Why Your Response to Porn Matters

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Pornography is an epidemic that is stifling the body of Christ.

Don’t believe me? Check out these statistics from Covenant Eyes.

In 2018,
• 1 in 5 youth pastors and 1 in 7 senior pastors in the US used porn on a regular basis.
• 43% of all pastors have struggled with pornography addiction at some point.
• 57% of teens search out porn at least once a month.
• 64% of Christian men said they watch porn at least once a month.
• 15% of Christian woman said they watch porn at least once a month.
• Yet, only 7% of churches report having any ministry programs for pornography addicts.

It doesn’t take a skilled mathematician to realize that something isn’t adding up.

There is an unacceptable amount of stigma, shame, shock and silence when it comes to pornography addiction in the church.

This stigma is especially prevalent regarding Christian young woman and spiritual leaders. There are so many hurting young women who struggle with porn but are too afraid to reach out for help because they have grown up in churches which only acknowledged porn as a ‘guy issue’. Similarly, there are many trapped leaders who do not know how to seek help because they have been placed on pedestals where it’s unthinkable for them to stumble. Both scenarios are terrible tragedies.

No one is too good for the prison of porn addiction.

Christian, I am pleading with you to evaluate your reaction and response to porn addiction. There is no place in the church to treat our struggling brothers and sisters like outcasts. As churches, pastors, families, and individuals, we must respond to porn addiction with conviction and hope.

It’s time to retire panic as our learned response to porn.

Porn is an emotional issue, so it only makes sense to react emotionally to it. It’s okay to feel upset, frustrated, depressed, even grieved at the state of our churches regarding this issue. Porn is sinful, degrading and twisted. We should never minimize sin and to do so would be disrespectful to our holy God. But we cannot stop at this emotional reaction. If we do not respond to porn with love, grace and the hope of Jesus Christ, then we are failing as the body of Christ.

Whether you are currently battling porn addiction yourself or you know someone who is struggling, these are three simple ways that you can respond the porn epidemic right now.

1. Educate yourself.
It’s hard to fight what we don’t understand. That’s why I want to encourage you to stay educated regarding how porn affects our society. Understanding porn’s harms and the science behind addiction is essential in the battle against porn, no matter what your role in that is.

These are a few of my favorite resources.

Covenant Eyes is a Christian business that many resources, books, filters (more on that in a minute), and a regularly updated blog. They have helpful information from a Christian perspective on the topics of porn and various other sexual struggles.

Fight The New Drug is a non-profit organization dedicated to scientific and social research and advocacy about how harmful porn is to society. They have a vast collection of helpful and convicting information about porn’s ties to sex trafficking, rape culture, depression and many other social issues.

2. Protect yourself.
Whether you are struggling with porn addiction or not, it is incredibly important that you protect yourself from what you can. Filters and accountability aren’t going to eliminate temptation and struggle, but these God-given tools can aid your fight immensely.

The most important way you can protect yourself from porn isn’t an internet filter or accountability, as trendy as it may seem. The single most critical thing you can do is seek growth in your relationship with Jesus. It’s through Him that we find restoration, forgiveness, strength, and hope. Seek Jesus diligently through His word and prayer, even when you don’t feel like it. When you prioritize your relationship with God and devote yourself to knowing Him, your desire for Christlikeness with help you in your fight against the desires of your fallen heart.

3. Engage others.
The silence surrounding the porn epidemic is understandable. It’s a sensitive topic that requires tact and grace. However, this silence is equally unacceptable. The majority of our church members struggle with porn. We cannot afford to be silent. In order to find healing, seek restoration and celebrate victory, we need to have open dialogue about porn. It needs to be a topic of conversation in our churches and in our homes.

Maybe you could seek out this dialogue by talking to your pastor about his favorite resources or finding a mentor-type individual to ask for wisdom and support in your journey. Perhaps you will find yourself in the position of mentoring or counseling a younger believer through their struggles.

No matter how you have been affected by the porn epidemic, be confident in this; there is hope.

The blood that Jesus shed on the cross paid for every minute of porn you ever watched.

Restoration and forgiveness are yours to seek out.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Cling to this sweet truth from 1 John 1:9 and rest in the faithfulness of God.

Jesus is ready to help you. And so am I.

-Alathia