Dirty Secret

James 1:13-15

Everyone shift in your seat, uncomfortably, and get it out of your system.  We’re going to talk about Pornography and the sin of lust.

“Don’t talk on this subject, preacher, it’s inappropriate.”

Oh yes we must, and let me tell you why.  It’s everywhere.  The world talks about it and forces it in our faces.  All are somehow touched by it…it runs rampant, even in the church, and it’s high time Christians decide what they believe and take their stand!

James 1:13-15
¹³ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
¹⁴ But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
¹⁵ Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

LSD:  Lust, leads to sin, leads to death.  It truly is every man’s battle.  It’s part of our nature…our SIN nature.  We are very visual creatures, and must guard the eye gate – a pathway to our soul. 

1 Corinthians 10:13
¹³ There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

“But, I don’t use porn, and I’m sure my spouse and kids don’t.”

Good, then you won’t be on the spot at all today!

It’s viewed by the vast majority of men, including many pastors, and over 2/3rds of Christian men.  But sir, since it’s not you, that means it’s likely the guys on both sides of you.

It’s viewed by 1/3^rd of women.  Ma’am, since it’s not you, that means it’s likely either the lady on your left or the one on your right.

Yeah, we need to talk about this. 

And like all sexual sins, there’s a great temptation to say that since ‘everyone is doing it’, then it’s ok.  But sin is not ok.  It always destroys.

It’s now a $17 Billion a year industry in the US alone!  This amount is much larger than Apple, and more than GM and Ford combined.  It’s more than Hollywood's domestic box office receipts and larger than all the revenues generated by rock and country music recordings. Americans now spend more money at strip clubs than at Broadway shows, off-Broadway shows, at the opera, the ballet, and jazz and classical music performances -- combined. It is today one of the top grossing industries in the US!

Family Safe Media

Most of the profits being generated by porn today are being earned by businesses not traditionally associated with the sex industry -- by mom and pop video stores; by cable companies like Time Warner, Spectrum, Cox, AT&T, and by hotel chains which now earn millions of dollars each year by supplying adult films to their guests.

The United States is now by far the world's leading producer of porn, churning out hard-core videos at the astonishing rate of about 150 new titles a week. That’s 90% of the global market.

Each year, Americans spend more than $128 million ordering adult movies on pay-per-view.  But the internet concentration dwarfs this, with amounts in the billions.

There are now more outlets for hard-core pornography in the United States than McDonald's restaurants.

The introduction of pornography to the internet has made phones and home computers the fastest growing and primary mode of distribution of illegal pornography.

*25% of all search engine requests are for porn of some level!

*25% of porn websites use popular names in their title bars such as Barbie, Disney, XBox, Toys, Games…so as to attract the “right” crowd to their sites.

To look at porn is to commit adultery, according to Jesus Christ!

Matthew 5:27-28

    Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: [28] But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

And let's not forget the many women also victims of pornography--both those who are sucked into exposing themselves for pay and those of you who do it for free!  Do it for free, what do you mean, Pastor?

Just look at the definition of porn.= “body exposure which leads to sexual arousal.”

        It’s time for Church girls and Christian ladies to stop trying to fit in w/ every style and realize we ought to obey God rather than men…and the Bible teaches modesty, innocence, and saving that unveiling for your wedding night.  It’s time for girls to realize that males will look if you’ll show it, and that he’ll take off the rest of your clothes w/ an eyeball undressing if only you hint at what else is under there! 

Ill.—you’re advertising…you’d better be ready and willing to deliver the merchandise displayed on your billboard…and if you won’t freely give it to him, he’ll take it w/ the imagination you’ve sparked in his mind!  Or maybe forcibly!

I have 10 more pages of startling stats, quotes from Christians, with candid language and sordid details I won’t use in this sermon…but I am posting it online with the text version, because it’s conclusive proof of what a dirty secret is hiding…even in the church.

“But, I don’t use porn, and I’m sure my spouse and kids don’t.”

Still feel that way?  It’s true, they will probably deny it…and so, guess what!  That means they’ll have no problem with the new accountability and protection rules you’re going to implement!  We’ll get to those practical suggestions at the end.  There’s an intruder in our homes, and it’s up to parents to protect their home!

I. What is pornography?

A. Pornography is a perversion that attacks everything God cherishes most.

Man is made in God's image. Therefore, the theological foundation against pornography begins with the premise that every human life has dignity and is sacred (Genesis 1:27).

Job 31:1
¹ I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

 Psalm 101:3
³ I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

B. Pornography is an enemy which destroys the innocence of children.         

It has been estimated that approximately 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 7 boys will be sexually molested before the age of 18. The relationship of pornography to child sexual abuse is compelling. Seventy-seven percent of those who molested boys and 87 percent of those who molested girls said they were regular users of hard-core pornography. [taking advantage of the innocent!]

UNICEF reports that over one million children each year are forced into prostitution and used to make pornography. [Child trafficking]

Mark 9:42 [levels in hell?  I think so!]

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

C. Pornography is a lie.

Pornography says the best sex is outside of marriage. Pornography promises what it cannot deliver.

Proverbs 9:17 tells us that "stolen waters are sweet..." However,

Proverbs 14:12 tells us, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death."

Rather, it leads to extreme guilt and emptiness, and destroys people in its path.

II. Who are the victims?

A. Those who are addicted to pornography are victims.

Males:  There is such a thing as the "pleasure of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:25 slide). However, according to James 1:13-15, lustful sin brings forth death. Death to our self-esteem, to meaningful relationships, to moral absolutes, and all too often literal death to the innocent as well as the guilty.  The Bible teaches that there are generational consequences to sin, including your kids and their kids.

In an odd twist, exposure to pornography leads to a lower net return each time it it viewed—which is to say that the more pornography one sees the more explicit the images must be in order to excite interest. 

His eyes leer at images with unblinking faces, glaring at women who make no demands upon him, who never speak back, and who can never say no.  There is no exchange of respect, no exchange of love, and nothing more than the using/objectifying of women as animal-like sex objects for his individual and inverted sexual pleasure.

Females:  Many women who look at porn are lesbians and bi-sexuals, which fits with the fact that porn is another perversion of God’s beautiful gift.

Shockingly, some females who look at porn do it for ideas of what men want and how to compete.  This dark path damages their soul and if it leads to a man…he’s most certainly not a good one!

Those who’ve been addicted are victims…

B. Those who have been harmed are victims.

One woman's story:

"My husband began using porn as a teenager. What was once an adolescent hobby became the 'other woman' in our marriage. At first it was our intimacy that suffered. Then, his pastime grew into an addiction which then started to include more serious forms of 'adultery.' He was going to strip bars and sleeping with prostitutes. He was often late, with poor excuses. I noticed our money disappearing and never suspected he was spending nearly $500 a week to feed his addiction.
Me? I felt responsible, ugly, ashamed, alone and hopeless. Why would he look at another woman unless I wasn't pretty or sexy enough? Friends rejected my idea that his porn use was ruining our relationship. They told me to be sexier, more sexually responsive and available so that he wouldn't look elsewhere. I tried all these things only to find they didn't work. I ended up feeling like a failure, as a wife and a lover. Now I know it wasn't me.
When we got help I found out his pornography use began before our marriage, as far back as his youth. Not only was it not my fault -- it had nothing to do with me at all. After much counseling, we both understand that he entered our marriage thinking I would cure all his sex problems. No wonder he was so disappointed and angry.
We're still together. We are living proof that a pornography or sex addiction does not have to mean the end of your relationship."

Families, wives and children, are directly affected. Women who have been raped and sexually abused are impacted forever. Babies are born with sexually transmitted diseases. Young people are scarred for life. Marriages are broken beyond repair. The dignity of women is degraded as they are objectified as mere pets or bunnies!  Teens are warped into never knowing what real love is, and never experiencing true intimacy w/out emptiness!

III. What action can we as believers take…to turn the tide of pornography in our country?

The First Amendment refers to freedom of speech, not "freedom of speech for obscenity, pornography, or indecency." You can apply the same to consumer fraud, conspiracy, libel, slander or false shouting "fire" in a crowded theatre. None of these are protected by the First Amendment.

In 1973, the US Supreme Court ruled in Miller vs. California that "this much has been categorically settled by the court, that obscene material is unprotected by the First Amendment."  That’s the same court that voted in favor of Roe!

We should speak out at every opportunity!  There must not be many speaking out!

A. We are to take a stand on our knees.

Since this is a spiritual battle the war must be waged through prayer first and foremost (Ephesians 6:10-18).

B. The parable of the good samaritan provides our marching orders.

We need to be the ones who minister the healing balm in the lives of pornography victims (Luke 10:27-37).  It’s not for us to judge.  Many have come to me and asked help with this sin.  They are afraid of what I might think of them.  They are pleasantly surprised to find understanding and help.  We are a hospital for sinners and I am one of them!

C. We need to be salt and light in our culture (Matthew 5:13-14).

        D.  We need accountability, and to make sure the problem doesn’t exist in our own household!

The Internet has brought an interstate highway of pornography into every community, with exit ramps at every phone, device, or personal computer, including those at school, or, God forbid, in their own bedroom.

You need to know device passwords and how to check on where a device has been taken on the net, what’s more, you need an internet filter for kids and yourself, as so much you can stumble upon unintentionally! 

“No, you cannot have a private, unprotected computer in your room.”  “You have to be off the computer by 9 PM, and if you’re going to stay up until 2 AM, it won’t be with TV or PC privileges!”

“Covenant Eyes” – most recommended program for filtering and accountability.  It not only filters so you don’t accidentally see porn, but it also sends a message to those you choose in your accountability group [mom, dad, pastor, friend]

VidAngel for streaming TV