A recent article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press indicated that congregations need to move forward on issues of sexuality. Here are some highlights from Journey Chattanooga’s recent teaching on Pornography and healthy sexuality.
If you think you cant fall into sexual sin, you must be godlier than David, stronger than Sampson, & wiser than Solomon.
- Every second – $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography.
- Every second – 28,258 internet users are viewing pornography.
- Every second – 372 internet users are typing adult search terms into search engines.
- Every 39 minutes: a new pornographic video is being created in the United States.
- Most pornography is viewed between 9 am and 5 pm…on the job.
- 60% of all website visits are sexual in nature
- The No. 1 search term used at search engine sites is the word “sex”
- 38 percent of adults believe there is nothing wrong with pornography use
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Pornography and sexual purity is a problem for the Church
Recent surveys indicate the following:
- .90% of Christian men admitted that they were feeling disconnected from God because lust, porn, or fantasy had gained a foothold in their lives.
- 70% of Christians admitted to struggling with porn in their daily lives.
- 50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women are addicted to pornography.
- 54% of the pastors had viewed Internet pornography within the last year, and 30% of these had visited within the last 30 days.
- 64% Christian leaders confirm that they are struggling with sexual addiction or sexual compulsion including, but not limited to use of pornography, compulsive masturbation, or other secret sexual activity.
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What is the Root of the Problem?
Mark 7
21For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ “
As much as we would like to say “the devil made me do it” that statement simply isn’t true. This passage from the book of Mark clearly indicates that the problem lies within our own flawed self.
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Jesus teaches how our thought life affects us.
Mathew 5
27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery. 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Sex sells and everyone knows it . With sexual imagery all around us how do we resist temptation?
We must realize the porn industry is based on fantasy.
Porn is a whispered promise. It promises more sex, better sex, endless sex, sex on demand, more intense orgasms.
You don’t defeat porn by trying not to do it. You do it by learning to look at people a different way. – Dallas Willard
Here are some great resources on how to remain sexually pure:
http://relit.org/porn_again_christian/
