Technology, Pornography
& Sanctification
John W. Auxier, Ph.D.
Dean and Acting President
Trinity Western Seminary
Trinity Western University
1
Why we need this sermon
This is not a theoretical problem…
2
Children's Exposure to Pornography
 Average
age of first Internet exposure
to pornography: 11 years old
 15-17 year olds having multiple hardcore exposures: 80%
 7-17 year olds who would freely give
out home address: 29%
3
Adult Internet Porn Statistics
 Men
admitting to accessing
pornography at work 20%
 US adults who regularly visit Internet
pornography websites 40 million
 Breakdown of male/female visitors to
pornography sites 72% male - 28%
female
4
What we will cover today
 The
scope of the problem.
 What is Sanctification?
 What is Technology and how does it
help or hinder sanctification?
 What is an addiction?
 What is pornography addiction?
 Setting wise protections and finding
healing from from pornography.
5
What is Sanctification?
God’s calling on your life is to be
transformed by the Word of God
through the power of the Holy
Spirit, into the image of God
revealed in Jesus Christ.


“speaking the truth in love, we are to
grow up in every way into Him who is the
head, into Christ…” Eph. 4:15
“He predestined [us] to be conformed to
the image of His Son” Romans 8:29
6
What does sanctification
look like?
God’s Image is seen in the Fruit of
the Spirit of God:
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you
will not gratify the desires of the
flesh…the fruit of the Spirit is:
love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self control”
7
What is Technology?
 For
this message, technology mainly
refers to all devices with internet
connectivity (computers, phones,
blackberrys, tablets, Wii, X-Box, etc),
and cable/satallite TV (which is
rapidly converting to internet
connectivity also).
8
Four comments about Technology
 Technology
has powerful creative
potential, for both Good or Bad ends.
 We live in an individualistic culture that
provides options, but not wisdom.
 Naïve or wrong use of the internet can
create spiritual bondage, and block the
process of sanctification.
9
Sanctification and Technology
 Technology
can be used to Glorify
God and love our neighbor: to create
poetry or beautiful graphic designs, to
bless someone with a kind word in email,
and to study the Bible. OR
 Technology can hinder Sanctification:
be used to create pornography, spread
lies, steal our time, money and
affections, lead us into warped priorities
and isolate us from God and our Family.
10
Which is the Internet for You?
A
resource for Growing in
Grace,
or
A stumbling block to
Christian maturity?
11
What is an Addiction?
What’s an Addiction? Let’s just say,
It’s an unhealthy attachment to
something that is:
a. Positively reinforcing
b. Gradually Dominates us
c. Continues despite negative
consequences and attempts to stop
12
Why are addictions so powerful?
1.
We were created for deep attachment.
–
2.
The imago Dei…Genesis 1:27 and the social
nature of the Trinity.
We were designed by God to have
harmony with 1. Himself, 2. our Self, 3.
Others, 4. the Creation (including our
bodies and environment) .
–
Each of these life areas is affected by an
addiction.
13
Why are addictions powerful?
The Fall (Gen.3) corrupted our
desires and capacity for harmony
with God’s plan.
The Fall’s effects are two fold:
1) We are both willful sinners in
rebellion, AND
3.
2)We are victims of sin, death and the
devil.
14
Why are addictions so powerful?
 We
are Designed for deep
attachment to God and other people.
 An addiction is a harmful fake
“attachment” to a substance or
behavior, which displaces God.
 All addictions promise a sense of
connection, but actually they cut us
off from God, ourselves and Others.
15
The Technology of the Internet and
Promotion of Addiction
 Immediacy
 The
of feedback
“Triple A Engine”
– Accessible
– Affordable
– Anonymous
16
Pornography Addiction
 Very
immediate—very reinforcing
biologically.
A
neurological “super-highway” is
created, that takes time to weaken.
Visual stimulus-Craving
 Associative
Learning: creates
“triggers” for preoccupation.
17
Porn/Sexual Addiction =
A Range of Behaviors:

Sexually acting out while:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Passively viewing photos
Watching Videos
Live video feeds
Interactive chatting
Interactive video or phone sexual behavior.
May lead to seeking prostitutes or affairs.
In extreme cases leads to losing sense of right
and wrong, crossing boundaries and illegal
activities.
18
The Shame Cycle
A
person feels shame (worthless), or
anxious deep down inside.
 In order to avoid this feeling he or
she starts to fantasize.
 After a build-up period
(minutes/hours of preoccupation,
they act out.
 More shame, anxietyfantasizing
begins again…
19
Getting Free:
Get Honest with yourself
How much time is going into my porn use?
 How often is it happening? What’s it
costing/risking?
 How is it affecting important life areas?

–
–
–
–
My work (stuff doesn’t get done)
My relationship with the Lord (God is distant)
My time with my children (am I preoccupied?)
Can’t be intimate with my mate (sexual
anorexia)
20
I have good news for you…
 “But
God shows his love for us in
that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
 “If
we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
I John 1:9
21
More good news…
 “But
God, being rich in mercy, because
of the great love with which he loved
us, even when we were dead in our
trespasses, made us alive together
with Christ—by Grace you have been
saved—” Eph. 2:4-5
 “For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus for good works, which
God prepared beforehand, that we
should walk in them.” Eph. 2:10
22
Getting Free
Take an honest look, repent and confess.
 Take concrete measures to reduce options
for relapse, eg. Accountabilty software.
 Use online resources like xxxChurch.
 You cannot do it alone. Seek counselling
from a pastor or professional.
 People use porn to avoid negative
emotions, so learning how to deal with
feelings is critical in recovery.

23
Attend Freedom Session, Living Waters or
Celebrate Recovery discipleship programs.
 When traveling, make a contract with your
mentor/counsellor or spouse to maintain
purity.
 Marriage counselling is very helpful, as
spouses are often deeply hurt.
 Aspire to a transparent life without lies
and secrets: Email, phone and financial
transparency is key.
 Move from a shame-based identity to a
Christ based one.

24
For Spouses…
 Do
not blame yourself—this is your
mate’s problem, not yours.
 However, it affects mates often with
the same impact as an affair.
 “What’s wrong with me?” “Can I ever
trust anything he says?” is common.
 There is a feeling of helplessness,
mixed with anger and hurt.
25
Spouses continued…
Get informed about the problem and how
to deal with it—you are not alone.
 Insist on transparency and no secrets in
your relationship.
 Do not compromise your own integrity by
joining in—refuse and confront.
 Seek marriage counselling and work it
though. If he is not willing, get personal
counselling for your own support.
 Make sure all internet devices in your
family are safe and accountable.
26

What can the Church do to help?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Talk about the problem openly, and help
struggling couples (not just men) through
support groups and Christian marriage
counsellors.
Establish policies to have accountability
programs on all church computers.
Encourage church families to be intentional in
boundaries about the use of technology at
home.
Invest in library materials and annual
conferences that emphasize healthy marital
intimacy.
Teach kids and single young adults about
healthy, Godly sexual purity.
27
Benediction: Ephesians 3:14-19
For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from
whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its
name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may
strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your
inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy
people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep
is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that
surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the
measure of all the fullness of God.
Amen
14
28
In Closing…
Thank you for inviting me to speak today.
It’s great to be part of
Johnson Heights Ev. Free Church!
29