Posted on 01/14/2002 2:14:57 PM PST by truthandlife
Two young ministers have taken a provocative approach to combating pornography.
Craig Gross and Mike Foster have launched what they bill as "the No. 1 Christian porn site," and taken their message to the heart of the adult-entertainment world.
The pair took a booth at the annual "Adult Video News" trade show in Las Vegas last week, the showcase for the multibillion-dollar porn industry that includes its own "Oscars" for categories such as "most outrageous sex scene."
"If Jesus were walking the earth today, we think that He'd be here, too," Gross told the Los Angeles Times. "After all, [He] hung out with prostitutes and stuff." Gross and Foster were there to talk about their new website, which aims to help people leave the porn industry and get free from Internet-porn addiction.
Gross said they did not go to judge. "What good would that do? We decided the best thing to do was to actually be in the show and try to talk to the people in the industry in a professional and respectful manner and not be confrontational."
Gross and Foster hope their XXXChurch.com site might draw cyberspace surfers looking for pornography. They say they recognize the name might offend some, but they chose it because "it's provocative and memorable. We have combined the seedy and the sacred for a purpose. We wanted the name to stick in the minds of millions."
The site includes a "prayer wall" where visitors can post appeals for prayer, free "accountability software" that tracks a computer's users' Internet travels, and a sign-up form on which supporters pledge to be accountable about their own struggles and be honest about "the dirty little secret."
The new ministry is backed by the pair's friends at Crossroads Christian Church in Fullerton, Calif., where Gross is on staff.
"As a church and a ministry, it is very near our hearts to help people overcome sexual addiction and to help them have healthy sexual boundaries with other people," senior associate pastor Jud Wilhite told the Times. "Obviously, this ministry is directed right at that and going right into the middle of that arena, trying to be a light."
At the AVN show, the XXXChurch booth was wedged between a company advertising explicit Japanese cartoons and another selling gay sex films, the Times reported. Some in the industry dismissed the ministry, said the newspaper – but it did find one actress who prayed the rosary each week and said, "I believe in prayer and God. It makes me a better person."
At their website, Gross and Foster say the church has "an incredible opportunity to be a place of true healing and restoration for hurting and broken people in regards to pornography. But it must first be bold enough and care enough to take on the dirty little secret."
They say they are trying to tackle Internet porn head-on: "We believe that if the pornographers are using the Net to promote their product, then we need to use the Internet to promote our message."
Charisma News Service is a division of Strang Communications.
In other words, they're liars. What did the Romans say about that? Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus, wasn't it?
Heh heh heh heh
The Lord may have called them to do this thing and it is not for us to judge them. If the Lord did not call them for this task, He will take measures to correct their thinking.
Yes. It would cause them both to sin. It would also expose her to very disturbing things.
Maybe she's already seen all of that stuff before, and repented.
When someone repents for a sin they have committed, it does not give them the right to continue committing that sin. Example: Let's say that Joe Schmoe has a problem with porn. He realizes his sin and repents. Someone catches him looking at pornos and he says "I've seen it all before and I've repented, so it's ok." No, it's still sin.
In that case, she's probably as strong as he is,
Strength isn't what matters here because "all have fallen short of the glory of God". It's nearly impossible to go to something like that and not sin.
and I'm sure it's her choice to go,
If she is following God's commands, she would go with him whether she wanted to or not. Read Ephesians 5. He is the leader and is responsible for not leading his family into harm.
I doubt a man professing to be an anti-porn Christian would drag his wife to a porn convention.
But isn't that EXACTLY what he's doing?
Very good point. I'm not trying to judge (I don't think I am, but I'll pray about that), I just feel sorry for their families if any harm comes of this. I also fear that Christ may be marred in the minds of those who may see these ministers entering or exiting a porn convention. While they may not be sinning against their own bodies (sexual immorality is the only sin that is committed against one's self) they may cause another brother to stumble.
I make mistakes in judgement also. I would hope that someone would raise their concerns with me if they feel that I am misguided. I believe that is called accountability, not judging.
If God has indeed called them to this ministry, then they will know it and should not heed anyones concerns.
It would be very difficult for me personally to resist the tempatations. The opportunities for me to "lust in my heart" or to purchase some of the pornography would be great and many. How does that scripture go? "....and God, who is faithful, will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to endure......" 1st Corinthians 10:13. God would not allow me to attend this conference or to start a minstry there. That doesn't mean the same for these men. They might be able to endure these temptations, especially if they are taking their accountability partners with them.
ONLY God knows the hearts of these men in their new ministry. Fortunately, they won't have to stand before you or I come judgement day.
Hat-Trick
Good point....again, I don't know of many men with the strength alone to avoid giving into temptation in that environment. It would take every single bit of Christ-in-me to overcome.
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