Pornography and sexual temptation are ripping the soul out of our American culture.1. Young people are being drawn into early and promiscuous sexual behaviors that leave them with sexually transmitted diseases and out-of-wedlock children. Many families are being pulled apart by destructive sexual images that come into homes on television and the internet. Pornography has become the standard of sexiness in our society. In today's culture porn is chic. We are being given a license to lust. Our culture is consumed with sex.2.
A lost generation
Ben Shapiro, a 22 year old young man, released a book in 2005 that challenges this breakdown of moral values. He writes, "As societal standards and traditional values have declined, and the crassest elements of sexual deviancy and pornography have taken over the public square, it is the youngest Americans who have paid the price. Never in our country's history has a generation been so empowered, so wealthy, so privileged - and yet so empty."3
What a sad and bitter heritage to pass on to the next generation.
Pornographic images and our own desire to rationalize our destructive behaviors weave a web of deception around us.
Deception: I can handle it!
Pornography is about lust and lust is addictive. It never satisfies and always leaves you wanting more.
Deception: I'm not hurting anyone. It's just entertainment!
Pornography corrupts and devalues our vision of marital love. Sex becomes a self-centered, one sided experience. Public standards of morality are weakened for relating responsibly to others. The women (men or children) are dehumanized and degraded by the industries that employ them.
Deception: Pornography prevents sex crimes.
Pornography is addictive. Sexual addiction can lead to desires that escalate from viewing pictures; to visiting strip clubs; to prostitution and voyeurism; to felony behaviors including molestation, incest, and rape.
Deception: Pornography is protected by the 1st Amendment.
Pornography that has been defined as obscene by community standards is not a form of expression protected by the 1st Amendment. It is the responsibility of citizens in a community to speak out to define obscenity.
Deception: It's not our problem.
Pornography degrades our attitudes about the value of human life, sex, and relationships.
Marriages are destroyed. Sexual images clog the minds of children. Young people are drawn into destructive sexual behaviors. Sexual excess leads to crime.
Deception: Christians aren't involved.
There is an elephant in the pew! A survey by ChristiaNet.com of 1000 internet users found that 50% of Christian men and 20% of Christian women struggle with pornography.4. Churches are failing to address the sexual addiction within their organizations partly because they don't know what to do and partly because so many pastors view pornography.5.
Deception: Sexual desire is natural. It's God's gift to us.
Pornography distorts this gift. God's plan for sexuality creates a family where the love of God can be shared with each individual.
Deception: God gave us beautiful women (men, children) to enjoy.
Pornographic images are not true images of the beauty of a person. They represent unreal, airbrushed fantasies designed to elicit lust and desire. The distorted images set unrealistic expectations for attractiveness and love. The self image and self worth of a husband or wife, girlfriend or boyfriend is wounded by this impossible comparison. Outer beauty and sexual seduction replace the depth values of integrity, loyalty, genuine love and concern.6.
Porn is big business!
Pornography is a $57 billion world-wide industry, including $12 billion in the United States alone. Revenues exceed the combined revenues of all professional sports franchises, including baseball, football, and basketball and the combined revenues of ABC, CBS and NBC.
There are over 4.2 million pornographic websites. The average age of first exposure to internet pornography is 11 years old.7
It's time to speak out!
In a democracy, every citizen can and should play a role in shaping the culture. Too often we capitulate to the media, allowing them to become the dominant force in our culture, regardless of what the consequences are for children and families. The state develops laws based upon the values of the people. When citizens fail to speak out, society "pays the price in a populace with lowered moral vision, greater crime, greater social problems, and a reduced clarity in differentiating between right and wrong."8.
An excellent guide for understanding how to challenge pornography in society has been developed by the American Family Association, under the leadership of Dr. Donald E. Wildmon. This organization has been active in the fight against pornography for 30 years. A 48 page document entitled "A guide to what one person can do about PORNOGRAPHY" is accessible on the internet at http://www.afa.net/pornography/PornGuide.pdf.
1. Rogers, Henry J. 2000. The Silent War - Ministering to Those Trapped in the Deception of Pornography. New Leaf Press.
2. Lambert, James. 1997. Porn in America - The Drift Towards Decadence in Our Society and the Way Out. Huntington House Pub.
3. Shapiro, Ben. 2005. Porn Generation. - How Social Liberalism is Corrupting Our Future. Regnery Pub. pg. 1.
4. Christian Post. Pornography in the Pews. Mon. Jun. 25, 2007. http://www.christianpost.com/pages/print.htm?aid=28146
5. IBS Confronts, Tackles Addictions in the Church. May 25, 2006. http://www.christianpost.com/pages/print.htm?aid=14111
6. Lewis, Andrew R. March 1, 2007. Issues & Answers: Pornography. http://erlc.com/article/issues-answers-pornography.
7. Ibid.
8. Hamliton, Adam. 2005. Confronting the Controversies: Biblical Perspectives on Tough Issues. Abingdon Press. Chapter 1.
Friday, April 4, 2008
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