Today, I want to have a real conversation with my Christian community. I want to stop avoiding the topic like the plague and bring it out in the open. It cannot be allowed to thrive in our churches, in our homes, and in our lives. It thrives in the dark and the only way we can see change is to bring it into the light. I want to talk with you about one of the biggest industries on the planet. Pornography. Today, I want to show you the devil that it is, why it has no place in your life, and that Jesus genuinely does provide freedom.
Many of you may know the statistics already, however, I would like to revisit some of these to provide light context of what we are dealing with. Coronavirus is a current pandemic; however, pornography has been a pandemic far before the world ever knew of this virus.
Did you know that every second 28,258 people are currently watching pornography? Or that $3,075 dollars are being spent on pornography every second (around $97B per year)? Every day 68 million search queries related to pornography are made, which is approximately 25% of total searches in a given day. These numbers are astronomical, and they only continue to get worse. As alarming as these statistics sound, it is not surprising either. Romans 1:28-32 tells us, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness…who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” As our society continues to push God further and further out of our daily lives, there is a line where God finally gives people over to their desires. We can see this especially with the rampant sexual immorality around us.
I am concerned for my fellow Christians in this time. Being a Christian does not make you immune to pornography. And current struggles are only exaggerated in this time of isolation as we strive to slow the spread of Coronavirus. Isolation is one of the single greatest driving factors that can make our struggle worse. Notice how I said “our” struggle. I am not speaking to you. I am with you. Even if you are living in victory over pornography, this will likely be something you have to be diligent with the rest of your life. It’s like alcoholism. You cannot even go back and taste one drop. The same applies to us. We cannot even let one small piece into our lives, or it can set us on a destructive course again. Like the Lord says in Genesis 4:7, “You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” We must work at this our whole lives, my friend.
I know your struggle. Whoever is reading this with the sting of that recent failure and that shame that seems to follow you every second, I know your self-hatred. I know the mental scars that this sin leaves. I know the doubt that it gives you – “Will I ever be free?”, “Can I ever be a godly spouse?”, “Does Jesus know my struggle right now?”. I am with you on this. As far along as God has brought me in this fight, I can and will always be able to relate to these feelings.
I want to encourage you in this very moment. This time of isolation that we are experiencing is only for a certain period of time. Don’t waste it. Instead of viewing it as a curse, view it as an opportunity. You deciding to walk in purity and obedience in this time of world-wide anxiety and fear could be a turning point for your struggle. It’s an opportunity for you to draw close to Him, as He has stripped away so many daily activities that distract us. This is the time. I would like to share with you three keys to my personal victory that you can apply to your own life as well. I know each person is different, however, I believe that some principles are timeless and can apply to every Christian.
1) Allies in Your Fight
There is perhaps no greater resource for your spiritual development than godly mentors in your life. As I think about the growth God has given me in my spiritual life, I can only think back to the early morning conversations over a hot coffee. The phone calls across the country to older men who pour wisdom and experience into my life. Allowing another person into your fight brings light directly into the sin in your heart. This has a profound effect. Ephesians 5:13 says, “But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.” John Macarthur breaks this verse down simply and states, “The phrase for everything that becomes visible is light…is better translated, ‘for it is light that makes everything visible’. Light is that which makes things manifest, that which shows them to be as they actually are. When sin is revealed, it loses its “hiddenness” and is seen for the ugliness it is. You need those mentors to show you the ugliness of what we are facing, so that God can work in your heart to rewire your desires.
2) Intimacy with Jesus
This is the single greatest defense for any sin in your life. Jesus saved us and He will see us through until we reach His actual presence – Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” How do we pursue this intimacy with Jesus you might ask? We need not search for a new 12 step program on Google or dig down deep and white-knuckle it out to the finish line. We cannot do this on our own. We cannot say no to sin without Jesus’ help. If we do this without His help, it is sure to end in failure. The only way we can begin to experience change and a growing intimacy with Jesus is through Scripture and prayer. I challenge you to press into Him. To not avoid Him when you think your sin is too large. Pick a book of the Bible and begin reading through it one verse at a time. Purchase a commentary to take you along. Memorize key verses that will have your back when the battle gets strong. Psalm 1 tells us, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does will prosper.” We must soak ourselves in Scripture. This is how we arm ourselves for battle. As we have armed ourselves with Scripture, we must also arm ourselves every day in prayer. God has shown me so many areas in my life that I need to work on. Through the help of mentors and Christ, I am in the process of memorizing verses to take me through these challenges. Each morning I begin my day by identifying the struggles I will face and asking God to help me with it. This helps me to call out the ugliness of these sins every morning, making me alert for the battle that I am about to face. But these prayers also tell Jesus to come in. To make a change. Because I cannot do it alone. And neither can you. Psalm 54:4, “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.”
3) Trust the Process
All of you have likely heard this referenced by a variety of athletes. The reason why I mention it is because it is so true. The battle we face with pornography is not something that will likely change overnight. This will take time. Although it might frustrate you that this is a process, I want to challenge you to think about this differently. The fact that it is a process is actually beautiful. James 1 tells us that trials or the testing of our faith produces patience in us. This can also be translated as “endurance or perseverance”. This endurance you learn will benefit you for the rest of your Christian walk. When we get a handle on purity, it opens up so many doors for growth and maturity in our lives. Trust the process that God is working in your life. Trust that failure is truly forgiven – “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” (Isaiah 43:25) To not trust that we are forgiven is arrogance, as we put our own judgement above God’s Word and what He tells us is true. Finally, know that we already have all that we need to fight this battle. John Macarthur tells us, “God’s ‘divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence’ (2 Peter 1:3). It is not that God will give us but that He has already given us ‘everything pertaining to life and godliness’. He has blessed us already with every spiritual blessing…Our resources in God are not simply promised; they are possessed…The believer’s need, therefore, is not to receive something more but to do something more with what he has.” This quote hit me hard. And I hope it hits home for you as well. We have all we need. We can fight today. We can fight tomorrow. And we can fight all the way until we go home to be with our Savior and Lord. He has given us all the resources we need. We just need to go to Him and use them.
If you stuck with this lengthy article, I commend you. I want to encourage you in your fight. I pray for you. I may not know you, but I ask God for a revival in the church. That this pandemic of pornography would be quenched with the goodness of Jesus. Let me tell you. Jesus is better. He always has been and He always will. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He Himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” You were not redeemed for your own glory. You were made for something more. Join me in this fight.
Nathan Cunningham, CSF Student President, Member of IUPUI’s Mens Golf Team