It’s no secret that pornography is a problem in our culture.
- There are well over two BILLION searches for pornography each year.
- 1 in 5 mobile searches are for pornography.
- 24% of smartphone owners admit to having pornographic material on their mobile handset.
- 9 out of 10 boys were exposed to pornography before the age of 18.
- 6 out of 10 girls were exposed to pornography before the age of 18.
- The average age when young boys are first exposed to pornography is 11 years old.
- 50% of all “Christian” men and 20% of all “Christian” women say they are addicted to pornography.
These stats indicate the problem is not just in our culture. Tragically, it is also in our churches.
[highlight]Does the Bible have anything to say about pornography?[/highlight] Take a look at these Scriptures and you can tell me whether they’re appropriate to regulate what we consume through our eyes.
I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? (Job 31:1)
I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me (Psalm 101:3).
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28).
I don’t know whether you – or someone you know – struggles with pornography. Statistically speaking, it’s possible that someone reading these words is a regular viewer of pornography. What can you do to overcome the sin of pornography? My purpose in this post is to offer some resources that all of us would do well to check out, if for no other reason than to prevent this sin from creeping into our lives.
[highlight]Internet Filters:[/highlight]
- Covenant Eyes Web Content Filtering – Paid software that will actually block the bad stuff from your computer screen. This is great for families who want to be sure that nothing accidentally pops up on screens in front of young eyes. But it’s not just the young eyes that need to be guarded!
- InternetSafety Filtering – A similar resource to the one mentioned above.
- K 9 Web Protection – FREE software to install on your computer that will block the bad sites, force safe searches on all search engines, set time parameters for online use, and much more.
[highlight]Accountability:[/highlight]
- Covenant Eyes Internet Accountability – This service tracks websites you visit on your computers, smart phones, and tablets, and sends them in an easy-to-read report to someone you trust. This makes it easy to talk about the temptations you face online.
- Here’s a non-techy option: get an accountability partner. This is someone, whom you trust, in whom you can confide regarding the sin of pornography. You can check in with that person periodically and they can check with you to see how things are going. This is a Biblical solution (James 5:16; Galatians 6:2). If I can help you in any way, please let me know.
[highlight]Informational Resources:[/highlight]
- The Truth About Pornography – Take less than 40 minutes to view this important, free video, made available by WVBS.
- Twenty Reasons I Don’t Watch Porn – Chris Clevenger weighs in on the issue on his website.
- Covenant Eyes Porn Stats – The facts are hard to face, but we cannot ignore this issue.
Pornography has been scientifically proven to be addictive. Don’t be a slave to sin. Take control of your life by surrendering your entire existence to God and to His will for your life (Rom. 12:1-2; cf. Rom. 6:12-13).
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Photo Credit: Tim Parkinson on Creative Commons