The advertising adage that sex sells is taken to new extremes today — if you can’t think of some refreshing concept for a product or service, just slap on a nude female form (cover it in some cloth or put it in silhouette so that it passes the censors though) and there’ll be many who will notice it.
Job done.
Our senses are bombarded with sexual images all the time throughout the course of a day that you need to be blind in order to totally ignore them because they are just so in-your-face.
The Internet is no different when it comes to propagating sexual innuendos, images and even stories to all levels of society. Today, it isn’t rare to see an advertising banner or two at web sites loudly shouting their wares to all.
If you think the sexual revolution of the 1970s was ‘liberating’, how much more shall we make of the pervasiveness of sex in the Information Age? Who said information is necessarily good anyway?
We now have several free-for-use sites that let users post up pictures and even home-made videos of themselves or others doing the horizontal samba, not to mention special interest forums where people of a like-mind exhibit their bits and bedroom antics to one another.
In fact, there are now even adult blogs that have a tell-all approach to sex. Stories of incest, casual sex, and all sorts of sexual behavior are laid out for all and sundry to read, even the very young! It is no wonder that we now find a level of promiscuity in our ‘developed’ and ‘civilized’ societies that even has the pre-teens involved in sex and going for abortions.
In such an environment, how are Christian men and women to respond and behave?
Let’s not mince words here — I’m a hot-blooded man and susceptible to visual stimuli as much as the next man (in fact, I knew of women who loved watching pornographic films too). I looked at porn in the past and even now fall into temptation occasionally when I am weak and the whispers of the devil and his minions get the better of me.
Yet as the Spirit works in me, I am reminded of our battle with the flesh. I don’t know how others deal with this as this is something seldom discussed within Christian circles, but for me, with each and every time that I falter, there’s a feeling of being unclean deep within and a fear and hesitation of approaching God.
It takes me a lot of kicking myself, so to speak, to have the courage to go before God to confess, repent and ask for forgiveness.
Two particular passages that I always go back to before I approach the throne of God is in the book of Romans.
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
Romans 7:18-19
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Romans 7:22-24
Indeed, I am a wretched man that sees in my members held captive in the law of sin. Only Christ Jesus is able to deliver me from this body of death!
And we know that through Christ Jesus and in Him we are able to overcome the world.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:1-5
Perhaps some time in the future I can write about how I have overcome completely the occasional sins of mine in this aspect, but for now I thought I’d share with you honestly my experience succumbing to temptation and how God guides me back time and again.
I know I let my Father in heaven down every time I sin thus, and it’s never a good feeling — to feel separated and cast out.
Lord, I know that by my own weaknesses that I am unable to live a life worthy of Your love and mercy. Lord, I pray that You reach out and catch me as You did Peter as he was sinking. I ask for faith to overcome the world, as John wrote in his epistle, because faith is the victory that has overcome the world. Make me strong, O Lord, that I might overcome my own sinful flesh! Most of all, O Lord, put in me a heart that shall always trust in You and obey You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Shalom Aleichem.
Photo titled “Faith and Pornography” by Deadclown.
Tags: 1 John, Advertising, Confession, Faith, Forgiveness, Internet, Pornography, Prayer, Repentance, Romans, Sex, Sin, Victory, Weaknesses
-
First, I’d like to applaud your honesty.
Here is an exerpt from John MacArthur’s “The Vanishing Conscience” http://thebiblethumperssoapbox.blogspot.com/2007/09/danger-of-sinful-thought-life.html
This has really helped me to see the dangers of just thinking about the sin before I commit it. I highly recommend this book. I don’t usually recommend any book other than the Bible (and there is none better) but for me and this particular issue, it has helped.
(the abridged version)….
You can start now by removing anything that will put those thoughts into your mind like tv. (if your eye causes you to sin..pluck it out) Remove whatever entices the eye and the biggest thing is your tv. If the programs don’t get you, the commercials will.And since temptation is outside your door, pray before you walk out that door. Pray that your thoughts are filled with good, Godly things.
-
Thank you for pointing me to that article again, Carol. I’ve read it once, but it’s great to read it again in light of this post.
My honesty is nothing to applaud, really. This is not something I’d like to shout about (naturally), but I believe this is an issue that many Christian men (and even women) also face.
I hope that through my honesty that others shall also come to discuss and examine this issue.
God bless, and Shalom!
-
Hi Isaiah, I applaud your honesty too. And I’m going to say something here, that I hope does not offend you, because it’s not meant to. Though fear of the sinning against the Lord should be enough, for some it is not. In those situations, perhaps you could look at it this way: When you look at another woman lustfully, you are committing adultery against your wife. There is nothing wrong with seeing a woman and acknowledging her good looks, however once you continue to look, it moves into the realm of adultery. I’m sure that is not your intent, and I don’t mean to beat you when you are down, just the advice of a friend. I grew up in an atmosphere pervasive with sex, and have learned how damaging that can be, from first hand accounts. One of the reasons I don’t watch TV. Nor do I go to the movies often, and when I do, rarely to I watch anything that I wouldn’t allow my children to watch. Just some friendly advice. I shall be praying for you! Blessings and Shalom!
-
You know I don’t take offence that quickly, Shalene. In fact, I like it straight and direct when it comes to such issues.
Yes, I am well aware of the adultery part but I didn’t mention it because I feel that the problem is more of a “my relationship with God” issue. It is good that you mentioned it though.To be honest the Internet and its free-flowing expressways of information — both good and bad — is a greater danger nowadays than TV in my opinion. Anyway, most of my time is spent on the Internet instead of in front of the make-you-dumb box. I am sure that’s quite true for most people our age group and below.
Thank you for the prayers. I’m sure of the victory!
God bless, and Shalom!
-
Isaiah, you could have your wife put a block on your computer, with a password only she knows. That way you cannot look, even under temptation. Just a thought. I am assuming of course, that she knows of your temptations. Blessings and Shalom!
-
If you haven’t read already: “Crosses To Bear” (which is the last post on Crackerhead) should be helpful. For you are not alone in your struggles. Tragically: very much not alone.
-
Truth is always the ground for deliverance. And lies bind you. Thanks for being honest about this.
When Joseph was tempted to have sex with Potiphar’s wife Scripture says, “And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.”
As Carol and Shalene said, the best way to keep away from falling into this sin is to keep away from the scene of temptation.
As Shalene said, you need to increase the security setting and even use some software to block such sites and ask your wife to type in the password.
HOWEVER, this is not enough. The second and most IMPORTANT thing regularly feast on the truth in God’s Word. Anyone who has suffered from any form of addiction will agree that what they need the most is self control. 2 Peter 1 shows how we can have self-control…KNOWLEDGE is a prerequisite to self-control. KNOW the truth about your area. Take a concordance and get all the verses on “Self-control”, “Overcoming sin”, “Deliverance”….etc and feed yourself with it regularly like taking a medicine.
Like the medicine, these truths should imbibe into your heart and be a a part of you. The aim is to fuel your faith and change your thinking.
As Jesus said, “If you continue to hold on to my teaching, you are really my disciples. THEN you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [John 8: 31-32]
CONTINUE to feed yourself His teaching, then you shall know well within you the truth and the truth shall set you free. =)
Blessings bro! Am with you in the spirit and we shall win this one!
Sidharth
-
I appreciate your honesty. I wrote a post I haven’t published yet called Hidden Sins. As always you are a truly honest person willing to talk about the dificult things in life. I commend you.
God bless.
Lance
http://www.lancessoulsearching.com -
I too can’t deny that i also fall into the same trap. We can’t avoid it or destroy the temptation. But we can control it. Sex, whenever we do it after marriage is holy, but if we do it before marriage was a sin. This is the battle for all until we die, but surely we can control it with the help of Holy Spirit..
-
What a wonderful, honest post and I hope you know you are not alone. I don’t know where to focus my eyes anymore - sexual temptation is everywhere! We Christian men are a wretched lot and this particular issue has satan grinning from ear to ear. But we can have the victory over this!!
I wrote a post on this sometime back if you’re interested (http://mulledvine.blogspot.com/2007/09/sex.html). Nothing magical, just simple, effective advice from a book I read.
God bless you, mate!
-
I think the devil hates honesty and things being brought out into the light. May you know victory from this. I understand your struggle. Some temptations are so overwhelming, especially sexual ones. But God forgives us of all our sins the moment we ask, not just the ‘little’ ones. God bless you!
-
My wife knows, but that’s a little extreme though, Shalene, lol!
I don’t really go out of the way to look for such content; it’s more like if an opportunity like a banner or link is there, then there’s temptation to peek. Curiosity killed the cat, I’d say!
God bless, and Shalom!
-
I just read your post, FishHawk, and it has been helpful. Thank you for pointing it out to me, brother!
As you pointed out, I don’t believe that I’m alone in my struggles. These temptations are out there and I believe many Christian men and women are troubled by their sins in this area as well. Unfortunately, I haven’t come across any real discussion of the problem in most circles, or maybe it’s just that I haven’t made that many rounds myself.
God bless, and Shalom!
-
Thank you for your encouragement, Sid! You always come up with gems.
As I told Shalene, I think that method a little too extreme because I don’t go out of the way or intentionally look for such content in the first place.That said, I do have a way of countering it nowadays, or actually it started some time ago and has worked so far — I hum or sing my favorite Christian tunes in my head. Well, I’d admit that this method might not be as effective as calling out verses, but it works for me.
Thank you for your prayers, brother.
God bless, and Shalom!
-
Thank you for your kind words, Lance.
Personally, I find no point in hiding behind a facade and not bringing difficult topics to the surface. My Christian walk isn’t perfect, I’d be first to admit, and through sharing these awkward topics I hope that others will be able to identify with the issues and work on them as I do.
I’d love to read that unpublished post of yours one day!
God bless, and Shalom! -
Dear Sigit,
Thank you for visiting again and sharing your thoughts on this. Most of all, thank you for being so honest.
The way I see it: yes, indeed we can control it, but not by our own power alone but it must be with God in full control of our lives. That means total surrender to God’s Will, submission to His Lordship, and obedience.
I shall pray for you to be delivered from these temptations too, Sigit.
God bless, and Shalom!
-
I just re-read your post on that issue, Robert. Thank you for pointing it out to me, mate.
Totally, totally agree with you that there’s almost nowhere to put our eyes on sometimes in the modern society we live in nowadays. Sex is suggested everywhere! You might be walking to the subway thinking about some issues at work, and wham! some sexy advertising poster will stare you in the face.
That book looks interesting so I might just go look for it.
God bless you too, mate!
Shalom!
-
Thank you very much for your encouragement, Mike!
I know that God forgives our sins everytime we confess and repent, but I do mostly feel dirty inside for having sinned and letting my heavenly Father down so much so that it takes me awhile to have the courage to go to Him for forgiveness.
God bless, and Shalom!
18 comments
Comments feed for this article
Trackback link: http://wordnverse.com/2007/12/11/faith-and-pornography/trackback/