4 Reasons Why p0rnography Is Wrong

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This article is also on my blog
https://reformed1517.blogspot.com/2019/02/4-reasons-why-p0rnography-is-wrong.html

"Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."
2 Peter. 2:16

Before I start this article I would like to say this, the following is not suitable for children. Having said that I believe that the guidance of a parent or responsible adult is beneficial to adolescents who wish to learn about this important topic. Sadly, many youngsters are exposed to p0rnography and with the birth of the internet and smartphones this is now a topic that more teenagers are experiencing in school, college and among their peers.

It is unrealistic – The first reason why p0rnography is wrong is due to the fact that the body images and the portrayal of sexual activity is not real. Women and men are not like the ones you see on the screen in real life. The images that stimulate the brain are nothing more than fantasy. When you view pornographic content you are training your brain and emotions to react to something that is fake. It has been reported that the movies and clips are filmed in such a way that make the viewer think something is happening that is not. Also the scenarios are vastly exaggerated.

Depression, self-hatred and guilt. - We read in Scripture that when Judas betrayed Christ he had a strong feeling of guilt and self-hate. Instead of coming to terms with the reality of the events that had just taken place Judas went and hung himself. It is common to have a feeling of guilt and a desire to punish ourself when we have done something wrong. It is a good and healthy feeling. However trying to deal with guilt by self-hatred is not the way to go about it. Guilt is dealt with at the cross. The conscience is wiped clean in Christ. 1 John 1:9-10 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” It is very important that we understand that forgiveness and cleansing cannot be imparted to sinners outside of Christ. The mental well-being is just as important as our spiritual health. Mental health is not a topic that is talked about a lot in the Christian community. I wonder if you can cast your mind back to a time when you heard a sermon on this topic.

I am no expert regarding the medical side of mental health, but I have had personal experience of mental health issues in the past. I believe that a good conscience before God is crucial to our mental health. Nothing can be more mentally and spiritual crippling as a burden of guilt or shame weighing down on the mind. It is not surprising that suicide rates are high among p0rnography users. One of the best examples in Scripture of a man pleading before God for grace after committing sexual sin is David. Read careful the words of David and take note at the language he uses. David is pouring out his heart before God in deep distress, he understands the depths of his sin and what it means.

In Psalm 51 David beseeches God to “blot out my transgressions.” He implores God to “wash me” in verses 2 and 7. David asked God more than once to wash him clean. Simply to blot out his sin was not enough for David, he wanted to be cleanses from the defiled state his body was in. God is the one and only source of true healing and cleansing. David wanted to be purged of sexual immorality meaning that he wanted rid of this unwanted feeling and condition. “Create in me a clean heart” was David's heart desire. He wanted his heart clean from the corruption and filth of sin. If you are ever temped to wallow in the guilt of sin do not remain in your current state, flee to the Saviour for the cleansing you crave.

It objectifies women. - p0rnography portrays women as mere objects of sexual desire and passion. Women are not merely sexual objects. Women are created beings in the image of God with value, worth and meaning. A woman's worth is not based on how she looks, but rather who she is as a person. It is sad that in most areas of western culture women are portrayed as only worth something if they look a certain way. This is not just a shameful fact, but an abhorrent reality.

Many adverts on TV and billboards have images of half dressed women in an attempt to sell their product. Men who view p0rnography train their brain to look at women as a lion views a piece of meat. This is harmful, dangerous and detrimental to the health of mind, body and soul. People who view such material regularly ought to consider the affects. There is nothing wrong with admiring a person for their beauty, but when that turns into lustfulness that is when you are in the danger zone. Healthy relationships are based on love, commitment and mutual respect, not on lust and animal like instincts. A real mature man maintains and exercises self control and discipline.

In Galatians 5:13 Paul exhorts believers not to use their freedom in Christ to indulge in the flesh, but rather to serve one another in love. Gratifying your desires at every opportunity or whenever the desires awake is a sure sign of immaturity and animal like behaviour. Animals can't control themselves like humans can, they act on instincts. People can moderate their behaviour and act in accordance with what is beneficial and appropriate. Human beings contrary to what so called educated and sophisticated scientists of great intellect tell us are not animals. We have a sense of right and wrong. We have the ability to act against our desires. When we act solely on how we think and feel we undermine the strengths of God's creation. When we react without wisdom and self-control we are behaving like an animal who are in many ways a slave to their desires. We do have the freedom to choose, we do not have to be enslaved by sinful passions.

In Galatians 5 we learn that self-control is a fruit of the spirit. The King James Version translates self-control as temperance. For more wisdom on self-control read Proverbs 25:20, Proverbs 16:32, Titus 1:8, 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 2 Timothy 1:7 and Philippians 4:13. Be careful and watchful the eyes are the gateway to the mind and the soul, so guard your eyes. The quick fix to sexual pleasure that p0rnography produces is not the long term answer. God created sex exclusively for marriage, sex is reserved for the husband and wife. Both men and women ought to be sensitive round the opposite sex to not provoke unclean thoughts in the heart and mind. A modest and godly appearance is one way how we can love each other in a way that profits everyone by encouraging sexual purity.

Abusive and addictive. - It is very clear in Scripture that sexual immorality is a grave sin. Many passages address this and express this fact such as Matthew 5:27-28, Colossians 3:5 and 1 Corinthians 6:18 among many others. Western culture has a very causal attitude about sex. Many people think that there is nothing wrong with unmartial sex or having many sexual partners before marriage. If someone wishes not to engage in sexual active until marriage they are mostly viewed as either old-fashioned or a little odd. However, having a high view of marriage and relationships is good for society.

p0rnography breaks trust between married couples and promotes a secretive double life that is grounded in lies, lust, unfaithfulness, and mental adultery. This false sense of approval and pride is crushing to all involved. This will eventually deeply damage the family unit and bonds.

I would like to address the addictive side to p0rnography. When you watch p0rnography and/or view pornographic images your brain releases dopamine. This is a chemical located in reward centre of the brain. Dopamine also increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Your brain reacts the same way to pornographic images as with street drugs such as cocaine.

There is a connection between p0rnography users and domestic abuse. Women have reported to have been abused by men due to copycat behaviour from some of the material viewed. There are some cases when men have viewed violent sexual material and acted that out in real life. p0rnography normalised unnatural group sex, unsafe sexual behaviour and increases the chances of catching sexually transmitted diseases and infections. p0rnography also takes something that God created to be good and enjoyed between a husband and wife and reduces the meaning and purpose to something that is unclean, hurtful and sinful.

In closing, p0rnography ruin lives. Scriptures makes it very clear that lust is a sin. Studies have been carried that that show men who view pornographic content treat women as objects and become more sexually aggressive. They treat women the same in real life situations as it displayed in pornographic clips.

Sin of any kind is demoralising to your soul. Exposure and practice of sin deadens and hardens you to the affects and consequences. The final point I would like to say is this, nothing distorts sex more than p0rnography. Falling into the trap is a sure path to spiritual, moral and social suicide. Shielding yourself from this destroying sin will deepen real relationships with people and strengthen that intimacy in marriage.

I feel that I cannot conclude this article without offering some practical advice in dealing with p0rnography. Make sure that the all computer and internet devices are in a room where your family are. Make sure that you do not have access to the internet or television in a private room. Get some software that blocks your access to pornographic content. Make yourself accountable for the sites you view. Talk to a trusted friend or family member about this matter. If you live alone and can't keep to the methods that will protect you against p0rnography it might be a good idea to cut off your internet access altogether. If you are married and view sites and material that is sinful speak to your wife/husband about it. Confess this to your spouse and he honest with them.

Overcoming this sin and addiction is possible. Admitting you have an addiction to p0rnography is the first step. Even if you are not addicted to p0rnography viewing such material is still sinful. I believe with the help of friends, family and taking on board the advice given the battle against sexual sins can be won.
 
5) It functions like cocaine. You need a harder hit to get the same high, which leads to more and more depraved (and violent) versions of it.
 
6) It misses the whole point of marital intimacy, which is that sex between husband and wife is about the one flesh relationship, about pleasing the other. P0rn is about pleasing and idolizing self.
 
Lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and desires of the mind. It is not 'walking in the Spirit.'
 
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