A Word of Warning: Resist the Lure of Pornography

Pornography – the written and/or graphically portrayed uncovering of nakedness, especially in acts of fornication – grips the hearts and lives of many Christian men and, according to recent surveys, twenty percent of ministers. It tempts potential patrons from its store shelves and by mail, and it champions over three million websites, enticing over twenty percent of online viewers.

Porn appeals to an undisciplined culture (both inside and outside the church) that refuses to mature mentally and sexually. Specifically, many Christian men of all ages find it easier to view porn than to fulfill their God-given responsibilities to glorify their Lord and to love their spouses, their children, their estates, and their congregations.

As Christians, we would expect unregenerate men, who are in bondage to the sin of their Adamic nature, to embrace no conviction against viewing pornography. These men, as are all men before coming to Christ, are corrupt by nature and in need of spiritual rebirth, needing to call upon Christ Jesus for salvation. These men will only curtail or cease viewing porn when they are threatened civically (being jailed or imprisoned), professionally (getting fired), or domestically (being sued for divorce).

To the Christian, porn appeals to the workings of sin in the flesh (Rom. 7:23) that must yet be submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is unbiblical for the world or the church to think that a Christian cannot be tempted to view and to succumb to the viewing of porn during a time or times of weakness. Yet, having yielded to the beguiling temptation of viewing porn, the Christian must realize, as spoken by Christ Jesus, that he has sinned by committing fornication (in the case of the unmarried) or adultery (in the case of the married) in the heart – sins which Jesus says will deprive one of eternal life.

For the Christian minister, porn can be alluring as he manages his pressures to serve others, his solitary work environment, his mental exhaustion, and perhaps, his frustrations resulting from his entering the ministry as a novice not fully disciple himself. If he also has relationship and sexual difficulties at home, then porn becomes for him an easy, seemingly victimless escape. However, when he views porn, he jeopardizes the ministry that his God has entrusted to him. 1 Timothy 3:4-5 is clear that the minister’s household must be in order for him to retain his ministry, and, thus, his admitting his habitual porn use exposes problems in his own household, which he must correct lest he be ministerially disqualified. Often, the tremendous guilt that follows is difficult to jettison because the minister is supposedly required to be not only “perfect” but is also forbidden to confess his faults to his brethren (contrary to James 5:16), which would aid in his repentance and restoration.

All Christians: Shall you risk bringing reproach upon the name of our Lord Jesus for a season of lust-filled escape? Shall you risk destroying your own Christian reputations, marriages, families, and estates? Shall you risk jail or prison to fulfill your potentially illegal lusts before calling upon the name of our Lord to save you from yourselves? Do you realize that your viewing Internet porn can be and most likely is being monitored, if not by your bosses at work, then potentially by credit card companies and by porn sites themselves? Furthermore, have you considered that the hardness of your heart and your refusal to repent of this sin may prove indeed that you are no Christian at all, and are, therefore, in danger of eternal damnation? “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1).

Never forget that all men will eventually appear before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account for the deeds done in this life. We, therefore, strongly urge both Christians and non-Christians to repent of this heinous sin and to beg God’s gracious pardon. Christians, if you confess your sin, God is faithful and just to forgive you of your sin. Get rid of your porn regardless of its form or format. Don’t place yourself in a position to view porn. Don’t allow your mind to be idle and filled with pornographic fantasies and thoughts. On the contrary, plan to stay mentally active and to replace pornographic thoughts with pure, holy, and natural thoughts (see Philippians 4:8). Pray for God’s grace to deliver you from the desire to view porn for His name’s sake. Pursue spiritual maturity and love (toward your wife, your children, your church, and your Lord) instead of gratifying your selfish, sinful desires.

Those of you who are spiritual are to restore, with a spirit of meekness, those who have fallen into this sin lest you also be tempted. God will forgive the sins of those who truly repent and turn from their sin.

Are conservatives so weak that any source of 'negative' influence must be obliterated, or they will fall prey to it?

I don't know. I don't expect conservatives to be a homogenous mass, though, so I expect your mileage will vary. It is certain, however, that pornography does take its toll also from the conservative world. I wouldn't advocate it being "obliterated", but you should be aware that much of it - particularly the internet porn - is deliberately aimed at those who are immature, that is, young people and even kids.

But to get back to Flynt - the proceeds from his porn sales, even porn sales to democrats, go towards doing what Flynt do. Which is to try and destroy the Clinton's opposition. That much is a crystal-clear link to it making good conservative sense not to have anyone feed the beast.

This is kind of like proving that stealing is evil. Either you get it or you don't.

Not really. The Bible takes the time to spell it out real clearly - "Thou shalt not steal."

Is there a similar injunction against viewing consenting adult sexual behavior?

If my child, upon reaching 18, decided voluntarily to enter the porn industry, I would caution against the decision only because of the people in the industry. If they still wished to pursue that career, that would be their choice as an adult.

Smells Like Teen Spirit


Load up on guns and
Bring your friends
It's fun to lose
And to pretend
She's over bored
And self assured
Oh no, I know 
A dirty word

hello, how low? (xxx bunch of times)

With the lights out it's less dangerous
Here we are now
Entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now
Entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My Libido
Yeah

I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end

hello, how low? (xxx bunch of times)

Kiddie porn on the other hand, is something i find absolutely revolting and is not the same thing as what consenting adults choose to do. Even one with as tenuous a grip on reality as yourself must see that.

Nope, it's just a violation of the age of consent. Your demand requires workers. What, did you think homosexual recruitment was not by supposed heterosexuals ? The spice must flow.
And The highway is alive tonight
Nobody's foolin' nobody as to where it goes

I beg to differ with you. I am originally from AZ and a lot of my family is in law enforcement. Strip clubs really draw an undesirable element. Most of the ones in AZ were run by the mob. There was one just outside of Tucson off of I-10 called the Ranch House. It was a mecca for drug peddling and prostitution. One of my older brothers was an officer for the AZ Department of Public Safety at the time. He witnessed a Tucson police officer named Barry Hedricks get blown away by a scumbag that worked at this place. They were in the middle of a stake-out. Fortunately, there were numerous law enforcement personnel in the vicinity that turned the perp into hamburger with their service revolvers and shotguns. My brother was responsible for six rounds from his .357.

A - it depends on the wife. B - since any woman that knows anything about men knows they get he appetite from just about anything they'd be pretty dumb to object unless the man started going overboard (overboard being defined by each relationship, just like everything else). C - Nobody indicated that Eric couldn't raise the flag without porn, the only indication was that he and spouse enjoy porn before intercourse sometime; there's a big difference.

And it is also important to remember that peace, compassion, love, forgiveness, humility, and gentle witness (the things Jesus commanded of you), are absolutely imcompatible with self-righteousness, scorn, abuse, mockery, indignation, and false-pious pride (all of which drive people away from your Lord).

True enough -- it's one of the underlying messages when Jesus says I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

I confess that I find it difficult to separate your posts on this thread from your long history on others -- it's hard to avoid the conclusion that you tend to lump the mere pointing out of sins, among the list of pharisaical no-nos.

I note, however, that "self-righteousness, scorn, abuse, mockery, indignation, and false-pious pride" seem often to be parts of your own arsenal -- and mine. It's a human failing, and not limited to Christians.

>>Was it because your were spending too much time online or was it the Free Republic site in particular that got you axed?<<

Actually, it was something I saved on my "C" drive that I copied off FR that was religious in nature. It's kind of funny, because it was an article I strongly disagreed with. Someone saw it after I left a team at the company I contracted at (I am a mainframe COBOL contract programmer) and they were offended. For what it's worth, it offended me too, which is why I saved it. Anyway, HR didn't want any hassle and since I am a contractor, I was escorted out and that was it. By then I was on a different team and had been for a few months. My new manager was angry with HR because his/her team really liked my work and attitude. My previous manager confessed that if he/she had known that HR would have overreacted, he/she would have kept it from ever getting out. I also found out that there was a sudden flurry of everyone clearing their C drives. I guess somebody had to be the example 8^>

Yada, yada..., probably too much info. But it was a good learning experience and as with most adverse situations, improved my situation in the mid/long term. I admit that I was devastated at the time, mainly because I had no one to blame but myself.

As a contractor, it is imperative to live by the old motto "when in Rome..."

BTW, I now download nothing and all email is through hotmail. Like I said, it was a learning experience.

Seriously though, in public i cannot agree with. If, otoh, someone wishes to do it in front of a camera, out of view of non-consensual viewers, that is their decision.

OK, here's a hypothetical. Is it moral (putting aside legality for a moment) for two people to invite other people to the town common to watch them copulate?

I guess the fundamental difference, is that I am not claiming to represent a religious faith which prohibits these things.

I note, however, that "self-righteousness, scorn, abuse, mockery, indignation, and false-pious pride" seem often to be parts of your own arsenal -- and mine.

Yes, this is correct. I've noticed this long ago.

Unfortunately, I think this is just OWK's way of saying he doesn't like it when Christians are confident in their opinions ("when they get uppity").

To imply that pornography involving a 7 year old, for example, is simply an "age of consent" issue is morally reprehensible.

You speaking of morals is like Arafat speaking of terrorism. Your appetite for porn drives demand. It's not the women asking for teen girls, and teen under 18 qualifies as "kiddie porn." Don't kid yourself mister, or you will end up in a federal penitentiary.

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