Pornography

Few sins enslave a person more readily than sexual sins: adultery, fornication, sexual abuse, rape, incest, homosexual activity, obscenity, and pornography. Holy Scripture equates sexual sins with idolatry (i.e. one’s passions and desires become his god). I’m not naive. Sexual sins have been part and parcel of mankind’s history ever since our first parents ate the forbidden fruit. But any honest observer can see a massive shift in our culture’s views on sexual sins. Many of the aforementioned sins are now considered “normal” and “perfectly acceptable” not only by our culture, but even among many who profess to be Christians. God have mercy on those who are so deluded!

Surveys suggest that the sexual sin growing at a faster rate than all others is pornography. And it’s destroying individuals, marriages, families, and faith in the process. Viewing pornography used to take some time and effort (i.e. one had to purchase/rent videos or magazines in certain stores or via the postal service). Today, however, pornography is easily within reach on most electronic devices and can be viewed from the privacy of one’s own bedroom, office, basement, even on the go. Such availability and privacy has helped the pornography industry thrive and has enslaved millions of users in the process.

Perhaps you are caught up in this. If so, you need to stop. It is self destructive. It is addictive. And it is an abomination to the Triune God. For your own sake, and for the sake of your loved ones and friends, stop immediately. Pornography is no more tolerable to our Lord than adultery or fornication or sexual abuse or rape or incest or homosexual activity or obscenity. In fact, here is what God says about sexual sins of every sort:

“For out of the heart come … sexual immorality…” [Matthew 15:19]

“The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord.” [1 Corinthians 6:13]

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” [1 Corinthians 6:18]

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality…” [Galatians 5:19]

“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.” [Ephesians 5:3]

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality … which is idolatry.” [Colossians 3:5]

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; … for God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.” [1 Thessalonians 4:3, 7]

In each of the Scripture passages above, the Greek word behind our English translation “sexual immorality” is porn- (“porn”). In the ancient world pornography encompassed a wide range of sexual sins. In our day and age it is more narrowly defined as the viewing of sexually explicit images. It was sinful then and it is sinful now.

If you are caught up in pornography, seek God’s forgiveness and a new beginning in Christ. Seek the support of a trusted friend or colleague to help you from lapsing back into this detestable sin. If you know of someone else who is caught up in pornography, assist him or her in stopping and seeking God’s forgiveness and a new beginning in Christ. After all, being enslaved to one’s deepest, darkest passions and desires is one of the quickest ways to destroy yourself, your marriage, your family, and your faith.

To that end, may our gracious Lord give all of us the strength to “lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do” (Luther’s Small Catechism: Sixth Commandment), to the glory of His holy name.