This is not an easy post to write. It is not a “let’s have fun” post because it is all too serious subject.
First, visualize this scenario:
Herbie, 13, walks into his local tavern and asks for a vodka martini-shaken, not stirred. Tex the barkeep asks, “Are you at least 21 years old?” Herbie says, “Sure.” Tex serves him. As he sips, Herbie pulls out his iPhone and watches a pornographic scene.
I suspect most of you know what’s wrong with that picture: In all 50 states Herbie would not get his martini. Tex or anyone else would card him, demanding a driver’s license or other official proof Herbie is at least 21. But the porn? No one would interfere.
Admit it or not, porn is a hu-u-u-u-u-ge problem not only among adults, but among children and teenagers as well. The ease to getting porn on a computer or iPhone is as easy as, well…a click of a button/mouse. A group called Enough is Enough says porn makes up more than 1/3 of the internet industry and earns its purveyors more than…are you ready for this?…$3000 per second. Per second!! Porn sites get more visitors than Netflix, Twitter, and Amazon combined. Most teens view pornography online, and one survey of 16-20 year olds found nearly one out of four young men and one out of ten young women admitting to trying to kick the habit and could not.
There are many organizations trying to help followers of Christ and even those who don’t, but are addicted, to kick the habit. One is XXXchurch and the other is CovenantEyes. For more stats on the pervasiveness of this bondage, check out this page on Covenant Eyes.
This issue isn’t going to be solved by legislation. You and I both know “where there’s a will there’s a way.” What it will take is more than an internet filter (although that can help). It will take a new heart and new eyes. Job 31:1 says, “I have made a covenant with my eyes.” Psalm 101:3 says, “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.”
That’s a start. Internet porn is not the only addiction obviously, but it is getting more pervasive. I have been pretty honest on this blog about my past struggles. The victory happens one day at a time, believing God’s power and grace are stronger. Pray for me. I will pray for you.
Any thoughts?
Disclosure: section in blue is from an article by Marvin Olasky, World Magazine, May 17,2014.
There is porn on the internet? Wow, news to me. (smiles) Actually I shudder when my daughter goes to google for even the most innocent of searches and clicks on “images”. It’s amazing how much “stuff” comes up there.
Yeah, and that is one of the dangers of unmonitored use of the net. It is scary what is available.
While $100 billion (3000/minute) seems a bit far fetched I have no doubt it is big business. I know they don’t get any of it from me. There must be a lot of Christians, Mormons, Jews, Muslims and other theists putting money in the pot. It certainly can’t be because of what just the non-believers are doing. There aren’t enough of us to support that level of spending.
I personally believe adults should be free to spend their money on whatever they want and business should be allowed to sell to the demand.
It is one of those victimless activities, like drinking, that some people probably shouldn’t do because it makes them goofy while others have no problem with it.
There are laws and rather stiff punishments for when minors are involved as there should be.
Parents certainly have a tough job in monitoring their childrens access to and use of computer time. I’m glad there were no computers when I was raising kids.
I think Christians in particular are more susceptible to perverted ideas of sex due to the celibacy outside of marriage idea, objections to birth control, misunderstanding of gays, the role of women and other so called Biblical views.
I think legislation has done all it can do and all it should do. I certainly would not be in favor of some politician deciding what adults can and can’t see.
I don’t really see what the problem is. I don’t see a lot of people getting attacked because someone watched porn. Certainly only a fraction of a percent compared to the number of people it takes to support a $100 Billion business. I am guessing by far most people don’t have any problem with it.
I have heard similar stats for other places as well Jeff. It is staggering when you think about it. Unfortunately, what you say is also true. There are many Christians and other religious people making porn their viewing choice. It is not just for non-theists.Unlike you however, I do not believe it to be a victimless crime. While viewing porn may not lead someone to rape another, it is causing harm to the soul and the way the opposite sex is viewed. Legislation probably has done all it can, that is why I said it won’t go away by legislation. It is a matter of the heart. As for your idea of perverted view of sex, I do prefer to take my cue from the Bible (you know…that out-dated Book you speak of). 🙂
I don’t think it is so much a perverted view of sex although a lot of clergy particularly catholic seem to qualify) I think it is a lifetime guilt trip most people are on that makes it difficult for them to just see sex for what it is.
That may be true. Many seeds are planted at childhood which are damaging to an individual. Sex was never meant to be taboo. It was always meant to be something to be enjoyed within its proper bounds.
One bite at a time. That’s the only way I know how to eat an elephant.
And only one at a time. Chewing slowly.
Thanks Bill for writing about this subject. It is the secret sin that destroys and until it happens in ones family people it’s usually ignored. It has reached to the most remote corners of the world through cell phones.
Just recently I walked into a toy store at a mall near us. In that store was also calendars, posters and all other kids of pictures of ladies with almost nothing on. It was was pron dressed up to attract men at their weakest. I went to the sale clerk and ask her how come those calendars were in a toy store for kids to see. The manager was not there so I had to let it ride. I plan a trip back to talk to the owner. By the way there were no children in the store that day, only men and they were not buying toys. I’ve got my white hankie out on this one brother, preach it and don’t stop.
Soft porn (the calendar) is a “seemingly” harmless way of exposing children. Little boys especially don’t need this stimuli. It seems to already be racing in them. Little girls are getting it now also. I figured out I saw my first picture at age 8. They are starting even earlier now.
That’s interesting you used the word “soft porn”, it certainly fit. For years I would leave magazine like Good Housekeeping and catalogs in my bathroom to read. Our daughter and family was staying with us and she ask me if she could take them out because their son, then 10 was taking a little too long in the bathroom, he was looking at the catalogs and other magazine that had all kinds of ads showing women in bras and panties. Yeah that’s a good word for it, soft porn that will only turn into the hard stuff if left unchecked. Now that our daughter and family are in the states for good both of their teen, one 16, the other 13 have had a hard time because all kids that age except them have a cell phone. Her 13 year boy is having to deal with his peer saying, hey Logan look at this and this, it was porn and not soft. I grew up with all kinds of material that was not even approximate for adults in our house and even as a young girl I was drawn to it. We have work with some who were drawn in, addicted, good people, some Christians who got addicted to it and they would tell you it was “soft porn” they started with never thinking they would become addicted to worst. I shudder to think what this world will throw at our grand children when they are a teen. My hearts ache because parents usually do not know what their children are watching away from them or they do know and their attitude is, they are just children, it won’t hurt them. I say it again brother, my white hankie is waving, preach it.
Kudos to your daughter for recognizing the temptation to her son. Porn, like most addictions, isn’t one a person starts out by saying, “I think I will become a _____ addict.” It is insidious. It is tough to deal with. I know the heartache it brings and will continue shouting it out loud.
I had no idea it was that popular! More than those big three combined? Scary… I know the entire internet was built with people spending money on it, but it seems to being used for better purposes now, this site for instance.
This ties in with my post on bondage. Seems like freedom to be able to do what the flesh wants, until it owns the flesh. I’m praying for our society and you and yours, BIll. Thanks for your prayers for us.
Porn addiction is bondage Floyd. You call it correctly. Thanks for the compliment about my site. I hope it is used for bettering peoples’ lives.
Having two teenage boys, this is a concern that comes up frequently. We just continually talk to our boys about being careful what they click on when on the internet. We set guidelines in place at home, and they know that there is no privacy for them when it comes to their mobile devices. So far, so good. But, we know we have to stay on top of the issue and that it would only take us not being vigilant for a brief moment for either of our boys to be snared. So, we continue our vigilance and blanket our boys in prayers of protection from evil. Lord help us!
I applaud you and your husband’s diligence in keeping tabs on your sons. They will be forever grateful to you some day when they realize the freedom that comes from not being enslaved (as will their wives).
I listened to a pastor tell a story about a large group of men who filled up a hotel at a Promise Keepers meeting…(remember them)? The pastor heading up this group of men got everyone settled in this certain hotel and he struck up a conversation with the manager of the hotel. He witnessed to the manager and invited him to come to the stadium where the Promise Keepers were meeting. The manager said he was not interested.
At the end of the weekend event…this pastor was just leaving the hotel when the manager asked him to come into his office. The pastor went in…sat down..and the manager asked him if all the men he brought were Christians. The pastor said he thought they all were but he didn’t know all of them personally. The manager then told him he thought it was quite interesting that almost half of the men paid to watch porn on the hotel’s TV’s that weekend.
I have heard that same type of story told about pastors and youth pastors conventions.
Thank you, Pastor Bill, for talking about the hard things. I know of several marriages that porn has damaged, one right now at the brink of divorce.
It is heart-breaking to see and hear and experience the damage and even the breakups.