Porn is slowly killing Evangelicalism

Patheos ^ | June 12, 2018 | Grayson Gilbert

[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.

[Elsie]

The devaluation of virginity has been one of the hallmarks of the fall of western civ.

While a certain person's perpetual virginity is claimed by a major religious organization.

[Elsie]

Its like taking wheat and sugar cane, which in and of themselves are okay, and then making a sickly, unhealthy jelly donut out of them.

[Elsie]

I think the bible has a verse or two that say something about browsing among the lilies...

[MayflowerMadam]

Porn was the downfall of my cousin’s husband — an “upstanding” deacon in their evangelical church. Satan knows where and how to hit.

[Elsie]

Look to the Bible and your own denomination for spiritual authority.

HMMMmmm…

Ezekiel 23:20
Oholah and Oholibah

[Elsie]

I think the danger is the unrealistic expectations, not any stimulation or gratification.

I hear ya!

[Elsie]

Comparing 16 moral behaviors, Catholics were less likely to say mean things about people behind their back, and tending to engage in recycling more. However, they were also twice as likely to view pornographic content on the Internet, and were more prone to use profanity, to gamble, and to buy lottery tickets.

HMMMmmm…

[ronniesgal]

i don’t know what that means, sorry.

[Elsie]

https://www.google.com/search?q=browsing+among+the+lilies&ie=&oe=

[metmom]

No doubt.

However, I still see contraception as less the cause of the moral breakdown as a symptom of it. If the desire (of the lack of moral restraint) weren’t there, then the availability of contraception would not have changed anything.

People remain virgins or abstain from sex because they want to.

[Elsie]

Not many people will maintain a firm control on their sexuality just out of a devotion to God. The impulses are just too strong.

[Tax-chick]

Good article, and I appreciate your comment as well.

[Tennessee Nana]

“Evangelical Christians”.... whats that ???

if someone is doing the works of the devil...the works of darkness...then they are not a Christian...Christians are people of the Light...

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Isaiah 5:20

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your vision is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your vision is poor, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matthew 6:22, 23

A Christian is to submit himself to God, resist the devil and he will flee from him...James 4:7