Posted on 08/24/2018 10:41:00 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
Pornography is single-handedly one of the worst epidemics facing the Evangelical church today. There are a myriad of other factors which appear to be eroding the Western church from the inside-out, yet Evangelicals scarcely address the root of the problem of pornography within the church. On the whole, human sexuality is undergoing an existential crisis. Yet the church is placed squarely in the midst of this crisis, often not even addressing its own underlying issues until far too late. Leader after leader (after leader!) disqualifies himself through sexual misconduct, all the while the name of Christ is slandered. Lest we focus on only Evangelical leaders though, sexual misconduct, including rampant use of porn, is very much present within the laity of the church.
We live in a culture that consumes pornography at the same rate as hamburgers – and we don’t see that as an absolutely terrifying trend...People have removed any purpose to sexuality other than pleasure. If we sense pornography does not facilitate this with abundant ease, we are naïve at best. If we sense the church has not bought into this lie, well, the statistics show otherwise.
We don’t see these things because we don’t properly understand humanity in terms of relation to God, but instead, we see it in terms of sexuality. One might be tempted to look at these things from a purely clinical perspective, but Scriptural precedent clearly establishes a direct correlation between all forms of sexual perversion and a hatred of God and our fellow man.
Yet Evangelical Christians are still participating in these deeds of darkness without much forethought to the long-term consequences. Here we stand, at the precipice of cultural, sexual anarchy, enjoying the same titillating nonsense this world so eagerly digests.
(Excerpt) Read more at patheos.com ...
Interesting: the writer stresses the error in equating celibacy and chasteness with "un-wholeness." When in fact it would do well for Christians (including Catholics) to have a higher view of celibacy and of wholeness beyond the confines of sexuality. Even institutions like the Catholic priesthood suffer because the wrong-minded are drawn as opposed to those with a genuine commitment to celibacy. Preoccupied with God, not sex.
Also a higher view of marriage is called for: it is far more sacred, not just a mere outlet for sex. But even 'purity culture' taken too far makes marriage out to be nothing more than that. So chasteness is only viewed as a state of anticipation, rather than as a spiritually fulfilled state of being in and of itself.
And finally contraceptive culture and pornography go hand in hand when it comes to the postmodern deconstruction of boiling everything sacred down to 'pleasure.' But most Christian churches do not cast a critical eye on contraception, just abortion.
“single-handedly”?
So what does God say on the matter? What is the only way out and will we do it?
I can think of only one example and that is in the book of Jonah, where the whole nation did what needed to be done.
“Interesting: the writer stresses the error in equating celibacy and chasteness with “un-wholeness.” When in fact it would do well for Christians (including Catholics) to have a higher view of celibacy and of wholeness beyond the confines of sexuality. Even institutions like the Catholic priesthood suffer because the wrong-minded are drawn as opposed to those with a genuine commitment to celibacy. Preoccupied with God, not sex.”
Well said.
It has been my experience that men who regularly get “serviced” by the lady they love have little interest in porn.
A civilization that exhausts pleasure before honor and righteousness will soon enough have only abuse and manipulation and sensibilities so jaded and libertine that pleasure is on the way out too.
Pee Wee’s other Adventure
It is not just the Church. It is America as a whole. America’s number 1 export to the world, pornography. Wow!! Ain’t we proud of what we have become?? Christ cannot come soon enough! This nation has a bullseye dead on its backside. The LORD will punish this nation straight into the depts of hell. And we have earned it.
No, pedophile priests and the “church” they belong to has been tainting religion.
Mega-expensive “churches” have been tainting religion. As someone else said, “My God isn’t broke, mister.”
Homosexual “Churches” have been tainting religion.
Christians do fine. We just stay away from organized “religion”.
I will quote you because I cannot say it better than you, “Interesting: the writer stresses the error in equating celibacy and chasteness with “un-wholeness.” When in fact it would do well for Christians (including Catholics) to have a higher view of celibacy and of wholeness beyond the confines of sexuality. Even institutions like the Catholic priesthood suffer because the wrong-minded are drawn as opposed to those with a genuine commitment to celibacy. [Be]Preoccupied with God, not sex.”
While single, I never met a woman my age who wasn’t interested in sex. Then I got married.
i was told recently by a FReeper male that watching porn is just like watching football. they enjoy it even if you (female) do not. but no harm done.
Now I am worried about my husbands Jim Brown jersey and helmet..... both are signed!
The devaluation of virginity has been one of the hallmarks of the fall of western civ.
Nonsense
Evangelism was killed by churches teaching people that the only way to be successful in life is to go to a Christian College and become a Pastor, Missionary or get a MRS degree.
I learned a great deal about Christian history but learned nothing about relationships, planning for the future and life in general.
I became successful on my own and those who taught me what God wanted are poor, destitute and lost in the wilderness.
As you and I have acknowledged, there are a lot of jerky guys on FR! I’m still laughing at the guy who wanted to take away women’s tampons.
You may not like China’s authoritarian govenment and censorship, but they saw they danger of this. They have censored it off the internet and being involved can get you life in prison.
i know!!! because sanitary napkins were never, ever available....but then Tampax and the devil made a deal, and women went to shit. right.
And rags were never available before the sanitary napkin. I mean the stupidity...
“And finally contraceptive culture and pornography go hand in hand when it comes to the postmodern deconstruction of boiling everything sacred down to ‘pleasure.’ But most Christian churches do not cast a critical eye on contraception, just abortion.”
Yes, that is a key point. Whatever I might disagree with Catholics on, they did correctly point out what acceptance of contraception would lead to in society.
Not many people will maintain a firm control on their sexuality just out of a devotion to God. The impulses are just too strong. The only thing that keeps people in line are having consequences to indulging those impulses. What contraception, abortion, and pornography all have in common is facilitating people indulging their impulses while avoiding the natural consequences.
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