Christian Living

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The topic of pornography is one Christians are all too familiar with; the church is unfortunately all but immune. Many a man has been enticed into this evil and brought down to destruction. (James 1:14-15) says, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” So we see plainly that man is drawn of his own sinful lusts and is enticed to sin; after which brings destruction. Though he never intended to be possessed by it, he has found out, the hard way, the burdenous results of sin.

Pornography, as gross and perverted as it is, is but a result of inner sin; an outward manifestation of an inward sin that has been conceived in lust. The word “lust” is used sixteen times in Scripture. While mainly referring to a sexual sin, it can also be described in broader terms as having descended from covetousness. (Romans 7:7) says, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” This sin of lust is conceived when a man or woman begins to desire something that God has not sin fit to provide; sometimes they are simply rushing ahead of God’s timing. Covetousness can be defined as becoming dissatisfied with what God has provided and wanting something more–for various, usually selfish reasons. We find that men are often not even aware of this dark, sinister covetousness until it is revealed by lusting or committing the act; they will then naturally hide or deny it. One commentator worded it like this: “But coveting is more hidden and lies deeper; hence no account is made of it, as long as men judge according to their perceptions of what is outward. He does not indeed boast that he was free from it; but he so flattereth himself, that he did not think that this sin was lurking in his heart....”

Now that we see where this lust/covetousness descends from, we must immediately begin to seek the cure, or even much more blessed, the preventative. First, let us see the preventative: Psalm 119:11 reads, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Notice that David uses the phrase “that I might not sin against thee.” This refers to a preventative approach. The ultimate cure is found earlier in verses 9-10: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.” God’s Word will keep us clean if we constantly bath in it and meditate upon it.

At first, the person seeking to be free from this addicting sin may have to take drastic measures. Christ said if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Of course is metaphoric language, but it makes the practical point: For example. if your computer is a temptation to you, get rid of it! Do whatever it takes for you to stop feeding your sin nature. You must “put off and put on.” Remove the sin and replace it with God’s Word.

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