One of the most devastating things going on among Christians today is pornography addiction.
Did you know that some studies have stated that the average age that a child is first exposed to pornographic images is nine years old? That’s third grade. Others say it’s more like 11 years old.
About half of all divorcing couples cite pornography as a major issue in their marriage.
In one poll, 40% of pastors interviewed admitted to having a problem with pornography.
Two-thirds of kids age twelve to seventeen said that they regularly erase their internet history so that their parents can’t see where they’ve been online.
So many Christian women are struggling with pornography addiction that support sites are popping up all over the internet so they can hold each other accountable.
Pornography addiction is a dark and shameful secret, and there’s nothing Satan loves more than darkness. As long as he can keep Christians struggling with this sin, alone, too ashamed to come forward and admit that it’s an addiction that they cannot control on their own, he keeps them in a constant state of sin, guilt, and spiritual darkness.
Meanwhile, their marriages are falling apart.
Children and teenagers are taking in hundreds, maybe thousands, of images that will plague them for the rest of their lives.
Parents are blindly allowing their kids to carry around phones that offer 24/7 access to pornography in a million different forms.
And Christians are too embarrassed to talk about it.
The church must accept the truth that many, many of the congregants who worship in our sanctuaries week after week are desperate to be free of this destructive habit. To ignore the problem is to allow this sin to continue to cripple the spiritual life of our people.
I know it’s an uncomfortable topic. I know that you would rather not know who is struggling with this problem. But, burying our heads in the sand will only ensure that the problem persists and grows. Wake up, Christians! Be aware! Help your brothers and sisters! Help your husbands and wives! Be open to talking about this issue with your children, your spouse, and your friends. We must admit that this issue is real, not just among men who drive to an adult bookstore (like they used to have to do), but among men, women, and kids who are dealing with this destructive secret in the privacy of their own homes.
My heart breaks for them.
Please check out these resources if you need help:
www.covenanteyes.com
www.beggarsdaughter.com
www.theporneffect.com
I love hearing from you!