“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” Matthew 5:27-30 (NIV)
I read some Substacks about porn addiction. I thought about sharing this Daily Cross back in March for new readers. Some of you may find this post familiar.
I have helped men in a men’s purity ministry for twelve years. I saw the destructive effect of porn on young adults, married men and older men. Based on the statistic I know, more than 60% of Christian men watch porn regularly. The same percentage is also for pastors. There were pastors seeking help anonymously.
Porn is a heart problem, and the enemy has been a part of it from the beginning. The porn addiction cases I know, they all started at a young age. That pathway always begins with curiosity and bad decisions. Then, cultivating it more becomes a bad habit and then a full-blown addiction. Most addictions of other types follow the same pathway pattern. Addictions are used as coping mechanisms for anything and everything in our lives. We will not give the entire credit to the enemy because our hearts are deceitful. We are accountable for our sexual sins, and there are earthly consequences because of that. A porn addiction not treated will not stop there. As the Bible tells us, sins lead to death. It may not be physical death, but I have seen the death of marriage relationships, family relationships, work relationships, and death of other kinds. There are many treatment programs invented by men targeting mental health to address this addiction and whitewash this sin, which is adultery in our Lord’s eyes. Those programs offer a temporary solution for behaviour change without true repentance. When there is no repentance, there is no forgiveness of sins. The heart problem we often talk about is the spiritual heart that connects to the conditions for salvation. The only way to overcome the porn addiction is a heart change, and the only physician who can do that is our Lord Jesus Christ.
I have witnessed men who have repented and sought forgiveness from their loved ones. While gouging one’s eye out and cutting the right hand off could not be a good idea, They would choose a different seat in a restaurant so their eyes could not see and leave a place where temptations are too strong. Some use phones without internet access, so they can only make and receive calls from their families. They install accountability software to block access to websites and advertising. Some leave their work laptops in their cars when they go home to their families. They no longer use social media and no longer have password protection for their media devices. They stop telling lies and no flirting with anyone. They are quick to repent and apologize. They learn to forgive so they can be forgiven. They have spent decades lusting on screens, knowing that it will take time for their hearts to be purified and for the light to grow within. Sadly, some men could not save their marriages because it was no longer up to them. But they still decided to stay on the Narrow Road because their eyes were open. Once a prodigal son repents, the journey of seeking love in the wrong places ends. He has found love, and there is no turning back.
They were selfish and self-seeking once, but they know now it is not about them anymore. It is all about our Lord.
Becomelects Ministry
Celibacy is underrated.
Great article!