Pornography- The silent killer of the Body of Christ

[Soldier4Christ]

God Bless you all for coming to confess your sins infront of others so that you might be forgiven. 

I believe it is sad that none of you so called disciples haven't come up with that one.  Jesus tells us to confess, these people are coming to you with a problem.  They are calling for your help, and some young lady weak in faith has to be the first to tell them what they are doing by coming here for help is right.  I believe you all need to take a look at what you are saying and expecting of one another.

While it is commendable that they came here confessing their sins it takes more than just that. The most important thing is to confess their sins to God, ask for forgiveness and take responsibility by taking steps to get out of this addiction. That is what was simply stated here. Not judging or criticizing but proper Biblical advice. All too often people take such advice as being cruel and condemning.

This was in fact done with thought and prayer of what was said and what is expected, especially so of a minister.

[nChrist]

Hello Stryder1030,

I think that you talked about one of the main things wrong with our societies today and the root cause of rapid moral erosion. Everyone wants to feel good about doing horrible things, so there is a big push for being politically correct.

I could care less about being politically correct. In fact, it is cruel in many ways to withhold the truth from people. There will be tons of politically correct folks in HELL. There is NO feel good wallowing in sin and darkness GOSPEL unless it's from the devil. Remaining silent or CALLING EVIL GOOD is usually EXCEPTIONALLY CRUEL! It is KIND AND LOVING to tell the TRUTH from a Biblical perspective. The stakes are very high - ETERNITY.

SO, I for one will call evil "EVIL" and sin "SIN". I will do this from a Biblical perspective, and I could care less what the politically correct folks think. In fact, if the politically correct folks approve of me and what I do and say, THAT WOULD GIVE ME NIGHTMARES! Christians are NOT to be conformed to this world, and Christians should care less about popularity contests.

I feel like I have been far too shy in trying to express my opinions about this issue. Withholding the truth, calling evil good, and political correctness have turned our societies into sewers in just a few decades. It's becoming very difficult to get away from the stench and filth. As a result, it's a real challenge to raise children today. We've done them a great injustice by allowing all of the sewage out in the open. Many people have grown to like swimming in the sewage so much that they don't want to come out. Sadly, some of these people will be our children and grandchildren. Being politically correct has been THE WORST TYPE OF CRUELTY!

[nChrist]

Carnally minded

(John Owen)

"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually
 minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Let a man profess what he will--if his thoughts are generally
conversant about earthly and worldly things--he has an earthly
and worldly mind. And if his thoughts are generally conversant
about sensual things--he has a sensual and carnal mind. "For
as he thinks in his heart--so is he." Proverbs 23:7

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[Maryjane]

I was a bond agent for 9 years...In the 9 years of this job, I can tell you first hand of the many ministers I had on bond for pornography...and even prostitution...It is not a silent killer but one that is out in the open...the names of these ministers were put in the paper of their crimes...There is nothing that is secret that will be put out in the open...What is sad is the testimony is lost and for some very hard to regain back....

When you come to Jesus...yes..he forgives but you will most certianly have to deal with the consequence of the sin...Not to mention you are responsible for the flock that you minister to for you have stood before them in sin and have turned some away from the faith...We all go through trials and temptations..but greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world...Crucify the flesh daily to hold tight to the word of God that you will not sin against God...For in truth...the sin is not done before men...but before God...

[Maryjane]

A christian forum that is truly christian will not justify sin...but will point the way to God for those who are not saved...to encourage those who are weak in the faith...To strengthen the weary...to share the love of God with the brethren...May the Lord's hand continue to be on this forum and continually bear fruit that glorifies God...

[Soldier4Christ]

Amen!

[nChrist]

Another Amen MaryJane!

I give thanks that many sweet Christians still struggle every day to fight a good fight, run a good race, and finish their course. Paul explained the war between the old man and the new quite well. All of us must fight this war every day, but we must remember that our help and strength is in CHRIST. May GOD give us all strength and guidance.

Love In Christ,
Tom

[Stryder1030]

Maybe I am too unclear with my words.  I do type in circles I've been told.  I am not justifying the sin.  I am accepting the sinner.  Jesus tells us to acknowledge the sin and accept the sinner, not to ignore the sin and accept the sinner or to accept the sin and ignore the sinner.  What our brother was doing by coming here for help is not wrong.  Jesus tells us to confess to one another as well as to our Lord.  Maybe our brother does not feel that confessing to his congregation is in his best interest right now but wishes to confess to strangers.  Let him confess how he sees fit.  He is doing nothing wrong with coming here.

I also gave inspiration on how to help himself as best I could.  I am not a man, I am not a minister and I am not addicted to pornography, I am not in his shoes.  But I am offering what I can, kind words and hopeful direction.

Let him be healed before he confesses to his congregation, but for now, he should step down and seriously pray.

I could quote the bible too and tell him where the bible says it's wrong, he KNOWS it's wrong and is coming here for a little assistance.  So what if he gave some insite from a site he's read.  You are all denying that it happens.  Denying it is the leading cause of sin.  IT HAPPENS.  ALL SIN HAPPENS.  It's nothing we should deny but in turn accept and forgive just as Jesus taught, because NONE of us are any better.

[Soldier4Christ]

Hi Stryder,

No one here has denied that such sin does happen. Nor has anyone here ignored any of these people or their problem. No one has said that coming here for help was wrong either. Excellent Biblical advice as well as prayers were offered in this. Advice has also been given in this thread to help one avoid the temptations of this sin.

It is a wonderful thing that you feel compassion towards others in these matters but we must not confuse or cover up the truth of the matter by calling it a lack of compassion or anything else. The most compassionate thing a Christian can do is to tell the truth to people. This person does in fact need to step down from the pulpit until such time as he has, with God's help, overcome this problem. A pastor cannot be a truly effective pastor while struggling with something that has such a strangle hold on him. He does need to seek one-on-one counselling and he definitely needs to seek God's forgiveness. This is exactly what has been said.

[ollie]

Has anyone other than myself ever suffered the spiritual decline brought on by pornography? If so lets unite here to discuss and overcome this major obstacle in a brotherly way. I realize most posters have a reputation to uphold here as with any discussion forum, but at the end of the day I wish to maintain the reputation as an honest man. I will tell you I am a Minister who has obtained deliverance from all addictions and still struggle with pornography for unlike other substances God has delivered me from (drugs etc) pornography consists of a God given desire to be attracted to the opposite sex.This is a major problem in America where 1/3 of all Pastors suffer from pornography addiction in one form or another.So who will be honest and engage this discussion in a realistic manner. Hopefully some will to edify the Body of Christ and exhort the Brethren.

God Bless, Paul

Pastors, preachers, are human like the rest of us, so why single them out in any given sin?

We are all to help keep one another out of the coming fire.

Jude 1:21.  "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
 22.  And of some have compassion, making a difference:
 23.  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

Pastors and preachers are not singled out in these verses. The letter is addressed "to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:"

ollie

[Soldier4Christ]

Singled out in any given sin? No more than any follower of Christ. However a pastor or any other person that is leading the flock "must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

There maybe those that are weak in the faith but anyone that is leading God's flock must be strong in the faith else they may lead them astray. The Bible says quite clearly must be not may be.

[Maryjane]

This is not an issue for discussion but for prayer and deliverance...to continally set your mind on this sin is to fall into it and lead yourself and often others astray...but set your mind on things above and read the word...surround yourself with christians who will pray for you and disciple you...

[Debp]

We must all learn to avoid temptation of any sort.  When a person is first tempted to look at pornography (or do any other evil), this is the time to turn your back on that temptation.  Flee it.  If a person has already fallen into this sin, one must turn away from it.  Resist it.

As Jesus said: 
If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.  Matthew 5:29

[Mislead]

Brother Paul that is a tough topic, because it is destroying our society in ways that
we refuse to notice.  Our children are having to deal with Adultery, Fornication, Divorce, and all other types of illicit things that stem from pornography.  How can we
stop it?  By bring our bodies under subjection to Christ!  That is what the Apostle Paul said that he brings his body under subjection to Christ.  For we can only accomplish this through the Grace of God.  We need to become examples to our
children and grandchildren in the home, and in the body of Christ.  That how we overcome pornography.   There is so much more that I would like to add, I just need more time to reply.  May God bless you with this struggle, we all need to keep our eyes on Jesus and he will lift us up!

[kdr22]

Hello!

I realize this thread is somewhat dated, but I wanted to add my thoughts regarding this issue.

The best response is always biblically based and with love. Therefore I offer the following for all to prayerfully consider...

A Changed Life

The testimony of the Apostle Paul was “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).  When a person comes to personally know Jesus Christ as his Savior, God inwardly transforms his life.  He gives him a new nature—the nature of Christ, for all believers have become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:3-4).  This new nature naturally produces new attitudes and opinions, new likes and dislikes, new loves and hatreds.  The things a person once loved, he now hates; and the things he once hated, he now loves.  The whole inward motivation of his life has been changed.

Not only is this change apparent to the inner consciousness of the individual himself, his outward life also will appear different to those around him.  The whole character of his life will be changed.  Often a complete change of disposition will occur and even one’s conversation may be altered.

When a person has accepted Christ, there will be changes within him, particularly in his desires.  Ambitions, affections and inward nature will be switched from evil things to godliness.  If you can honestly say that such a change has taken place in your life, you may rest assured that it was accomplished by the Holy Spirit and is a sign that you have been born of God (John 1:12,13).

When a person becomes a Christian, he is “born again” (3:3).  Human birth is the demonstration of physical life.  The new birth is the demonstration of spiritual life—the evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit.  When a person is born again, he receives a new inner nature (2 Cor. 5:17).  The consciousness of a new nature—the Christ life—within is evidence that you are born of God.

Of course, the old nature is also within, and conflicts often arise between the old and the new natures.  “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” (Gal. 5:17).  Your old nature (“the flesh”) fights with the new nature (“the Spirit”).  Such conflicts are normal in the life of a real Christian—one who has been saved and made a child of God forever.

As has already been pointed out, we must examine ourselves, "to see whether you are in the faith" (2 Cor 13:5).

Related Scriptures:

• 1 Thess 5:21
• 1 Tim 3:10
• James 1:2-25 <<< Most applicable to this topic.

May God always be your greatest need and may Christ always be your greatest treasure.

Your servant and brother in Christ,
Karl