Matthew 5:27-28, “27 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Pornography is the explicit portrayal of people for the purpose of sexual arousal. Current studies report that over 42% of Internet users view porn and the average age of initial pornography exposure is just eleven years old. About 64% of young adult men and 18% of women use porn a minimum of once a week. Another 17% of men and another 30% of women use porn 1-2x per month; for a staggering combined total of 81% of all men and 48% of women regularly view porn every month- God have mercy!
Some may think that porn has no impact upon society other than personal gratification; however, one-in-thirteen U.S. teenage girls reported participating in group-sex as a result of watching excessive pornography at the average age of only 15 years old. Also, due to the sexualization of our teens, cities like Philadelphia have lowered the age for condom distribution to eleven years old (fifth grade)- God help us!
Other negative results of porn are; (1) The degrading of the those who make it. (2) The addictive nature for those who enjoy it. (3) People who view porn are more likely to become desensitized to real relationships like marriage and are more likely to have affairs. (4) And most importantly, porn is the sin of lust according to God’s Word and can lead to being cast into the lake of fire. John wrote in Revelation 21:8, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral… they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Pornography is what people do when they’re not satisfied with their sexuality as God designed it. They choose to live in selfishness and fictional relationships rather than enjoy the eternal pleasures of God and the true love of a spouse.
We need to stand against pornography in the following ways: (1) Remove all porn related materials and videos from your home, computer and life (including explicit video games and movies/TV shows). (2) Stay accountable in your sexuality to a trusted friend of the same gender to live a victorious life over lust. (3) Teach others that porn is sinful and help porn users cut it out of their lives (Matthew 5:29-30).
Reflection
Do you live a porn free life?
Action
- Explain from the Bible why pornography is sinful. Jeremy Taylor wrote, “Lustis a captivity of the reason and an enraging of the passions. It hinders business and distracts counsel. It sins against the body and weakens the soul.”
- Pray that God will use you to reach out to those who either make porn or enjoy it.
- Resources: “Pure Eyes,” by Craig Gross & “Every Man’s Battle,” by Stephen Arterburn. Also, consider visiting xxxchurch.com for more resources including accountability computer software.
One Year Reading Plan
Obadiah 1:1-21, Revelation 4:1-11, Psalm 132:1-18, & Proverbs 29:24-25. Click here to read online.
