Ethnics and Christian Ministry
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY School of Divinity
The Pornography Epidemic within the Church
Crisis within the Christian Church
Submitted to Professor Malcolm Hester
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
THEO 650-B03 LU
Ethnics and Christian Ministry
By
Bobby Rogers
February 28, 2020
2
Contents
Contents ........................................................................................................................................ 2
Abstract… .................................................................................................................................... 3
The History of Pornography… ................................................................................................. 4,5
Who is watching Pornography? ............................................................................................... 5,6
Are Christians Watching Pornography ................................................................................... 6,7
Is It A Sin for Christian To Watch Pornography?.............................................................. 7,8,9
The danger of Watching Pornography ...................................................................................9,10
The Effect of Pornography on Church Participation .................................................... 10,11,12
Pornography Effect on Clergy .............................................................................................. 12,13
Pornography Effect on Marriages ........................................................................................ 13,14
The Pornography Trap ........................................................................................................ 14,15
Curiosity........................................................................................................................................15
Experimental .......................................................................................................................... 15,16
Regular Usage ............................................................................................................................ 16
Habitual ....................................................................................................................................... 16
Addiction ................................................................................................................................ 16,17
Healing the Wounds of Pornography Addictions.................................................................... 17
God’s design for Sex...............................................................................................................18,19
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 19
Bibliography ........................................................................................................................... 20,21
3
Abstract
This research paper will examine the epidemic of pornographic viewership in the church and its
effect on Christian churches, marriages, and ministries. This paper will begin with a brief look at
the history of pornography with an emphasis on the history of pornography in America. It will
then look at some of the data on who is watching pornographic material, with the primary focus
on who is watching pornography in the Church. Then this research will examine some of the
effects pornographic viewer ship has had on the Church, marriages and clergy. This research will
close with a look at healing and God original design and plan for sex.
4
The History of Pornography
Many people of this generation believe that pornography just arose in the age of the internet
and there are those of the baby boomer generation believe that pornography came about in the
age of theater and video cinematography. Even though each of those venues help with the
dispersing of pornography and it increase usages. However, it must be noted that the dawn of the
internet was not the dawn of pornography; although the rise of the internet has resulted in the
easy accessibility and use and availability of pornography. Researchers indicate the origin of
what today is called pornography or sexually explicit images go backs centuries and is express in
many different cultures. Todd Head notes the origins of this genre date back centuries. Sexually
graphic images and art not only existed in ancient times but in a wide variety of cultures as well.1
Avery Hunt suggest pornography slowly emerged as a distinct category in the centuries between
the Renaissance and the French Revolution thanks in part to the spread of culture itself.2Head
also point out that in 2005, German archeologist Harald Stäuble uncovered a sculpture of what
he described as the "oldest representation ever of a pornographic scene." It originated in about
7200 BCE and appeared to depict two figurines, a man and woman having sexual intercourse.3
According to many archeologist and scholars pornography has been around since the beginning
of time .Todd Head notes pornography is as old as time and has been a mainstay in society
,having existed as early as the prehistoric era.4 Sarracino, Carmine and Kevin M. Scott indicate
1 "Pornography Started in 5200 BCE." Live About," Quarterly 99 5 (November 2012): xx,
https://www.liveabout.com/history-of-pornography
2 "Pornography Started in 5200 BCE," LiveAbout, last modified November 18, 2012,
https://www.liveabout.com/history-of-pornography-721217.9
3 Ibid,9.
4 "Pornography Started in 5200 BCE," Live About, last modified November 18, 2012,
https://www.liveabout.com/history-of-pornography-721217.
5
the 1950’s was also the decade when pornography began poking its head out of the alleys and
backrooms of American society and slipping into mainstream culture.5
Who is watching Pornography?
According to some Historians and Archeologist there have always been explicit sexual
imagery and it has been around since the beginning of time today that type of sexual imagery
may be call pornography. However, there are many debates on who is watching pornography
today is it mostly men? Are the men that are watching pornography young or are they old? Are
women watching pornography. If so, who are these women young women are older women?
Shira Tarrant, notes porn allegedly accounts for one-third of all internet traffic currently, though
the data about actual consumption is unclear ,and reports in recent years have suggested that 70
million individuals visit porn sites every week; that among viewers aged 18-24, women watch
more porn than men.6 Shira Tarrant also point out that among middle-aged, white-collar workers,
three-quarters of men and half of women have admitted to looking at pornography websites
while at work.7
Megan Hill gives some online pornography statistics that are eye opening. Megan points out
that many studies have been conducted on online pornography use and that these studies have
revealed some interesting fact about porn use:
•
25% of search engine requests are related to sex
•
35% of downloads from the internet are pornographic
•
40 million Americans say they regularly visit porn sites
5 Carmine Sarracino and Kevin M. Scott, The Porning of America: The Rise of Porn Culture,
what it Means, and where We Go from Here (Boston: Beacon Press, 2008),50.
6 . Shira Tarrant, The Pornography Industry: What Everyone Needs to Know (New York: Oxford
University Press, 2016), xx.
7. Shira Tarrant, The Pornography Industry: What Everyone Needs to Know (New York: Oxford
University Press, 2016), xx.
6
•
70% of men aged 18 to 24 visit a porn site at least once per month
•
The largest consumer group of online porn is men between the ages of 35 and 49
•
One-third of all internet porn users are women
•
Sunday is the most popular day of the week for viewing porn
•
Thanksgiving is the most popular day of the year for viewing porn8
As the data indicates pornography use is very prevalent among Americans. The question must
be address how Americans porn assumption is affecting the lives of those who consume it, and
society at large.
Are Christians watching Pornography?
Most studies suggest that pornography is widely in use in the secular world. However, the
data on pornography use in the Christian community or the Church of Jesus Christ is quite
surprising. Most data on the Christian community and pornography usage is often like that of the
secular world. Meredith Somers of the Washington Times points out some alarming statistics
concerning Christian viewership of pornography. Meredith Somers notes a new study by the
Barna Group shows that 64 percent of Christian men and 15 percent of Christian women
admitted to viewing pornography at least once a month, compared to 65 percent of men and 30
percent of women who identified as non-Christian and said they watched porn at the same rate,
and that of the Christian men who did look at pornography, the majority did so several times per
week.9 Samuel Perry and Cyrus Schleifer indicate Americans are generally increasing in their
pornography viewership. While devout, theologically conservative Christians have been among
the most ardent opponents to pornography's dissemination and use historically, there is a
8 Megan Hull, ""Pornography Facts and Statistics." Pornography Facts and Statistics," The
Recovery Village www.therecoveryvillage.com › ... › Porn Addiction, last modified January 27,
2020,
9 More Than Half of Christian Men admit to watching pornography," Washington Times,
n.d.https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/aug/24/
7
growing-but thus far untested-assumption that they too are following this same trend.10 Samuel
Perry and Cyrus Schleifer also point out that American evangelicals are indeed increasing in their
reported porn viewership at rates identical to other Americans.11 However, Perry and Schleifer
note there is a distinction among Christians who attend Church on a regular basis. They note that
frequent church attendees and biblical literalists, however, show a divergent trend, with both
remaining constant in their reported porn viewership across time.12 They note that the analyses
also show clear cutoff points for the divergence starting in the mid-1990s, roughly when Internet
pornography became available.13 As the data clearly shows Christians are watching pornography
at the same rate and even higher rates than their secular counterparts.14 However, the question
must be asked what affect is the high rate of pornography is watching is having on Christian
families and individuals and is it a sin for these Christian to watch pornography.
Is it a sin for Christian to watch pornography?
Many Christians ask the question is watching pornography a sin? If it is a sin why do God
forbid Christians to watch sin, and where in the Bible is there a prohibition against pornography?
Some Christians rationalize that watching pornography is harmless and does not hurt anyone, no
one is getting hurt. However, most of Christendom believe watching pornography is immoral and
a sinful act. According to Langton, pornography is a certain kind of self-fulfilling projection with
objectification of women being the mechanism of projection.15Clinton and Hawkins in their
10 . Samuel L. Perry and Cyrus Schleifer, "Are the Sanctified Becoming the Pornified? Religious
Conservatism, Commitment, and Pornography Use, 1984-2016*," Social Science Quarterly 99,
no. 5 (2018): xx, doi:10.1111/ssqu.12524.
11 IBId
12 . Samuel L. Perry and Cyrus Schleifer, "Are the Sanctified Becoming the Pornified? Religious
Conservatism, Commitment, and Pornography Use, 1984-2016*," Social Science Quarterly 99,
no. 5 (2018): xx, doi:10.1111/ssqu.12524.
13 IBID
14 IBID
15 Sexual Solipsism , by Rae Langton," OUP Academic, last modified June 20, 2013,
https://academic.oup.com/mind/article-abstract/122/485/291/964198.294
8
book, “The Quick-Reference Guide to Biblical Counseling” notes that pornography is sexually
explicit material that dehumanizes, objectifies, and degrades men and women for the purpose of
sexual arousal.16 Clinton and Hawkins point out that pornography promotes sex without
consequences and serves as an aid to self-gratification.17 If Clinton and Hawkins assessment is
correct, then the fact that pornography dehumanize and degrades makes watching pornography a
sin. Jesus said in John15:12 that we are to love one another and love those not
dehumanize.John15:12 says, “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have
loved you.”1Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is patient and kind.” Therefore, based on the
commandment of love Christians watching pornography is a sin. William Struthers in “Wired for
Intimacy” notes pornography dishonors the image of God in an individual by treating him or her
as a sexual object to be consumed directly or indirectly (19).18 Struthers, also point out that
pornography takes human sexuality out of its natural context-intimacy between two human
beings -and makes it a product to be bought and sold.19Struthers assessment makes pornography
watching a direct violation of God first and second commandment. Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-
38 (NIV) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself. Struthers indicates that one sinful aspect of pornography is pornography
corrupts the ability to be intimate.20Struthers also suggest pornography pulls consumers and
producers in with the promise of intimacy, but fails to deliver the connection between two human
16 . Tim Clinton and Ron Hawkins, The Quick-Reference Guide to Biblical Counseling (Ada:
Baker Books, 2009)195.
17 Ibid. 195
18William M. Struthers, Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain
(Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2010), 19
19 IBID.19
20 William M. Struthers, Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain
(Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2010),43.
9
beings21.Struthers makes an interesting observation when he notes that pornography and sexually
acting out may not meet the letter of the law for adultery(Matthew 5:28),but it certainly meets
the spirit of the law.22 Belk Felker Jones in her book “Faithful A Theology of Sex” notes that in
the middle of the book of Acts discourse on Gentile believers freedom from ceremonial laws the
writer notes a warning to the gentile audience to stay away from idolatry and abstain from
fornication.23Acts 15:20 says, “Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food
offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from
consuming blood.” Therefore, there are many implied and inferred references in scripture that
suggest pornography viewing for Christians is sin.
The danger of Christians watching Pornography
The apostle Paul in Roman 6:16 says, “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of
whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose
to obey God, which leads to righteous living. According to most all reputable psychologist or
therapist and relationship counselors Christian and secular alike intimacy is a key ingredient, if
not the key ingredient to any couple’s relationship. Intimacy is the foundation to the husband and
wife relationship. One of the main dangers of pornography today is Porn Addiction. Struthers in,
“Wired for Intimacy” notes Lisa McMinn indicates our sexuality is a fundamental part of what it
means to be human and how we understand it is integral as we discover who we are, and it points
us to our Creator.24 She goes on to suggest while our sexuality is fundamental to our being it is
not about sexual intercourse; however, it drives us to search for intimacy where we can be fully
21 IBID.43
22 William M. Struthers, Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain
(Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2010),19
23 Beth F. Jones, Faithful: A Theology of Sex (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015), 20.
24 William M. Struthers, Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain
(Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2010)155.
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known and where we can know another.25One of the characteristics of porn addiction is it
corrupts intimacy in a marriage. Struthers point out it is a lie that pornography can somehow
enhance intimacy is seductive.26 Clinton and Hawkins notes viewing porn increases the
likelihood of sexual addiction and sexual pathology.27Dr. Mark Laaser in “Healing Wounds of
Sexual Addiction “indicates that sexual addictions is a sickness involving any type of
uncontrollable sexuality. Because the addict can’t control his or her sexual behavior negative
consequences eventually result.28Pornography addiction destroys intimacy and healthy sexual
desires and enslaves the believer. James 1:14 supports this assessment. James 1:14(NIV) says,
“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give
birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. “In the next
section this research will examine the effects on church participation by Christian who watch
pornography.
The effect of Pornography on church participation
Hebrews 10:25 exhorts believer to fellowship with each other and how Christians do this is
by attending their local church and becoming an integral part in the mission of spreading the
gospel. Hebrews 10:25 says. “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do,
but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. “Samuel
Perry notes that research on the link between religion and pornography suggests that more
frequent pornography viewing can lead to declines in individuals’ religious commitment, likely
stemming from the guilt, shame, and dissonance adherents experience for violating sacralized
25IBID.155
26 IBID.57
27 Tim Clinton and Ron Hawkins, The Quick-Reference Guide to Biblical Counseling (Ada:
Baker Books, 2009)196.
28 Mark Laaser, Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009), 23.
11
moral values.29Pornography viewership seem to have and causality effect to it. Perry indicates
that multivariate analyses of panel data from the 2006–2012 Portraits of American Life Study
reveal that the more frequently respondents viewed pornography at wave are the less likely they
were to hold a leadership position or serve on a committee in their congregation within the
following 6 years.30 Samuel Perry and Cyrus Schleifer found that while both worship attendance
and evangelical affiliation were strongly associated with opposing porn use in principle, neither
were significantly associated with porn use once controls were in place.31 Samuel Perry notes
that findings ultimately suggest that increasingly pervasive pornography consumption among
adherents could portend a potential dearth of volunteer leadership for congregations.32 Samuel
Perry in his article, “How Pornography Use Reduces Participation in Congregational
Leadership” show that a number of recent studies have shown that the association is bi-
directional; pornography use can also influence religion. Because pornography use is
unequivocally rejected for religious and that Americans, and particularly for committed
Christians, studies have found that religious individuals who use pornography often feel
considerable guilt and shame that can cause them to distance themselves from religious others
whom they feel may judge them (Short et al. 2015).33 Doran kirk and Joseph Price notes for
church attendance if individuals who were violating the social norms of their religious
29 Samuel L. Perry, "How Pornography Use Reduces Participation in Congregational
Leadership: A Research Note," Review of Religious Research 61, no. 1 (2018): xx,
doi:10.1007/s13644-018-0355-4.
30 IBID
31 Samuel L. Perry and Cyrus Schleifer, "Are the Sanctified Becoming the Pornified? Religious
Conservatism, Commitment, and Pornography Use, 1984-2016*," Social Science Quarterly 99,
no. 5 (2018): xx, doi:10.1111/ssqu.12524.
32 Samuel L. Perry, "How Pornography Use Reduces Participation in Congregational
Leadership: A Research Note," Review of Religious Research 61, no. 1 (2018): xx,
doi:10.1007/s13644-018-0355-4.
33 IBID.
12
community by using pornography felt less comfortable attending church.34 Studies show that
pornography watching affects Christian participation in church, but how does pornography effect
clergy who watch it?
Pornography effect on Clergy
It is a sad, but sometimes clergy lead a hard life. The apostle Paul said as much in 1
Corinthians 4:9(NIV) he says, “I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like
prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle
to the entire world—to people and angels alike.” As noted earlier in this research paper
pornographic usage could lead to addiction. As with lay people in the church this also include
clergy, if clergy watch pornography they also can be ensnared by pornography addictive power
and become sexually addictive. Ralph Earle and Mark Laaser notes that sexual addiction usually
leads to negative consequences. For pastors the consequences are often obvious. They may lose
jobs or even careers. Addicts can spend huge sums of money, marriages or lost and social and
legal consequences can be severe.35 However, the most profound impact on clergy is the guilt and
shame of letting God and the congregation down. Mark Laaser in “Healing Wounds of Sexual
Addiction” makes the point that understanding of addiction provides a deeper understanding of
sin and that sin is more than just a list of immoral behaviors.36 He notes sin is the lack of a
relationship with God and the destructive to themselves and others and that sin causes shame and
leads to death.37 Ralph Earle and Mark Laaser note that Paul who lived at a time of blatant sexual
34 Kirk Doran and Joseph Price, "Pornography and Marriage," Journal of Family and Economic
Issues 35, no. 4 (2014): xx, doi:10.1007/s10834-014-9391-6. 494
35 Mark Laaser, Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009), 13.
36 IBID.25
37 IBID.25
13
immorality, admonishes the Bible readers to be sexually pure especially the leaders of the
church. 38 For the clergy the shame and guilt are magnified because of their leadership position.
Pornography effect on Christian marriages.
Many Christian scholars have pointed out that marriage and intimacy are coequal partners.
Doug Rosenau and Todd Wilson suggest that God artistically formed the marital relationship to
display the personal love relationship God desires spiritually with each one of us.39 Doran kirk
and Joseph Price suggest data support the theory that pornography use can negatively impact
marital relationships by devaluing the importance of monogamy, decreasing satisfaction with the
sexual performance, affection, or physical appearance of one’s partner; and decreasing the desire
for sex with one’s partner (Albright 2008; Drake 1994; Manning 2006).40Beth Jones notes that
pornography is a symptom of diseased relationship in a world that privilege polished images over
human truths in a world in which human bodies are offered up on the altar of consumer
capitalism.41Kirk and Price also point out their research showed that men who reported using
pornography had 40 % higher odds of being divorced, 108 % higher odds of having had an
extramarital affair, 21 % lower odds of reporting having a very happy marriage and 13 % lower
odds of being very happy with their life overall and that all these differences are statistically
significant at the 5 % level.42 However, Kirk and Price notes for women, all of the coefficients
have the same sign but were generally smaller in magnitude than those of men. Women who
reported using pornography had 10 % higher odds of being divorced, 95 % higher odds of having
38 Ralph H. Earle and Mark R. Laaser, The Pornography Trap: Setting Pastors and Laypersons
Free from Sexual Addiction (Beacon Hill Press, 2001), 7.
39 Doug Rosenau and Michael T. Wilson, Soul Virgins: Redefining Single Sexuality (2012), 29.
40 Kirk Doran and Joseph Price, "Pornography and Marriage," Journal of Family and Economic
Issues 35, no. 4 (2014): xx, doi:10.1007/s10834-014-9391-6,494.
41 Beth F. Jones, Faithful: A Theology of Sex (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015), 37.
42 Kirk Doran and Joseph Price, "Pornography and Marriage," Journal of Family and Economic
Issues 35, no. 4 (2014): xx, doi:10.1007/s10834-014-9391-6,494.
14
had an extramarital affair, 8 % lower odds of reporting having a very happy marriage, and about
2 % lower odds of being very happy with their life overall. For women, extramarital sex is the
only outcome where the difference based on reported pornography use was significant at the 5 %
level.43 Pornography can have several effects on marriages effects such as loss of intimacy,
sexual frustration and can lead to divorce. Pornography is a trap that Satan uses to steal intimacy,
Satan uses pornography to kill respect for one’s spouse and ultimately Satan use pornography to
destroy families. Many studies show watching pornography can be a trap that ensnares and
enslaves the user.
The Pornography Trap
Samson a judge of Israel is an example how men and women fall and get ensnared by traps.
Samson did not wake up one day and decide to cut his hair ,no it was a progression of misstep
that led to his hair been cut and him losing his strength .when samson loss his strength he was
enslave ,mocked ,blinded and eventually killing himself with about 3000 Amalekites. Ralph
Earle and Mark Laaser notes Samson weakness and lust led to the loss of his spiritual
commitment, his power, his eyes, and his freedom.44 As with any addiction or sin enslavement it
begins in stages.Roman6:16 says, “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to
someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin
resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness. “The stages of porn addiction are
curiosity, experimental, regular usage, habitual and addictive.
Curiosity
43 Kirk Doran and Joseph Price, "Pornography and Marriage," Journal of Family and Economic
Issues 35, no. 4 (2014): xx, doi:10.1007/s10834-014-9391-6,495.
44 Ralph H. Earle and Mark R. Laaser, The Pornography Trap: Setting Pastors and Laypersons
Free from Sexual Addiction (Beacon Hill Press, 2001),6.
15
Michael Leahy notes that pornography and sex-related sites make up nearly 60 percent of
daily web traffic. For some of us, it's going on in our very own basements or in the den after the
family goes to bed. Over twenty million Americans spend a good deal of their waking hours
looking at pornography. And they won't stop, because they can't stop. At least not on their own.
They are addicted.45 Many people wonder how this can happen. It is said curiosity is what killed
the cat. Curiosity is the door that leads to first exposure, many men get started watching
pornography when they are boys entering puberty. As young adolescent they are becoming
curious about their body and their hormones are raging; therefore, they are naturally curious
about what is going on. Eve is a good example of how curiosity can lead you down the wrong
path. Pornography curiosity leads boys and sometimes men and women to explore what is the
fuss about sex and that is the beginning of the trap. The early exposure to porn is the gateway to
experimentation. However, it must be noted. everyone who is curious about sex does not turn to
pornography.
Experimental
The experimental stage is where a person begins to watch pornography. It may start out on
the fantasy level. Ralph Earle and Mark Laaser indicates that sexual addiction has been defined
as a pathological relationship to any form of sexual activity.46The experimental stage is where
this cycle begins. In this stage the person is on an exploration to see what watching pornography
does for them what stimulation or highs it provides. The experimental stage leads to the next
stage the regular use.
Regular Usage
45 Michael Leahy, Porn Nation: Conquering America's #1 Addiction (Chicago: Moody
Publishers, 2008), xx.
46 Ralph H. Earle and Mark R. Laaser, The Pornography Trap: Setting Pastors and Laypersons
Free from Sexual Addiction (Beacon Hill Press, 2001),15.
16
The regular use stage is where the person becomes ritual. In this stage the person watch
pornography more frequently. It may be only the weekend, or after and stressful day at work.
However, in this stage the person may not watch pornography every day. Although the same set
of circumstance may trigger the desire to watch pornography, for instance boredom, worry,
loneliness.
Habitual
In the habitual stage the pornography watcher began to require more and different
pornography to stimulate his or her desire. The porn user becomes desensitized to the original
effects of pornography and yearn for something new and exciting. This is the stage where the
apostle Paul notes because the person is yielding his members, in the pornography watcher case
his eyes is the member he or she is yielding now they are in danger of becoming enslave, which
leads to the next stage of the path to addiction. In the habitual stage the pornography user
become tolerant needing more pornography to satisfy his or her craving this is the last stage
before addiction.
Addiction
William Struthers notes a person has a pornography addiction when recurring viewing of
pornographic material or images with or without sexual acting results in a failure to fulfill major
role obligations at work ,school, home.47In the addiction stage the pornography user cannot
control his viewership and dedicate his or her whole being into fulfilling his or her desire to view
pornography. This stage will lead the user to a dangerous and destructive place if intervention
does not take place Pornography addictions enslaves and hold captive its victim depriving them
47 William M. Struthers, Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain
(Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2010), 77.
17
of the true intimacy and rich blessing of the gift of sex. Romans 6:23 (NIV)says, “For the wages
of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Healing the Wounds of Pornography Addiction
Many who are bound by pornography addiction wonder is there help for them and pray for
some way out of the mess that their addiction has cause. After surveying the negative effects that
their addictions have cause and seeing how their addiction has hurt the ones they love, porn
addicts wonder can they ever be healed. 1John 2:1(NIV) says, “My dear children, I am writing
this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our
case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.” Therefore, there is
healing for the wounded. Mark Laaser indicates healing is a lifetime journey, not a one-time
event and that the process of healing from sexual addiction includes answering important
questions ,creating accountability ,and understanding how people change.48Struthers note healthy
sexual pattern can be establish and redirected toward holiness rather than corrupted intimacy if
the unhealthy thought pattern of the addicted is change.49 Mark Laaser suggest that the
pornography addicted person must answer three question in order to heal they are: (1) Do you
want to get well? What are you thirsty for? Are you willing to die to yourself ?50 Ralph Earle and
Mark Laaser indicates spiritual maturity and healing from sexual lust and temptation begins with
becoming aware that when you are weak then God is strong.51The journey may be long and hard
for the porn addicted but healing will come.1John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
48. Mark Laaser, Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009),
121.
49 William M. Struthers, Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain
(Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2010),106
50 Mark Laaser, Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009), 122.
51 Ralph H. Earle and Mark R. Laaser, The Pornography Trap: Setting Pastors and Laypersons
Free from Sexual Addiction (Beacon Hill Press, 2001),125.
18
God design for Sex
The Christian community has become so entangled in the contemporary culture views of
sex that it has adopted the false sense of security that this world ideas on sexual pleasure brings.
God has always had a plan for sex. God plan for the sexual experience to be one of pleasure and
intimacy. Douglas Rosenau notes as Christians, we have a responsibility to redeem and reclaim
God’s wonderful gift of sexual union as we experience making love in its Garden-of-Eden
fullness: naked and unashamed.52Lewis Smedes makes the point that grace does not put sexuality
down ;it raises sexuality up to the service of the spirit.53 Rosenau and Wilson indicates God is a
deeply relational being who created humankind to experience and reflect his own image of love
and creativity and that sexuality became His grand demonstration of intimacy54.Beth Jones notes
that the apostle Paul teaches that sex is a good gift from God.55 God design for sex was to show
the strength and beauty of intimacy. Although, God uses the sexual experience to bring other
human beings into the world, his overarching plan for sex was to demonstrate the oneness of the
Triune God. Douglas Rosenau notes as we better understand the creator of man and woman and
the interaction of the trinity ,we gain an intimate glance into the nature of gender and sexuality
difference and similarities within a complementary partnership and the needs for intimate
relationship, excitement, and nurturing procreation and recreation .56
Conclusion
In conclusion, researchers suggest the history of pornography goes back to the dawn of the
ages and that pornography viewership has a wide audience. Research also indicated Christian are
52 Douglas Rosenau, A Celebration of Sex (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2002), 1.
53Lewis B. Smedes, Sex for Christians: The Limits and Liberties of Sexual Living (Grand
Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1994),61.
54 Doug Rosenau and Michael T. Wilson, Soul Virgins: Redefining Single Sexuality (2012), 28.
55 Beth F. Jones, Faithful: A Theology of Sex (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015), 26.
56 Douglas Rosenau, A Celebration of Sex (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2002), 1.
19
watching pornography at the same rate as their secular counterparts. This paper also notes that
the theological view of watching pornography is it is a sinful act that effects the viewer in every
aspect of his or her life and corrupts God plan for intimacy. Research also points out
pornography viewing could lead the participant to some negative places in life. This paper notes
that Pornography addiction takes place in stages and end in negative consequences to the
addicted and the addicted love ones. However, healing is always available to those who chose to
receive it. God divine plan for sex is for procreation, intimacy and enjoyment. However,
pornography hijacks God wonderful plan and leads its viewers with a temporal thrill and lifetime
of suffering.
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