Porn Addiction

[SergePB]

One thing to consider is that addictions tend to create a tolerance and that the material you first see soon becomes "boring" and you seek out more hard core porn to get the same thrill. Been there done that and wish I had a better answer, as I struggle too. You may consider too though, the next time you look at it, follow it to it's logical conclusion - what if what you see on screen is not enough and the lust drives you to do something worse? Turn the fantasy into a nightmare.

To be a little more transparent: You see the "divorced" on my status? That is what porn can do to a 14 year marriage.

 

[Bobber]

I'd like to say something a little bit different in answer to this. I had struggled with a certain type of sin once and was in the same type of cycle of asking God to forgive me and cleanse me and then lo and behold as time went on I'd fall back into the same thing again.

I believe the Lord impressed within me , "Son really though that's not your primary sin. I'll forgive you and cleanse you of this but here's what you need to know. Your real failing is not being built up in your spirit with my strength and might where some of these things of the flesh aren't even a temptation to you. Your spirit and mind needs to be enveloped or full of my word and fellowship with me in the spirit due to prayer and worship." One can see Jesus basically said the same thing to the disciples,

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matt 26:40


Let me put it this way....what do we do with our time? How much time to we give to our spiritual development a day? Without spiritual strength being put in us from the word and prayer when temptation of the flesh arrives generally speaking we'll cave.

Yeah you'll feel bad about it later and be mystified as to why you just can't overcome....but we all need spiritual life and strength of God ALREADY in the spirit and if you have that you've more or less burned out of you even the desire of those things with the word of God. So....if you do sin over a certain thing consider that God isn't looking at what you even consider your real sin is.Jesus said his word which we put in us in abundance is the thing that sanctifies us.

Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth John 17:18

A spirit without the abundance of the word is basically empty and void of the anointing and power of God to overcome fleshly desires. In fact as I've said being filled with the word and God's manifested presence you'll find those wrong desires disappear and can barely exist much like a snow ball on a hot July day.

 

[Bobber]

I actually missed out on an opportunity to date a Christian girl, because her father interviewed me, without me realizing what his intentions were at the time, asking if I had ever watched porn, and I answered honestly, and based on the assumption that "it leads to more aggressive behavior", he made me feel like a rapist, when in fact I had never slept with a woman even once up to that time. So his presupposition totally ruined my chances of ever dating one of his beautiful Christian daughters, despite the fact his family and my family had gone to the same Church for about ten years, despite the fact at the time, I was attending the Church this man started.

Interesting. And the girl's father was this pastor? I know you were a young man at the time but if I was asked such a question by a girl's father I'd be respectful but would say something like, "With all due respect sir I think that's an unfair question for you to ask. Let me say that my refusal to answer it shouldn't be interpreted that I have or that I haven't I just have to believe that's way too personal a question to ask. I will say however that I am a Christian who seeks to be devout towards my Lord!" One has to wonder if he was asked such a question as a young man would he have appreciated it or agreed with it. I'd think not. Also maybe the Father should have thought, he that is without sin let him cast the first stone.

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

Interesting. And the girl's father was this pastor? I know you were a young man at the time but if I was asked such a question by a girl's father I'd be respectful but would say something like, "With all due respect sir I think that's an unfair question for you to ask. Let me say that my refusal to answer it shouldn't be interpreted that I have or that I haven't I just have to believe that's way too personal a question to ask. I will say however that I am a Christian who seeks to be devout towards my Lord!" One has to wonder if he was asked such a question as a young man would he have appreciated it or agreed with it. I'd think not. Also maybe the Father should have thought, he that is without sin let him cast the first stone.

Yeah the girl's father is/was the pastor. Of course it became a substantial reason to disassociate from that Church, but I was never in their social loop to begin with, and that discouraged me from even making any effort. Honestly I was naive to think he would be understanding and non-judgemental, I guess because my family had a long history of Church attendance with his family. He knew how I was raised by Christian parents, he had a good deal of knowledge about my Church attendance. My presence in his Church every week should have hinted towards the notion of my devotion and continuing in the Christian faith I was raised in, which this pastor witnessed first hand. So in short, the lack of grace and mercy in people professing to be Christians, can be a major turn off to say the least. I expect as much from the world, but not from those in Christ.

 

[Bobber]

Yeah the girl's father is/was the pastor. Of course it became a substantial reason to disassociate from that Church, but I was never in their social loop to begin with, and that discouraged me from even making any effort. Honestly I was naive to think he would be understanding and non-judgemental, I guess because my family had a long history of Church attendance with his family. He knew how I was raised by Christian parents, he had a good deal of knowledge about my Church attendance. My presence in his Church every week should have hinted towards the notion of my devotion and continuing in the Christian faith I was raised in, which this pastor witnessed first hand. So in short, the lack of grace and mercy in people professing to be Christians, can be a major turn off to say the least. I expect as much from the world, but not from those in Christ.

Yes in my opinion this pastor made a big mistake. If it were me I could be merciful towards him in this one thing....I'd come to the place and I think perhaps you have as well that people aren't perfect. I think he was over zealous in wanting to protect his daughter but I can see your motivation to move on from this particular gathering of believers as perhaps wise. If the dear brother made you feel ostracized maybe not meaning too but did so none the less if can be a hard thing to keep in that group.

I always think of what I call the King story in the Bible where one had a great debt that is forgiven and the Lord says to us now make sure you (or we) forgive others. I firmly believe this though ...that in the next world Jesus will say to all of us certain things where we were wrong towards another brother and sister in Christ and they maybe towards us and both of us will appear before God and he'll say to one now I want you to apologize and ask forgiveness from this person.

What you said or did them on the earth that day wasn't right and I want you to acknowledge it. And the Lord might say to us, now you did something wrong to maybe it's another person and it hurt them now you say sorry to them. I can't show scripture to prove this, and I might be wrong but I have a sense in my spirit this very well may happen. Everyone of course will forgive each other and we'll probably say, "That's ok friend! It wasn't always easy living on the earth without making some mistakes!"

 

[John Tisdale]

Hi, I have been fighting a porn addiction for quite some time. I have made steps to prevent myself from doing it anymore. I'm looking for advice or words of wisdom. I know watching porn is stupid and wrong. Every time I do it I hate myself a little more. I feel worthless at time and feel like I don't I deserve forgiveness. I know what I am doing is wrong as I do it. I know we have a forgiving God but it is hard to grasp how he can forgive me when I keep doing the same sin again and again knowing it is wrong.

I think you will find this video I created helpful on understanding why porn is so addictive. If you understand what porn is trying to mimic and what the authentic fulfillment of those things are, it helps break you out of the fantasy world and get you moving in the right direction forward.

 

[SANTOSO]

This is the word of wisdom that we have heard:

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. -Proverbs 16:6

Yes, by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil of pornography.