A Frank Discussion on Porn and Christianity

I just finished reading Porn-Again Christian by Mark Driscoll.  It is the most frank and condemning discussion on pornography that I have ever read. I believe that all leaders should read this. If I could put a copy in the hands of every man I met, I would.

Mark gives a clear examination of the effects of the porn industry on the Christian man, American culture, and women. He opens the booklet with an introduction to the problem of lust in our modern culture. He also explains that this booklet is for men. I have to agree with this. The booklet is not appropriate for a woman to read. Parts of it can be shared, but most should only be shared in discussion with other men.

Throughout the booklet, Mark examines different causes, excuses, and effects of pornography. This examination includes an interview that Dr James Dobson did of Ted Bundy. This is an interview which will shake a porn addict, and many of the rest of us as well. Bundy attributes porn as a major contributor to crime.

The last section of the booklet is an appendix by Justin Holcomb. This appendix looks at sexual slavery, the military, and the human trafficking associated with pornography and prostitution. Please read this even if you don’t read the rest of the booklet. This will change the way to evaluate pornography. The way that these criminals bend these girls into subservience is sickening. This is an amazing view into a world that we hope to never see, but is supported by pornography.

Driscoll makes available knowledge in a straightforward way so that the addict, the leader, and the friend can understand and start the progress toward recovery.

This booklet is available for free through electronic download at http://theresurgence.com/2008/09/28/porn-again-christian-a-free-e-book

Manhood Challenges: Pornography – Is Lust Really a Sin?

In examining the question of pornography, some may point out that scripture doesn’t say it’s wrong to look at pictures of naked women. And they would be right, scripture does not say it’s wrong. What scripture does show us is that lust is sin. Let me give you a few verses to look at on this one:

Matthew 5:28 – But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

It goes on to tell us in Matthew 5:29-30 that if our eye causes us to sin, we should pluck it out and cast it away, and if our hand causes us to sin, we should cut it off. Let’s face facts, if we all did this, we would be a nation of blind, handless beggers. But we don’t, yet we go on lusting like it’s not a sin.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 – For this is God’s will: that you become holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you know how to possess his own body in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God.

Here we find Paul telling us that we need to keep away from sexual immorality, and flee from it. He describes it a “lustful passion”. Are you a believer or not? If you believe that God is Lord and the Jesus is King, then have no fear to flee from the temptation placed in front of you.

1 John 2:-15-16 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions)

“The desire of the flesh” seems to be pretty clearly referring to lust to me, but let me give you the Webster’s dictionary definition: lust (v): to have intense desire or need; crave- specifically to have a sexual urge. Sounds like John was talking about the same thing to me, so what do we do about it?

I’ve given some resources in Manhood Challenges: Pornography and encourage you to use them. I also encourage you to spend time in the word. Research the condemnation of sexual immorality. Find the places we are told not to commit this sin and the punishments that are suffered for it. Spend some time in study of Sodom and Gomorrah, or the 23,000 who were slain in the wilderness for this. Find yourself and accountability partner and be repentant.

Until the Whole World Knows,

Paul

P.S. Once you are married, the whole sex issue becomes a lot easier, and harder. Check out Song of Solomon in your bible to see a little of what I mean.