Dear Reader,

It’s on the Internet, in books and magazines, on the telephone and TV, just about everywhere. It has affected almost all age groups, all races, and all levels of the professions. It is addictive, has far-reaching consequence, and can destroy the best of persons. It is the problem of pornography. Let’s see what God has to say about the subject.

We know from the Bible that sex is created by God, and when practiced in its proper place in marriage, it is something beautiful. We also understand that the improper use of anything is detrimental to us, to our fellow human beings, and to our society in general. But what is wrong with pornography? Several things come to my mind from the Bible that have impact upon the subject. We are told in Matthew 5:28 that if a man looks on a woman to lust after her , he has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If the fact of looking weren’t true, pornography would lose its appeal. Another issue that must be addressed is that we become what we permit to occupy our minds and thoughts. Jesus said that out of the heart come the things that defile the man (Matthew 15:18-19). The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8 that we are to think on things that are pure, true, honest, just, lovely, and of a good report. Pornography hardly falls into any of those categories. It have also been proven that pornography is addictive, and can be a major influence toward sexual crimes committed against the helpless and/or unsuspecting. God condemns the idea of taking advantage of another’s innocence, weakness, or naivete’ and warns that those who take such advantage must face the consequences of their choice and actions. Even if no actual physical action is pursued by the person who uses pornography, there is still much damage done to the mental state of the mind when illicit relations are sought even if only in the imagination. The Psalmist David said at one point, “I will set no wicked thing before my eyes.” (Psalm 101:3). The Apostle Paul again mentions the subject in relation to holiness when he tells us in I Thessalonians 4:3-4 that God wills for us to be sanctified so that we should abstain from fornication, that all of us should be able to control our own body in a way that is holy and honorable. In a society that delights in gratifying any sexual desire at will or occasion, God encourages us to be pure, holy people.

If you are tempted to indulge in pornography, I encourage you to first of all seek help from God through confession and repentance, prayer, and reading what the Bible has to say. If you are already struggling with the problem, again, turn to God for His needed work in your life. If you need help and guidance working through the problem, get professional help from a Christian counselor or trusted pastor. You are not alone with the problem, and help is available, but you must seek it.

Focus on the Family at: www.family.org

Christian Light Bookstore at: www.christianlight.org

Thanks for reading,
Pastor Ritchey