Porn addiction is a hidden sin in the church! In my 25 years as a Certified Pastoral Counselor and Certified Sexual Addiction Recovery Facilitator, many people (men & women) have come to me for porn addiction recovery. It is the most destructive addiction, stronger than alcohol, prescription drugs or street drugs. The person who uses porn satisfies self sexually and produces a sensational chemical jolt in the brain that does not happen with God’s design for sexual intimacy within marriage. It is a self-induced chemical addiction in the brain. This addiction causes damage to the physical brain and can lead to ED.
One 20-minute exposure to porn can easily create an addiction. The statistic from the American Family Journal is that 56% of pastors and 50% of men in churches (latest stats: 50 – 76%) are addicted to porn. Porn destroys the relationship with God, self and others. This creates a ‘lonely self’ in all areas of life. Life is centered on the addiction need. The church needs to become equipped to help the addicted person. If the church does not provide counseling, it is enabling people to live hypocritical lives. Matthew 5:27-28 The Voice (VOICE)
27 “As you know, long ago God forbade His people to commit adultery.[a] 28 You may think you have abided by this Commandment, walked the straight and narrow, but I tell you this: any man who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery in his heart.” This definitely includes pornography. I teach seminars on this subject.
The porn addiction must be exposed and confessed. The use of all internet/phone devices must be stopped or totally monitored with www.covenanteyes.com. Please never tell a wife to give her husband more physical intimacy – it is not a cure. It will also make a wife feel like a sex object instead of a woman who is to be loved as Christ loved the church. God created the wife to be a helper like God = Azar (from my marriage seminars and book: God’s Design for Marriage), not a sex object. Porn destroys the gift of sex that God ordained for marriage.
Qualified educated counseling is needed. There needs to be an accountable person that is God-centered. The sin of porn is the root word of fornication = (Gk. Porneia – immoral sexual conduct – it includes taking pleasure in pornographic pictures, films, or writing.). This addiction leads to sexual abuse, voyeurism, flashing, adultery, homosexuality, etc. It destroys ministries and marriages.
Porn addiction is totally consuming to heart, soul, and mind. Healing and transformation can happen by genuine repentance and a lot of hard work in rewiring the brain to godliness, but the temptation will always be there because we live in a sexualized world. God makes a way of escape by our choice! When we submit to God through the power of the Holy Ghost, we can become disciplined to follow God in purity and integrity in all areas of our lives.
I counsel in strict confidentiality nationwide by phone/Skype (636) 448-0121. I also teach God’s Word in spiritual, emotional, and relational growth for churches/conferences nationwide (marriage seminars). Visit www.carolclemans.org – Life Enrichment Ministries, Inc. (501c3) – read ‘about ministry’ page for complete bio, 345+ articles, teaching, CD’s & DVD’s, book: God’s Design for Marriage – order through website or www.amazon.com as eBook. Ministry ref: Pastor Daniel Batchelor, Dupo, IL.