Today’s entry is a follow up to a recent post, Porn again? Christian?Though I have not been following stats lately, this one topic generated many comments both on Facebook and on Toward God.  It seems to be an issue that is argued among people and one that greatly effects both individuals personally and the Church at large.

     The statistics are staggering and probably under stated as some of those who have commented have suggested, but whatever in fact they are is only a sign of how much we have accepted the message put to us by the world. Our worldview as Christians has been changed and continues to change, as the world challenges our position and beliefs in many areas.  Instead of us standing up for the truth and for what is right, we gradually have lost what made us distinctive.  We in many ways are no longer salt and light in the world. In many ways we have adopted other “truths” instead of holding fast to our beliefs.  How we see ourselves before God and others has somehow changed. Our values have been shaped by the culture and world around us, so that what we believed to be sin in the past no longer carries the same weight.

     The way in which we view one another as people feeds into the trap of pornography.  We have objectified others and changed the value and worth that God gave us as his creation. We have done this in different ways that are not related to pornography, and that paves the way toward this more base view of humanity.  Somehow it tells us that this is ok, we have bought into the lie.

     Men seem to be more afflicted with the problem of pornography but at an alarming rate women too are succumbing to this problem.  While we could say “the devil made me do it”, it is more than that.  Our very flesh can drive us to “fall” in many ways. Something that may be a one time thing, can continue and grow into something way out of control.  It can have major impacts upon our lives, hinder us as people, and make us ineffective.  Casting a cloud of shame and guilt that we may try to keep hidden from others and at the same time changing us as believers and creating a false worldview.

     When this gets out of control it is an addiction.  Though some question that this problem can be called an addiction it certainly fits the profile.  One website lists some of the common causes of Internet pornography addiction.  The list includes: low self esteem, sexual frustrations, escapism from problems, depression, and boredom. Obviously, this is just what’s on the surface and there can certainly be deeper issues associated with the addiction.

     So how do we as a church turn the tide?  How do we pave the way for healing in this area?  The Church needs to be a safe place to share, a place to be real, acknowledging all of our brokenness and need for God’s grace  It needs to be a place where individuals can find accountability and be brought back to the truth of God’s word.  There are twelve step programs and organizations to assist with the movement towards wholeness and spiritual health, but it begins with people being willing to break the silence and reach out.

 any thoughts on this? How might we as a church facilitate this healing?  What do you think?

Picture:  Eye of the Beholder, by Annia316

     About a year ago after a retreat a couple of friends and I raised the subject of Christians and pornography. One of the guy’s thought that a good title for a book on the subject would be “Porn again Christians”, thus the title for this entry.

     Since then this subject has been somewhere on my radar. As I was reviewing information about the subject  I ran into a website that really expressed how far we as Christians have succumbed to this problem that at one time seemed only a problem for the secular world.  I must admit that when I saw it and began to read it, I was at once both mystified and horrified. 

     The site basically is justifying pornography for Christians by submitting a proposal calling for the need of Christian adult entertainment.  It does so issuing a manifesto calling for a new paradigm in pornography and uses scripture in its argument.  How low can we go?  To what ends will we justify the things we know rightly not to be involved with?

  In an article in Christianity Today, Porns Stranglehold  the author shares the hold that pornography has taken within the church.  Instead of us being salt and light and having an effect in our world it seems that the opposite is in fact happening.  Statistics show that 70% of men ages 18-34 view porn at least once a month. and that one in three visits to adult websites are women.  Somehow our world has bought the lie that porn is harmless.  The church seems to be buying into that message as well. 

Statistics compiled 2006:  Porn Websites 4.2 Million (12% of total websites)                                                                             

                                                      Porn Pages 420 Million

                                                      Daily search engine requests for porn 68 Million

                                                     Internet users who view porn  42.7 %

                                                    Average age of first Internet exposure to porn 11 years old

                                                   17% of women struggling with addiction to pornography

                                                  13% of women admit to accessing pornography at work

                                                  The USA tops the world in pornographic web pages

     In a Poll taken by ChristiaNet in August of 2006, 50% of Christian men reported viewing pornography and 20% of Christian women reported the same.  57% of Pastors say that addiction to pornography is the most sexually damaging issue to a congregation.  Another poll taken within the church reports that 60% of men have viewed pornography within the last year, with 25% responding that they had viewed it within the last thirty days.  With the Internet having pornographic images just a click away and the ability to receive the images on mobile phones the situation worsens everyday.  Worldwide pornography is big business reporting 99 billion dollars annually. and the united states, a so called Christian nation is the biggest producer and consumer of pornography.

     Pornography is not harmless. Though many times viewed in secret, the damage is cancer like, causing shame and  destroying relationships in its wake.  In the process, women are treated like objects for sale adding to the ever growing problem of human trafficking.

     Where do we go with this as a Church?  How do we pave the way for the healing of individuals and relationships that have suffered due to this addiction?  How do we take a stand against this insidious problem in our world?  Any thoughts?

Picture: Eyes wide Shut, by Elizabeth Welsh