Author's name withheld for privacy
Around
40 percent of people across the world have access to the Internet (J.Stevens, "Internet Statistics and Facts for 2016"). The use of the Internet has increased dramatically
in the 21st century. The world has come
to rely on it. In many ways it is a
blessing. It is easy, efficient, and
convenient to be able to pull out a smartphone at any time and search for every
bit of information one desires to know.
At the same time, the Internet can be a curse. Sin corrupts everything. The World Wide Web is used as a money-maker
for businesses like pornography. After
the advent of video websites such as Youtube and Dailymotion, it
was realized that money could be acquired through the combination of the
Internet and the sexual desires that all young people and adults have. Internet pornography started and websites
such as Pornhub were launched.
God declares that sexual sins and lust are forbidden. He says, “Keep to a path far from an
adulteress woman, do not go near the door of her house” (Proverbs 5:8). God gives the reason why we should stay away
from sexual sins: “In the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged
sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps
lead straight to the grave” (Proverbs 5:4-5).
Although God condemns adultery, sexual sins are some of the most
prevalent and openly accepted sins of the world.
Pornography
is a major trap for many male teens and young adults. Statistics show that many people view their
first explicit video before the age of 13.
Also, around 30,000 Americans are watching pornography every second and
40 million watch it regularly (Webroot, "Internet Pornography by the Numbers: A Significant Threat to Society"). The world does not see the viewing of
pornography as harmful and wrong, but that it is normal, fun, and even
healthy. Many Christians also give in to
this idea. These notions are
fallacies. Pornography changes the
attitudes of men, the relations they have with women, and their ability to
think properly.
It is
debated whether or not pornography is addictive. In fact, pornography is as addictive as any
drug. Drugs are used to obtain a reward,
which is a temporary feeling of pleasure.
This is the same as the reward that comes from viewing porn. The only difference is that the watching of
explicit videos creates sexual relief.
This causes its addictive quality.
A person can begin by watching pornographic videos every so often, but,
if he were to continue living with his sin, he would want to watch them more
frequently. His desire to feel the pleasure
that comes from porn would increase until he is addicted. For some people, the addiction has such a
firm control in their lives that it is hard for them to think about anything
else.
In
addition to the addictive qualities of pornography, it causes men to objectify
women. It leads them to view women as
sexual tools with neither personalities nor feelings. Pornography can provoke even more problems
than this for men. It can make them
unsatisfied with their relationships with women. Pornography destroys relationships and
corrupts a man’s attitude toward sex.
The videos will create impossible sexual fantasies in his mind and he
will want to act them out with a real person.
He will try to achieve his dreams with a woman, but after realizing that
sex with a real woman is not the same as what he sees in videos, he will
believe that having those is better than getting to know a woman. The only thing that can satisfy him is
pornography. Porn can also cause
tensions in marriage. I have heard a
story where a wife discovered that her husband watched sexual videos. The woman asked herself why her husband
needed to watch those videos; she believed she was not sufficient for him. She felt betrayed, naive, and hurt. This married couple was Christian, and after
their initial dispute, they sought Christian counseling and are now thriving
together. The husband’s pornography
problem could have easily ruined their marriage. Pornography is a deadly cycle that can have
horrible consequences if it is discovered.
I
personally have had problems with pornography.
As a Christian, being caught in the cycle of porn felt like a trap. I desired that the cycle would stop, but the
addiction prevented me from abandoning it.
The incredible guilt of my sin pulled me to my knees until I felt like I
could not stand. Many emotions raced
through my body. When I first started
watching the videos, I thought porn was fine and it would not turn into a habit. Later, I realized it was becoming a problem,
and I made attempts to quit the sin on my own.
After my attempts failed, I felt hopeless and depressed, believing that
I was too enveloped in my sin for God to forgive me.
All
of this information can seem frightening, especially if you are caught in
sexual sins of your own; however, I was wrong in believing that there was no
hope. The apostle Paul said, “I can do
everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). With faith in God, anything is possible. If you are a Christian caught in the cycle of
porn like I was, I understand the guilt you feel because of your sins. First of all, it is important to realize that
no matter how many dozens or even hundreds of times you commit the sin, Jesus
will forgive you. David, a man prone to sexual
sin himself, wrote, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God
is my rock in whom I take refuge, he is my shield and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2). You can
always confide in Jesus. Run to him and
his Word when you feel the temptation to give in to sexual desires. Secondly, it is important to realize that it
is difficult to rid yourself of the sin on your own. Talk to somebody who can encourage and
instruct you through God’s Word. I went
to a Christian counselor who helped me struggle through my sin. Your help does not have to come from a
counselor. It can be from a parent,
relative, or even a close friend. Just
make sure that you can trust your encourager.
This confidant can be your accountability partner who helps you stay
clean and free from pornography. Third,
understand that the process of leaving a sin is a long journey. You will slip and fall many times. It is most important that, when you do fall,
you get back up with the help of God.
With
the forgiveness and strength of Jesus Christ you can fight and overcome the
temptations the devil hurls at you. Do
not give up and do not lose hope.
*****************
“In all these things we
are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor
life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any
powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans
8:37-39).
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