Pornography
“Can a man scoop fire into his lap
without … being burned?”
(Proverbs 6:27)
What is Pornography?
• Literally: “writing about prostitutes”
• Over time developed with technology:
– Drawing about prostitutes
– Photographs of prostitutes
– Film of prostitutes, etc.
• Common element: “depictions of
prostitutes.” Pornography is prostitution.
• Delivery system: books, magazines,
internet, etc.
What is a Prostitute?
• Someone lacking self-respect
• Someone willing to barter self-respect for
money
• Someone willing to trade in perversion
regardless of the damage caused
• A twisting of sex, God’s good gift in
marriage, into a barterable perversion
outside of marriage
Effects of Pornography:
• Addicting > doesn’t stop until you stop it.
• Escalating > likely to get worse over time.
• Eventually values all women as potential
prostitutes.
• Creates false expectations of marriage: your
spouse isn’t a prostitute.
• Invites these false expectations to be fulfilled
in continued use of pornography, followed by
affairs, and the destruction of marriage.
Effects of Pornography on your
Spouse:
• Your spouse can’t and shouldn’t be expected
to compete with airbrushed unreality.
• Your spouse wants you to think about and
love her; not a “composite” of the traits of
many women that exists only in imagination.
• Your spouse isn’t a prostitute and doesn’t
want to compete with prostitutes.
• Can become victim of an affair resulting from
preoccupation with pornography.
Forms and Levels of
Pornography:
Progression:
1. Advertisements: billboards, magazine
ads “sex sells”
2. Mainstream movies: so-called “soft” core
scenes deemed a virtual marketing
necessity in many movies – different only
in that it avoids genitals
3. Hardcore
Regardless of where it is in this progression,
all of what objectifies women or exists to
stimulate sexual appetite is pornography.
Cost to the Pornography Addict:
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Guilt
Bondage / addiction
Spiritual life becomes a façade
All the traits and costs of alcoholism
Unrealistic expectations on marriage >
ruined marriage / divorce
• Public embarrassment (Proverbs 5:14)
• Hell (Proverbs 7:22-27)
Steps to Overcoming
• Re-read as often as necessary: Proverbs
5:1-23; 6:20 - 7:27.
• Take notes on categories that occur: e.g.
causes, effects, roots, e.g. 5:12: “How I
hated discipline.”
• Make the decision: “I will avoid
pornography like the plague” – (because it
will kill you just as certainly as the plague).
• Face, don’t avoid, the fear of the Lord.
Other Steps…
• Don’t go by the magazine rack (unless you are
buying a specific magazine), use your computer
only in public.
• When you notice an attractive woman, don’t
linger, return to what had your attention; “I have
made a covenant with my eyes….” (Job 31:1)
• When confronted unexpectedly, turn the page,
turn off the movie, close or avert your
eyes…whatever it takes (Matt. 5:29)
• Get an accountability partner, join S.A.
Internet:
• Don’t look, click a link or “unsubscribe”
• Delete, get spam control, change email
addresses if needed.
• If necessary, use computer only when others
are in the room or keep your back to an open
door.
• Empty your “deleted items” or spam box to
avoid the temptation to go back to sex spam
• Limit internet use to necessities.
• Ask someone you trust for accountability.
Reflection…
• Why is pornography such an insidious
problem in our society?
• How can we help someone struggling with
the problem?
• How does your relationship with Christ
help you towards pure relationships with
others?
• How would you like prayer support?