Pornography Harmless or Toxic

Bienhome Muivah *

The world today is inundated with Pornography. It may be found in advertisements, fashion, movies, music, magazines, television, video games, smart phones, Web sites, and now online photo-sharing devices. Pornography, it seems, is a prominent feature of popular culture. More people in more places are consuming more Pornography than at any other time in history.

The nature of Pornography is also changing. Prof. Gail Dines writes: "Images today have now become so extreme that what used to be considered hard-core is now mainstream pornography".

How do you view those trends? Is Pornography a harmless leisure, a deadly poison or something in between? Jesus said: "Every good tree produces fine fruit, but a bad tree bear bad fruit" (Mt. 7:17). What fruitage does Pornography produces? To find the answers let us consider some basic questions about Pornography.

How does Pornography affect individuals?

What experts say: Pornography is highly addictive, researchers and therapists opine that it is liken to a crack cocaine.

A victim who was hooked on internet Pornography relates: "Nothing would stop me. I felt like I was in some sort of trance. I would literally shake and develop pains in the head. I struggled to stop but years later I was still addicted".

People who indulge in Pornography often cover up their habit. They are secretive and deceitful. Not surprisingly, many suffer from feelings of isolation, shame, anxiety, depression, and anger. In some cases, they even develop suicidal tendencies. "My mood became self-absorbed and desperate", says another victim, who downloaded Porn to his mobile phone almost daily. "I felt worthless, guilty, alone, and trapped. I was too embarrassed and scared to seek help".

Even a fleeting or accidental brush with Pornography can have a negative impact. A young girl, who was exposed to Pornographic Web Sites, relates: "The images are engraved on my mind. They pop up unexpectedly. It feels like I will never completely be able to erase them".

The Bottom Line:
Pornography enslaves and wreaks havoc on it victims. 2 Peter 2:19

How does Pornography affect families?

Pornography damages marriages and families by:
Undermining marital trust, intimacy, and love. Proverbs 2:12-17
Promoting selfishness, emotional aloofness and dissatisfaction with one's mates. Ephesians 5:28,29
Fueling unhealthy sexual fantasies and cravings. 2 Peter 2:14
Tempting users to force objectionable sex practices on their mates. Ephesians 5:3,4
Promoting emotional and physical infidelity. Matthew 5:28

The Bible tells marriage mates not to "deal treacherously" with each other. Malachi 2:16 Infidelity is the kind of treachery that can devastate a marriage and lead to separation and divorce. Such break ups, in turn, harm the children from the marriage.

Pornography can also hurt children more directly, studies shows that Pornography can influence adolescents to become sexually active at younger ages and also to become promiscuous, sexually violent, and emotionally and psychologically unstable.

Bottom Line
Pornography poisons loving relationships and ultimately brings heartache and pain. Proverbs 6:27

Facts about Pornography

Every second: nearly 30,000 persons view pornographic Web Sites.
Every Minute: Internet users send more than 1.7 Million Pornographic E-mails.
Every Hour: Nearly Two hard-core Pornographic videos are released in the United States.
Every Day: An average of more than Two Million Pornographic movies are rented in the United State alone.
Every Month: Nearly 9 out of 10 young men and 3 out of 10 young women in the United States view Pornography.
Every Year: The global Pornography industry generates an estimated $100 Billion (U.S.).

What does the Bible say about Pornography?

God's word says:
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry". Colossian 3:5

"God hates Pornography". This is not because He is prudish about sex. He created our sexual powers and proposed that marriage mates use them for the sake of pleasing one another, drawing close emotionally and sharing the wonder of bringing children into the world. James 1:17

Why, then, can we assert that God feels so strongly about Pornography?

Consider just a few reasons:
He knows that Pornography can wreck lives. Ephesians 4:17-19
He loves us and wants us to protect us from harm. Isaiah 48:17,18
God wants to safeguard marriages and families. Matthew 19:4-6
He wants us to be morally clean and to respect the rights of others. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6
He wants us to respect our creative power and use them in an honorable way. Hebrew 13:4
God knows that Pornography reflects a warped, selfish, satanic view of sex. Genesis 6:2; Jude 6,7

The bottom Line
Pornography damages a person's friendship with God. Roman1:24

Breaking free from Pornography

Consider some steps that have helped many break free:
Pray to god: "The most important step in overcoming the snare of Pornography is to ask for God's help in prayer".

Get help from others: "Pornography addiction is so secretive and shameful that you feel that you can't ask for help. You think you can beat it yourself. But that is not true. You can beat it only with help. Confiding in others will take courage and determination. Yet, it is a vital step toward conquering the addiction and reconnection with loved ones. James 5:16

Identify and avoid potential triggers: What situations, thought, or emotions trigger wrong desires? Surfing the internet, watching late-night TV? Reading magazine? Identify your weaknesses and avoid them like the plague". Jesus said: "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it and throw it away". Matthew 5:29

Strengthen Spirituality: "Fill your mind with wholesome thoughts, and fill your life with spiritual activities".

The Bible states:
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of Peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8.9