Posted on 08/24/2005 2:59:33 PM PDT by Crackingham
On a blustery day early this year, 13,000 people showed up at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., for what became known as "Porn Sunday." Two young California pastors with a website called XXXchurch.com - "the No. 1 Christian porn site" - were in town with a silence-breaking message. Their frank talk about the struggles many Christians are having with pornography has drawn huge crowds in several churches across the country, and now the Revs. Craig Gross and Mike Foster are planning National Porn Sunday for Oct. 9.
"We were tired of hearing stories about people's lives being wrecked, and feeling they had nowhere to go in the church to get help," says Mr. Gross. He and Mr. Foster hope to engage 200 churches in talking openly about "America's dirty little secret" and are offering resources to help them initiate healing programs for their congregations.
While some consider the pastors' efforts controversial, many religious leaders recognize they need help on how to talk about this "elephant in the pews." Surveys show that 40 million Americans regularly view Internet pornography, which accounts for $2.5 billion of the $12 billion US porn industry. Some 25 percent of search-engine requests are porn-related; 20 percent of men and 13 percent of women admit accessing porn at work.
For years, churches were in denial about the scope of the problem, but the toll on marriages, careers, and faith communities has grown, Christian leaders say. And it involves not only congregants, but pastors.
In a 2001 survey published in Leadership Journal, 37 percent of pastors said pornography was a struggle for them, and 51 percent admitted it was a temptation.
"For 25 years, I would have said that the pro-life issue is the most pressing threat to America morally, but pornography has overtaken it," says the Rev. Richard Land, a prominent leader in the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest US Protestant denomination. "More people's lives are being destroyed on a daily basis by addiction to pornography than through abortion."
Douglas Weiss, a counselor with divinity and psychology degrees, speaks at churches of many denominations on sexuality issues. "Wherever I am ... and no matter what the denomination, at least half of the men in the church admit to being sexually addicted," he says. Based on his experience, "The clergy don't differ that much from the general population - between a third to half."
It works.
Like votes, it depends on who gets to do the counting.
This and they are really sick.
I now know I have reached my maximum here and have to go get some sleep and afterward, a break.
Very sick (not FR, but this article as are those who are described therein).
Really?
What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his very soul?
Porn is selfish and self obsorbed..
Yeah, and conservative churches were in denial about divorce for decades, too. They're getting better, but there are a lot of divorced couples out there who could have worked things out if they had had a competent Christian counselor before things got too bad.
And it involves not only congregants, but pastors. In a 2001 survey published in Leadership Journal, 37 percent of pastors said pornography was a struggle for them, and 51 percent admitted it was a temptation.
All but the most backwoods preacher has Internet access these days. Why wouldn't they be tempted along with everyone else? They work alone all day for the most part, don't they? And like other people in the "helping" professions, they spend so much time ministering to other people, sometimes they don't take enough time for themselves. And has anyone here besides me ever seen some of the dysfunctional environments these guys have to work in (and under)? I've seen so many church elders on a Power Trip it's not even funny. You couldn't pay me a million dollars to be a preacher.
"Wherever I am ... and no matter what the denomination, at least half of the men in the church admit to being sexually addicted," he says.
Oh, hogwash. What's his definition of being "sexually addicted," not being able to resist the temptation to visit a porn site every once in a while? I wish people would leave that phrase for the most hard-core cases instead of throwing it around so easily.
Hey, It's only internet porn. It's not like we had to pass the temples of Apthrodite and Diana with their holy prostitutes every day as the first century Christians had too. Now, that was temptation!
Besides, the mousetraps, hijacked home pages, trojan horses and virus and other asorted nasties should keep most away!
What we need is some internet pennicillin.
I don't know, abortion is permanent. Death is final. Porn addiction can be overcome.
You should try one of the Reformed churches, Orthodox Presbyterian, Presbyterian Church in America)PCA), Reformed Church of America, Dutch Reformed, Reformed Baptist, Primative Baptist, etc. The sermons have substance, and church is not a show, but is where we, by appointment go to meet with God in worship and adoration.
once church becomes just a religious social club, you've become the ELCA.
(Ahem.) You will note that he stated his reasons why he can't leave the church congregation he attends, Mr. Calvinist proselytizer.
I noted his reasons. However, as the spiritual leader of his home, he has an obligation to have his family in a church that failthfully preaches the Gospel and God's entire Word, employs church discipline, properly administers the sacraments and worships God in spirit and truth.
The problem isn't a need for a pill. The problem is our culture, and our culture is a reflection of our weak families, and our weak families are a reflection of self-centered individuals. When you have people who live and breathe self-gratification from day one, this is what you get. Moms and dads allow television, video games, etc. to raise their children. Then they hand them over to the gov't who teaches them perversity diversity. Morality is treated as a bad thing, and virtue is no longer valued. To be virtuous is to be naive and judgmental. So what else is there? The saddest part of all is that this is also true in most churches. They sold their souls to the god of worldly desires and materialism a long time ago. To be a good Christian is to embrace worldiness and never speak of sin or God's judgment. The church is to entertain and tickle the ears of sinners. The gospel according to Hollywood produces people addicted to porn. That shouldn't surprise anyone.
later pingout.
Of course, even when individuals and families want to raise responsible citizens, the courts won't allow it. So in the end, in our case, I think the culture is a reflection of the courts and our black robed rulers.
Also, as a father, it is his supreme responsibility that he insure that his children are raised in the fear and admonition of the Lord, that they are being fed spiritually, regardless of any social benefits associated with a poor teaching church.
Say what you will about porn, it's better than being cheated on.
"I figure my religion is between me and the "Big Guy"
Big Guy? Andre the Giant?
A teen oral sex craze and hardcore porn in every home. The Clinton-Reno legacy.
You should try one of the Reformed churches, Orthodox Presbyterian, Presbyterian Church in America)PCA), Reformed Church of America, Dutch Reformed, Reformed Baptist, Primative Baptist, etc. The sermons have substance, and church is not a show, but is where we, by appointment go to meet with God in worship and adoration.
Thanks for the help MisterD; I've been there and done that back in my younger days...grew up in a town dominated by the Dutch Reformed. Also attended Moody B.I. for a while...
While I do appreciate the solid teaching of the various Reformed churches and there very serious attitude about Christianity, I'm no fan of Calvinism. I appreciate the tremendous contributions of the reformed movement, but there are certain issues I have with some it's theology and interpretations. But I'm not about to turn this thread into a discussion about theology, so if you want to find out more, just Freepmail me...
However, even if the best Reformed church in the universe were right across the street from me, still the wife & kids would be loath to change churches....
The "Big Guy" up there. Like all around and in everything and everywhere. Him the only one. I could get into the three in one stuff but hey, I'm a heathen at heart.
I don't throw salt over my shoulder, get out of the way of black cats, knock on trees to hear the little people talk or any other strange stuff.
I'm just me and it drives my preacher nuts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.