PORN. Read it. Say it out loud. Cringe. Blush. Giggle. Get it all out. Now let's proceed...
So where I am from people usually land in one of two camps when it comes to porn. (There that word is again, I know it's tough. Keep reading it and it will get easier.) The first of those camps is the one where porn is no big deal. It's just another part of life. It's accepted. Or they are just too apathetic to care. The second camp is the one with the person who is still cringing every time they read the word porn. And that's assuming they even got this far. They are the camp that doesn't think about it, much less talk about it. If you are struggling with it then you better not mention it because they can absolutely not discuss this problem with you.
So, at the risk of being very honest, I would say I fall somewhere in the middle of the road. I have a zero tolerance policy for porn in my relationships. I feel like it's disrespectful and I've done far to much work with victims of sex trafficking to pretend those lovely young ladies baring their naked bodies are all doing so voluntarily. I also however believe that porn should be talked about and that it is not just a mens problem. I believe it is a real life, normal struggle, that both men and women deal with and that should be safe to talk about.
Silence is the root of the problem here. We don't talk to our children about porn. It is a hush hush topic that you simply don't discuss. If you don't talk to your children about porn, how on earth can they be equipped to deal with it when it inevitably falls into their lives. When men are raised to believe it is this deep, dark secret, how can they talk with their brothers and friends about combating their addiction? When women are raised to believe it is only a mens problem, how can they seek guidance when it suddenly becomes their problem?
Why are we walking around pretending nobody does it while everyone is suffering because everyone does it?
It's quite simple really...
Is watching porn okay? - No.
Do millions of men and women struggle with it? - Yes!
Can we help one another if we continue to hide it in our sin filled closets? - Absolutely not!
We've got to stop tip toeing around the topic and boldly face this struggle head on. Porn is real. Addiction to porn is even more real! It's time we start lifting one another up. It's imperitive that addiction to porn is brought to light and talked about and discussed with men, woman, boys, and girls! Because if we continue to pretend it isn't happening, then so will the people struggling with it. And when you continue to hide your sin you are only feeding the darkness and allowing it to take over your life.
If you are one of those individuals suffering through this sin. Seek the Lord and be encouraged by His scriptures.
...but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:3-5)
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
(1 Corinthians 10:13)
If you are one of those individuals condemning others and encouraging them to keep their sin in the dark. You also, be edified by the scriptures.
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and if one has complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
(Colossians 3:12-13)
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
(Galations 6:1-2)
Peace, Love, & Coping y'all.
So, at the risk of being very honest, I would say I fall somewhere in the middle of the road. I have a zero tolerance policy for porn in my relationships. I feel like it's disrespectful and I've done far to much work with victims of sex trafficking to pretend those lovely young ladies baring their naked bodies are all doing so voluntarily. I also however believe that porn should be talked about and that it is not just a mens problem. I believe it is a real life, normal struggle, that both men and women deal with and that should be safe to talk about.
Silence is the root of the problem here. We don't talk to our children about porn. It is a hush hush topic that you simply don't discuss. If you don't talk to your children about porn, how on earth can they be equipped to deal with it when it inevitably falls into their lives. When men are raised to believe it is this deep, dark secret, how can they talk with their brothers and friends about combating their addiction? When women are raised to believe it is only a mens problem, how can they seek guidance when it suddenly becomes their problem?
Why are we walking around pretending nobody does it while everyone is suffering because everyone does it?
It's quite simple really...
Is watching porn okay? - No.
Do millions of men and women struggle with it? - Yes!
Can we help one another if we continue to hide it in our sin filled closets? - Absolutely not!
We've got to stop tip toeing around the topic and boldly face this struggle head on. Porn is real. Addiction to porn is even more real! It's time we start lifting one another up. It's imperitive that addiction to porn is brought to light and talked about and discussed with men, woman, boys, and girls! Because if we continue to pretend it isn't happening, then so will the people struggling with it. And when you continue to hide your sin you are only feeding the darkness and allowing it to take over your life.
If you are one of those individuals suffering through this sin. Seek the Lord and be encouraged by His scriptures.
...but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:3-5)
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
(1 Corinthians 10:13)
If you are one of those individuals condemning others and encouraging them to keep their sin in the dark. You also, be edified by the scriptures.
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and if one has complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
(Colossians 3:12-13)
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
(Galations 6:1-2)
Peace, Love, & Coping y'all.