Welcome to Cali-PORN-ia! Home of strip clubs, adult bookstores, &
gangsta rap! Here on the West Coast we are truly living in a sexually
saturated society. Everywhere you look porn can be found. With
inter-net speeds faster than ever, sexual images are being piped into
our homes, and with a click of a mouse you can be surfing the world
wide web of sin. Even popular men magazines such as Maxim, Stuff, and
Blender which can be found at your local grocery store are flooded
with sexually explicit material. All of which should be considered porn.
The porn industry brings in over a billion dollars a year and has even
penetrated the four walls of the church. Sexual impurity has become
rampant in the body of Christ because we've ignored the costly work of
obedience to Gods standards. Pastors, Youth Pastors, leaders, and
people of all ages have been sucked into the bondage of frequenting
XXX sites as part of their daily lives. Many are asking, "How far
can I go and still be a Christian?" They believe the lies and
deception that Satan is whispering in their ears. The lie that says
viewing pornography won't hurt anyone, yet in reality it's stealing
intimacy from your spouse or future spousenot to mention intimacy
from your relationship with God. Jesus Himself said, "Anyone who even
looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery
with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28)
Porn can lead a man to cheat on his wife, rape a woman, and even
sexually molest his own daughter. Those involved in pornography
usually find themselves depressed, discouraged, & detached from their
loved ones, including God. Bottom Line...Pornography is destructive
and will cause spiritual death! Next time you find yourself staring
and lusting over a naked woman on the computer screen, television, or
the new DVD you secretively bought from the liquor store, ask yourself
this question. Would you want someone fantasizing & masturbating
while looking at an image of your daughter? Of course not! We must
become like Job in the Bible and make a covenant with our eyes to not
look lustfully upon a woman. (Job 31:1)
Please know this...there is freedom & forgiveness found in Christ.
For years we've been taught that it's taboo to talk about issues of
sex, porn, & even masturbation in the "church". That is another lie
of the enemy. It is vital that we come out of the shadows of shame &
sin and find our true identity in Jesus. Proverbs 28:13 tells us
that, "Those who conceal their sins will not prosper. But if they
confess and forsake their sins they will receive mercy." There is
hope for us who choose to be held accountable and live transparent
lives.
If you or someone you know is struggling or addicted to porn, please
check out the below websites for resources that can help you in your
battle against sexual temptation.
xxxchurch.com
dontbepimped.com
