of pornography are losing, and an onslaught of sexual attacks likely will result, Southern Baptist ethicist Richard Land believes.

"We're losing this war. We haven't lost it, but we're losing it," Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said at a conference on porn and sex exploitation. "And if you don't think we're losing it, you spend time with college-age young people, and you'll find out we're losing."

He described hardcore, online pornography as "the greatest danger this country faces."

"~~[I]~~t is destroying our culture. It is destroying our families. It is destroying our children," Land said. ...

read more: http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=35406

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sonsigns May 31, 2011

I totally agree with this brother.

I know of a man in Indiana that was hook on pornography for years. Then he molested his daughter from the time she was five until he was caught by his own parents when he moved into their home. His daughter at the time was 12 years old.

His parents set up servaliance camera's hidden in a toy. they were shock at what they saw and turn the video over to a city detective.

This man is spending only 10 years for his crime, while his daughter has to live with the scares for life.

sermonindex May 31, 2011

Stories like that evoke multiple layers of disgust in me.

I knew a man who was a friend of the family when I was a kid. Church going family... lots of kids. Farmers.

Came out once his daughters were old enough to go off to college that he's been perpetrating evil upon them since they were toddlers. No one ever knew or saw the signs... until after it all came out.

I dont know how much porn played into that, if at all, but it shows you the depths of evil and depravity that even men who "claim" to be Christians (obviously he was not a Christian) can sink to.

Krispy

H

hoohoou May 31, 2011

Sadly, I know exactly what it does to a man's mind. It's also becoming more common for women. Only by the grace of God was I finally delivered from it. There is little like it that satan uses against people. The anger it causes, shame it causes, and detachment from loved ones is nothing compared to the lure. I've also seen the effects in a ruined marriage in my family. It is insidious and will completely deceive a man. This family member walked away from 4 great kids and a wonderful wife because his mind had been shaped by the images he was constantly feeding it. His wife had no chance to compete with it.

It's the law of diminishing returns. It starts simple and eventually you hear of the things described already. It is never enough.

It is incredible to me how pervasive it is in a man's life. I wasn't aware of how much of my life was affected. All of it was. How my wife stuck by me is beyond me, even taking away the sin that was at the root.

The thing about it being such a problem in Christian circles is that everyone knows naturally that it is wrong. I heard a nationally known preacher tell teenagers that if they do that they are like zombies and people will think that they are weird and gross. I can assure you that they, themselves, already think that. The hope in solving the problem is not in making sure they know what they are doing is wrong. The hope lies in making sure they know Who their Hope is. They are weird and they are gross. That's the point of the gospel. None are righteous, no not one. We are all zombies and gross until the King of Kings reaches down and plucks us out of the miry clay.

As you pray about this situation please don't pray that God will open their eyes to the sin. Satan does this regularly. They are tormented with guilt, I can assure you. Guilt will not save them, only Jesus. Pray that they can set their eyes to the hills from whence their salvation comes. They need an encounter with a holy God. That is the only thing that can save them and not more determination.

A

AbideinHim May 31, 2011

With pornography being so destructive and so very common within the church, even among ministers, my question is this: Why are pastors not preaching on this subject more?

There is a way to stay out of the trap of pornography, and even for those that are in bondage there is freedom. This problem is never going to be dealt with by remaining silent and sweeping it under the rug.

Mike

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rufnrust May 31, 2011

I recently shared with my son who is in college and finds himself turning to porn, that he must first repent and renounce his sin. Repent for looking to other comforters.etc..

I then told him to destroy his movies, and quit watching them altogether. Even PG!? or PG13!? Some of these "lesser" evil movies still have the same sensual spirit that entraps the minds of men. It is like feeding it a french fry instead of a full course meal with an R rated movie or worse. Edit: It still keeps it alive.

He did what I said. And after praying with him, I committed it all to the Lord our Deliverer. He now confessed that he thought I was nuts about the effect of movies, (even not so bad ones) and that I was over correcting. He is now saying that I was right and the freedom he has found is blowing his mind. All of the hours wasted on movies is now being channeled into the Word, relationships, healthy activities,
and a growing walk with Jesus.

When will the Church quit supporting this wicked industry as if we can't live without it!? Many condemn porn and turn around and watch R rated sex that used to be rated X !!!
Who's kingdom are we representing?!! There is a realm of freedom called the kingdom of God where we are supposed to be thriving! And demonstrating to a broken, enslaved world.

How about it! Tear down the idols!!! Every high thing exalting its lie against the Most High must come down!

Edit: I realize movies are only one issue.

Ruf

A

AbideinHim May 31, 2011

"I then told him to destroy his movies, and quit watching them altogether. Even PG!? or PG13!? Some of these "lesser" evil movies still have the same sensual spirit that entraps the minds of men. It is like feeding it a french fry instead of a full course meal with an R rated movie or worse."

Brother, this is very good advice. Christians beleive that they can dabble with movies that are not considered to be pornographic but still show partial nudity and are unclean. This is the bait that Satan uses to draw Christians away with the lust of the flesh and of the eyes, and lead them down the path of destruction.

The Lord has dealt with me about just flipping through the channels with the remote. I no longer will subscribe to Sports Illustrated because of the swimsuit issue. This is the sort of thing that many Chritians view as being harmless but it is an open door and gives place to harmful lusts that war against the soul.

Mike

Mike

M

mama27 May 31, 2011

I am a female. And this evil has come into the lives of the men I love. It destroys homes and families. It destroys trust. I do not believe there is a word in the English language that can describe the vileness of it, and its resulting consequences. As believing women we are called to forgive, and forgive we must. But forgiveness does not just wipe away emotional damage and scars. It can take years to heal.

I believe rufnrust's advice to his son to be right on. I implore each and every man reading this to go to battle against this monster. I have preached and preached, and begged and begged, and prayed and prayed for my family. But a man has to WANT to be set free. There must first be made "no provision for the flesh" (next to impossible in our culture, but not totally impossible). But then there must be a broken realization that it is first an affront to a holy God, and a seeking hard after Him....Maybe then our homes and families can begin to be repaired, and our marriages truly be the picture of Christ and His Bride that they are intended to be.

From a female perspective I am almost despairing. If any of you men have had victory in this area, PLEASE reach out to the men around you and help them, for this is not being dealt with in our pulpits.

W

White_Stone May 31, 2011

ACLU Wants Porn For Inmates

http://www.news4jax.com/news/28077765/detail.html

"The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the Berkeley County Jail's book policy, because it wants inmates to have access to pornographic materials.

It started over a claim that the South Carolina jail was only offering the Bible for inmates to read. "The press seems to be saying that the only thing allowed in the jail is a Christian Bible and that is just not true. And, it has not been true," said Sandra J. Senn, attorney for Berkeley County Jail."

Even when the Prison's offer the inmates hope, it is taken away from them.

I feel this is terribly wrong but then anything I read in the news reads the same way to me. The only Good News is in God's Holy Word. Thank God for the Bibles we have available to us. I pray for the Saints who do not have the written Word. Actually, I pray for all the Saints and potential Saints.

white stone

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sonsigns Jun 1, 2011

The problem with porn is that once a person see's it, it can creep to your remembrance for life. I believe the devil brings it to the surface.
The solution is when it does it needs to be cast down immediately. It is when a person entertains these thought is when it can take over.

L

LorraineH Jul 13, 2011

I don't see the point of allowing any pornographic materials in a prison. I agree with those who reasons out that prison life is "supposed to be" different from the life outside, that is a place of restriction and confinement after all. But I think the stronger argument is that criminals of various sex-related cases are also held in a prison, so what positive change can we expect from them if they have access to the object of their desire? I'm positive that some criminals can change for the better if they want to and lead a meaningful life inside or outside of prison, but this kind of privilege will just feed the same fantasies that led them down the wrong path in the first place. Banning of these kind of materials should have been done long ago.

L

Lysa Jul 13, 2011

"~~[I]~~t is destroying our culture. It is destroying our families. It is destroying our children," Land said. ...

I don’t believe that it’s one type of sin that is destroying our culture; it 100% sin, pure and simple, that is destroying our culture, our families and our children. Porn is just one ugly tentacle. I’m trying to say that the underlying cause of porn is that there was “sin in the camp” to begin with.
Think about it for a moment.... We sow to the wind when we “gossip,” or “criticize,” and maybe “a little lust here, a little there” (“just fill-in-the-blank with a sin”), thinking it will be ok and won’t affect anyone else BUT WE ARE REAPING THE WHIRLWIND with the effects of it on and in our families and especially in our children.
And the whirlwind comes in many shapes and sizes: F1 to F5 tornados, F1 to f5 hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, sandstorms (US just had one). And in my humble opinion, addiction to porn is just one angry breath of that whirlwind we are reaping.

God bless you,
Lisa

sermonindex Jul 16, 2011

I can honestly say it has destroyed my life. I was in as deep as any man could get. It ruined my health, and it very much affected my relationships with women for the worse. It would change my spirit as I became filled with demonic spirits, and it took away the good natural affections that I had towards women. It replaced those with raging lust.

Cost:

1. My health. I'm not going into details.
2. Job. I could not hold a job longer than 18 months.
3. Single. I've never been married. I wasn't able to relate properly to women. So, it cost me getting married to a really nice Christian girl and having a family.
4. Service for the Lord was much reduced in that I became a zombie after a binge and couldn't function.
5. Lived an escapism life which lead to me being very lonely.
6. Poverty.

The author is right. And Jack Hayford was right when made a teaching tape series, "Why sexual sins are worse than others".

http://www.jackhayford.org/articles1-459/FatalAttractionsWhySexSinsAreWorseThanOthers

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sarahsdream Jul 16, 2011

Thank you for your willingness to share. This is really tragic but your willingness to share will no doubt help others. Being honest is a ministry to the Body in itself.

sermonindex Jul 16, 2011

Sarah I truly hope that your daughters can walk out the guidance that you and your husband have given them. There is so much pressure on young people now days in the area of their sexuality. Most all of them have seen porn by the time they are 10 or 11, and the sexual promiscuity at their high school is through the roof. I love the stories where a young man and woman meet at some particular event and they never even date anybody else and wind up getting married and living happily ever after. In fact I know a young lady that recently got married, and that would be her story. I have never believed this nonsense that you have to date 15 or 20 different people to know who you are compatible with. That is the world's way of thinking.

I hope you will read that link to the book by Jack Hayford. It will encourage you. And, I've posted this before on this board I think, but I will repost the 2 stories about how the Lord spoke to me about meeting women in my own life.

And thanks so much for your prayers. I truly believe that I will walk out of this by the grace of God.

Meeting Christian Girls God’s Way

I just want to tell you a couple of stories that illustrate how very involved the Lord is in our relationships. Both of these incidents happened when I was still in the illicit sexual behavior that has been in my life for a long time. Whether you believe them or not, they are absolutely true and I'm not going to exaggerate one bit.

When I was about 32, I was driving to a Steven Curtis Chapman concert at a place in Euless, TX called Footloose. It was a Christian entertainment type thing that isn't there anymore. Anyway, I had been praying for a while to the Lord that I might be able to meet a Latina type woman. I know that may sound weird, but I have always been attracted to petite dark-haired or brunette women. Maybe I just felt inferior dating a "normal" white girl. I guess that had something to do with it. Anyway, when I was about 1 mile from Footloose, the Lord spoke to me (not audibly) as clearly as ever and He asked, "You want a Latina girl?" I'm telling you that's what He said. I arrived at the concert and took a seat towards the back in the middle section before the concert started. I was sitting by myself. Sometime just before the concert started, I noticed there was this really cute petite Latina type girl sitting next to me on my right. I had been sitting by myself, but the place had begun to really fill up. This girl had the whole Latina look with the blue jeans and bright red shoes and dark hair, etc. She was about 5'1" tall and probably weighed about 100 lbs. I talked to her off and on during the concert. She was from Nicaragua and her family had just came to the United States during the Contra freedom fighter thing that was happening in Nicaragua during the Reagan Presidency. She thought she didn't speak good English, but she really spoke good English. She was an adorable girl. She was 21 years old. During the concert this girl kept bumping into me too which I thought was unusual. I know you may think this is funny, but it's true. When the concert was over I stayed in my seat for a while because I wanted to wait for the crowd to die down before I left, and I also wanted to buy a couple albums. This girl got up to leave with the people she came with. As she was waiting in the line to get out the door, she kept looking over at me like, "you moron aren't you even going to ask me for my phone number?" Unfortunately I had on my mind what I was going to do in Dallas after I left the concert which was not good. It wasn't until a while afterward that I actually realized what had happened and what the Lord spoke to me just before I got to the concert that night. The thing is, I wanted to do things my way (illicit) by going to Dallas instead of the Lord's way which was to start a relationship with this beautiful girl I had met at this concert. She was what I had requested (physically anyway) in prayer, but I was too stupid or whatever to trust the Lord in this situation. I wanted to handle things my way.

Fast forward about 14 years and I guess I was about 46 at the time. I had gone for almost a year without the illicit activity in my life. I thought that I was over it. I went to a TCU football game in Ft. Worth, TX near the time of Thanksgiving. I prayed for a while before I went to the game, and I was praying that the Lord would deliver me from going to the strip places in Ft. Worth where there were drugs and prostitution. As I was praying the Lord spoke to me just as clearly as he had the first time and He said, "There is someone at the game I want you to meet". I didn't know what to think of this, but I didn't think I had my act together enough to start a relationship. I went to the game. It was a night game and due to being near the holidays there weren't quite as many people there. TCU was winning and they upset #17 ranked Louisville at that game. There was this girl I had noticed there that was so attractive to me. She was the type of girl that I had told the Lord I would like to have as a wife. Again, I'm talking physical attraction here. You know how shallow us guys are about this. Anyway, this girl was "hot" to use the modern term. At least she was to me and I thought I wish I could meet somebody like her. I thought for sure this girl had to be married. I never more than glanced at her, and she never saw me looking at her. With about 2 minutes left in the game I moved down to a completely different section of stands near the 10 yard line. I did this because I was making my way out of the stadium and wanted to beat the crowd out a little bit. I was about 4 or 5 rows back in this section of stands and there was NOBODY in this entire section of stands except me. All of the sudden this girl that I had noticed walks down and stands right next to me!! I looked at her, and she kind of awkwardly looked away out of embarrassment I guess. Now, my mind is racing. This time I realize that I am right in the middle of what the Lord told me was going to happen. But I begin to justify in my mind why I can't have a relationship with this girl. I'm not enough this or that or the other thing. I never opened my mouth and after about a minute or two of her standing there, she went back to hang out with the people she came to the game with. I didn't talk to her because I can't talk to women. I have no problem with that or making conversation, etc. I guess I just couldn't believe that a girl as attractive as this girl was would really like me if she knew who I really was. So guess what? After the game was over I went to the seedy section of Ft. Worth like clockwork.

The moral of these two stories? The Lord knows the number of hairs on each head of all 6 billion people on Earth, so surely He can "hook you up" with somebody if you will just seek Him about it. It's no big deal to Him. When we insist on going our own way or insist on this person or that person, we may very well get them but it could also mean more problems. The Lord may very well give us what we want. I just found that going my way has lead to heartache and ruin. It is the opposite of true love, closeness, intimacy, children, family, etc. all the things I really wanted--not just sex.

So that's it.

sermonindex Jul 16, 2011

Sarahsdream,

No matter what others tell you or your daughters about overlooking pasts, and forgiving mistakes (which is extremely important) I wholeheartedly and 100% agree with your and your husband's wisdom regarding the type of guys you would like to see your daughters with. I know far too many Christian guys who though they've never been involved in any sexual immorality themselves, say they're willing to marry girls who have, and overlook it, mostly because that's really the only options they have to choose from it would seem.

I myself, as a single younger man, would much rather stay single than live a life with someone who freely shared their body with another person before our relationship began. Unfortunately finding girls like that, seems to be rare (as I've honestly not yet met one in any church setting who I'd find compatible) and many guys are just kind of begrudgingly going along with the "let the past be the past", though I think secretly they're rather off put and troubled by it.

I know you directed your question at Endzone not blaming you for your stance, but I'll answer as well, and say that I find your stance totally respectable. I wish more of the girls of my generation had mothers and fathers who were willing to set the standard high for their daughters.

Don't let anyone tell you, your husband, or your daughters otherwise.

S

sarahsdream Jul 16, 2011

Thank you, Everest. You also bring up a very good point. It is not just men but women also, and in increasing measure.

Men should also believe God to bring someone with sexual purity to them.

M

mama27 Jul 16, 2011

I almost think that I don't want my children marrying anyone that has had a promiscuous lifestyle before they were Christian. In fact, I don't think, I don't want them to, period.

Sarah,
I have 4 unmarried daughters - 3 of them in their 20's. We have held to the same stance as you. I agree in my head. But given the culture we live in where there is pornography any time you step foot outside your door or even go to the grocery store, and given the depravity of the human soul, I wonder if such a man exists.....I am not referring to fornication, but to lust, to viewing and desiring women wrongly... I know my daughters are asking me if such a man exists, and I have to say to them, "I don't know...." It is a grief to me to even type these words. (and I should probably say that of course it has nothing to do with forgiveness and the blood of Christ covering ANY sin)

And another topic for another thread, but are we as Christian women dressing in a way that does NOT in any way cause a brother to stumble??

S

sarahsdream Jul 16, 2011

Even in a marriage, true contentment and fulfillment is in the Lord, ultimately, and we could never look to one another to fill that need. I hope you know what I am saying.

Though none go with me, still I will follow...

M

mama27 Jul 16, 2011

I must have misunderstood you - I thought you were saying that you were waiting for a man who had NEVER struggled with issues of lust.....

We are in agreement....

This discussion is locked.