Help for Sexual Sin
Photo by Brandon Robbins
People know where to go online if they want to see pornography. They know exactly where to look, and they can pull it up even on their cell phone in a discreet moment, if that is what they desire. They are also well aware of how to cover their steps by deleting browsing histories, cookies, and the like.
Porn is like a drug, in the sense that many people plan their days around when they intend to inhale the images on the screen.
It is almost like American Culture is a giant pool of hot tar, and in such a place, everyone is going to get burned sooner or later. Even for youth and children, there is nowhere to run and hide where the prostitute of Proverbs 5-6 is not knocking at the door.
Proverbs 5:3-9 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it. And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house.
In such a culture, people who desire sexual purity for the holiness and glory of God are simply not at home. Walking down the mall, driving down the interstate, or clicking on prime time tv, is all one must do to be saturated with sexually suggestive images, communicating the idea that if you are not being satisfied at home, there are plenty of other places you can turn.
The statistics of people who regularly view porn, or read romance novels (porn for women), are overwhelming. The vast majority of men and women, including those who claim the name of Jesus, are seeking out sexual promiscuity in some form or the other, and are not satisfied with God’s plan for pure sexual expression within marriage. Tim Challies recently wrote:
“I read recently of a researcher who wanted to study the effects of pornography on young adult males. He carefully built the structure for the study, determining how he would compare young men who had experienced pornography with a control group comprised of those who had never come into contact it. Tragically this researcher had to cancel his study. He found that he was unable to put together a control group; he could not find young men who had not discovered pornography. The experiment was impossible to conduct.”
The vast majority of teens have been exposed dozens of times to hard core pornography, and in many cases, participate in it with each other.
Given the gravity of sexual sin, even among the Church, I thought it would be fitting to put together a list of free, online resources to help those who want a way out. (AND THERE IS A WAY OUT)! These are the best online works I have found on the issue, and I highly recommend them. It is nice to know that help can be found online, just like harm can be found online.
By way of application, I would suggest reading these writings constantly, praying through them. Perhaps, reading them with a trusted friend can lead to greater accountability.
Ultimately, the reason we engage in sexual sin is because we are not satisfied with the glory and goodness of God. Falling deeper in love with Him, and desiring to live life in the way He has designed it, are the proper positive ways to squelch out sexual sin in our lives.
SERMONS
Fireproof Marriage by Pastor Brian Branam
Let Him Kiss Me by Mark Driscoll
Desiring God National Conference: Sex and the Supremacy of God (Piper, Mohler, Dever and others)
This is the Will of God for You: That You Abstain from Sexual Immorality by John Piper
ONLINE BOOKS
Sex and the Supremacy of God by John Piper and others
Porn Again Christian by Mark Driscoll
ARTICLES
Wired for Intimacy by Tim Challies
When Unclothed Is Unfitting by John Piper
WEBSITES