Running Head: Pornography and the Church: From Congregation to Leadership

Pornography and the Church: From Congregation to Leadership Robert John Edwards Philadelphia Biblical University

Running Head: Pornography and the Church: From Congregation to Leadership

Abstract Pornography in various forms has become an epidemic in the Church, affecting large portions of the church community, from individuals in our congregations up through our elders and pastors. Many churches rarely address the issues of pornography with their congregations, and many more believe the problem is not as prevalent in their individual congregations to warrant much action. Yet this problem continues to grow, as great numbers of people have come forward to reveal their addiction to pornography. The Church need not worry, however, there is vast numbers of resources available to assist both members and leadership to overcome this evil disease.

Running Head: Pornography and the Church: From Congregation to Leadership

Pornography in various forms has become an epidemic in the Church, affecting large portions of the church community, from individuals in our congregations up through our elders and pastors. Many churches rarely address the issues of pornography with their congregations, and many more believe the problem is not as prevalent in their individual congregations to warrant much action. Yet this problem continues to grow, as great numbers of people have come forward to reveal their addiction to pornography. The Church need not worry, however, there is vast numbers of resources available to assist both members and leadership to overcome this evil disease. Before one can look at the Church and its issues surrounding addictions to pornography, we must grasp a sense of the beast that is the pornography industry. For example, In 2001, for example, the New York Times quoted a low-end estimate for the porn business at $10 billion (when you combine porn networks, pay-per-view movies on cable and satellite, Internet websites, in-room hotel movies, phone sex, sex toys, and pornographic magazines). This, they said, came from a study by Forrester Research. (CovenantEyes, p.1) Perhaps what is between the parentheses will help to drive home the point that pornography is not merely movies or magazines, but includes other various damaging aspects of $12 billion dollar-a-year monster. In essence, most Americans are exposed and vulnerable to temptation of various forms of pornography almost at every turn of their daily lives. Computers can be found at every workstation and school; movies on the television in every vacation hotel; phone sex in the palms of our hands; sex toys available in shops found in almost every town; and pornographic magazines found just over the counter at local convenient stores. Both Christian and secular peoples are at risk. In 2003, 12% of of total websites are pornographic, with 25% of total search engine requests are porn-related. The number one search

Running Head: Pornography and the Church: From Congregation to Leadership

engine request is sex, and 70 percent of all internet porn traffic occurs during the 9-to-5 workday. (Healthy-mind, p.1) With the affordable accessibility of personal computers after this period, surely these numbers have largely increased. One may argue that Christian core values and morals helps prevent and deter our Christian communities from these frightening statistics, this is far from the truth. A brief list (there are myriads of data) of some alarming statistics are in order to illustrate just how susceptible Christians are to exposure and addiction to pornography. In 1994, a survey showed 91% of men raised in Christian homes were exposed to pornography while growing up (compared to 98% of those not raised in a Christian home). In March 2005 Christianity Today published the results of a study called Christians and Sex in their Leadership Journal. Out of 680 pastors surveyed, 57% said addiction to pornography is the most sexually damaging issue to their congregation. In August 2006, a survey reported 50% of all Christian men and 20% of all Christian women are addicted to pornography. 60% of the women who answered the survey admitted to having significant struggles with lust; 40% admitted to being involved in sexual sin in the past year. As the first statistic indicates, Christian men were not only exposed to pornography in large numbers, but were not far behind their secular brethren. This should begin to put doubt in our minds that our Christian homes are safe from the porn industry and its hazardous effects. The second statistic should also put to rest any notions that our churches are not greatly effected by addiction to pornography. The final survey also indicates to us that addiction to pornography is not merely an issue related to men. Too often it is wrongly assumed that Christian women do not suffer from this infectious disease, yet this survey shows that men and women do share in the destructive desires and habits associated with pornography consumption.

Running Head: Pornography and the Church: From Congregation to Leadership

Perhaps this brief list is not enough to sway some believers into realizing the potential for porn addiction in their own churches. Some folks may concede to recognizing this issue in other churches, while falsely believing their particular church is free from its grasp. Mike Genung, of Blazing Grace, a web-based service for those who suffer from addiction to pornography, fell into this category. His story is typical of many churches. He states, Certainly half the men in my church couldnt have a problem with porn. Most the men in our body of 600 are in their late 30s to early 40s, married, and the father of little ones. They have successful careers making good money and are involved in ministry. I couldnt picture so many of these men I sit next to every Sunday leering at porn. Wanting to prove the numbers wrong, in the spring of 2004 I approached the leadership of our church and asked if we could survey the men on the topic of pornography. Our numbers will be different; half cant be true here, I thought. Of those who responded, 25 percent had looked at porn within the past 30 days, 44 percent within six months, and 61 percent within the year. The real statistic is probably higher; I heard later that a number of men didnt fill out the survey because they were afraid of how it would be used. (Crosswalk, internet article) But what about our ministers? The leadership in our churches are looked upon with great reverence and admiration. We not only worship alongside of them, get taught the truth of the Bible from them, and look to their counsel at every critical turn and mishap in our lives. They have been trained by the best and brightest scholars, and have a deeply profound relationship with Our Lord. But rest assured, the monster that is pornography can grab hold of their hearts just as fast and furious as the individuals in their churches. Again, another brief list from

Running Head: Pornography and the Church: From Congregation to Leadership

Christianity Today (2000) helps to summarize the sobering reality of porn addiction among our leaders: In August 1999, 11% of the calls received on Focus on the Family's Pastoral Care Line were about pastors and online porn. In August 2000, online porn worries prompted 20% of the calls (It has risen well above 50% today) Of those who have visited sexually explicit websites, 53% say they have visited the sites a few times in the past year; 18% of clergy said they visited explicit websites between a couple of times a month and more than once a week. Among the clergy who use Internet porn, 30% do not talk to anyone about their behavior 75% of pastors do not make themselves accountable to anyone for their Internet use. It is key to point out that there may exist a large number of leadership who suffer from pornography addiction who do not use Focus on the Familys Pastoral Care Line, potentially out of shame and guilt for their addiction. The second statistic is eye-opening, showing that one out of every two pastors visits a sexually explicit website a few times a year, and one out of five pastors has done so with great frequency. The final two statistics illustrate a true problem with porn-addicted leadership: Almost one out of every three pastors keeps his sinful behavior silent, most likely out of fear of the ramifications of their addiction, and three out of four pastors are not accountable for their internet use. As one can surmise from this survey, the Church has an elephant in the pews, (Christian Science Monitor, 2005) but there is also an elephant behind the pulpit. Before we can look at what can be done to help those who suffer from porn addiction, we must look at what Dr. Gary R. Brooks (1995) calls the pervasive behavior of pornography. Dr. Brooks sees five main symptoms associated with porn addiction: Voyeurism An obsession with looking at men or women rather than interacting with them.

Running Head: Pornography and the Church: From Congregation to Leadership

Objectification An attitude in which men or women are objects rated by size, shape and harmony of body parts. Validation The need to validate masculinity/femininity through beautiful people. Trophyism The idea that beautiful people are collectibles who show the world who a man or woman is. Fear of True Intimacy Inability to relate to men or women in an honest and intimate way despite deep loneliness. Each one of these five symptoms, which are often manifest as a combination of symptoms or all five in their totality, demonstrates the broken human condition. As God has made every human being, and given us the gift of communication bothverbally and physically voyeurism is a mockery against this gift. Treating people as objects to be rated is also against Gods commands for us to love one another in equality regardless of our outward appearances. Validation is not necessary, as we are all loved by God for who we are. Trophyism is also hated by God, regardless of our outward beauty, because His creation is not to be considered as collectibles. Lastly, fear of true intimacy, which is an unnecessary, yet great concern for many people, should not be a reality. True intimacy is the means by which we can share our soul and physical desires with our husbands and wives. One simply cannot engage in the act of viewing pornography without one or more of these symptoms in place within their hearts. Mark Laaser, director of the Institute for Healthy Sexuality of the American Association of Christian Counselors points to three elements that foster pornography addiction: loneliness, anger, and boredom. He states, Addiction is prevalent among people who have high-demand but low-structure jobs and who spend a great deal of time at their computers, initially for workrelated reasons, but also for social connection and entertainment. (Christian Century, 2007)

Running Head: Pornography and the Church: From Congregation to Leadership

Pastors work high-demand jobs coupled with feelings of loneliness away from their families or time spent studying and preparing for the upcoming weeks services. Anger can quickly arise from such a isolated, high-demand position. But clergy are not the only ones facing high-demand positions. Everyone from housewives to executives face the stress of outside forces. Anger can quickly arise if the individual feels mistreated or overworked. Conflicts in relationships adds to this rising anger, even though the person experiencing these symptoms may not be aware of it. Loneliness is not only for those who lack relationships with other people. Husbands and wives who share differing schedules can find themselves gripped by feelings of loneliness. So, what can be done to help fight against the monster that is porn addiction? First we will look at a biblical model to help us fight against addiction to pornography. This model is provided as a sermon outline of Proverbs 7 by CovenantEyes.com which is an accountability tracking website available to those who struggle with sexual addictions. It uses the pericope of Proverbs 7:1-9, and titles the outline, A View from Solomons Window. Provided here is a summary and simplification of the key points due to the short focus of the paper. First, we must safeguard against temptation by giving no opportunity for the flesh. Passing through the street near her corner; and he takes the way to her house, in the twilight, in the evening, in the middle of the night and in the darkness (v.8-9). Here we see the man deliberately walking in the direction of the alluring woman. He is setting himself up for failure. What we must discern from this is that we shouldnt put ourselves in the path of temptation, dont go where you are likely to stumble. For each of us it may be a different stumbling block: a time of day or night, a certain place, a certain computer, a certain set of conditions. One should take this step very seriously if one hopes to succeed in thwarting the desire to engage in unfavorable activities.

Running Head: Pornography and the Church: From Congregation to Leadership

Second, one must find for himself/herself a spiritual father. In verse 1 we see that Solomon is addressing the young man as My son... (v.1) This is a book of advice given from father to son, teacher to disciple, spiritual mentor to eager student. Perhaps this is the most overlooked step in the lesson. Those who struggle with addiction to pornography cannot escape the addiction on their own; they need guidance from one wiser than themselves. Preferably a spiritual father who has overcome the addiction himself or has help others overcome it. CovenantEyes.com adds, Find a true spiritual leader who hears from God regularly, obeys His voice, and effectively models intimacy with God. Find a true spiritual father who knows how to pray in faith, and has helped other men find healing from the hurts of unconfessed sin. While shame and guilt may provide a stumbling block in addressing a spiritual father who can help the addicted person, ones own true desire to overcome this addiction must prevail in order to succeed. Third, an addict must repent of being so nearsighted. While no direct verse is given to explain this, one only needs to look upon the whole of the pericope to see that Solomon and the man on the street are different. The difference between Solomon and the man on the street is that Solomon sees through this womans alluring behavior...before we ever go down the painful road of sin, Solomon is giving us a snapshot of the long-range view, the farsighted view. Too often a porn addict can only see his/her need for immediate gratification that taunts him/her at that moment. Rarely does the realization that the individual engaged in the act is hurting themselves, but also others, such as spouses and their children. It is not merely enough to recognize ones nearsightedness. We must repent to God for it. When we repent, we are making a conscience decision to turn away from that sin, and focus our attention of God. The man in the pericope can only see the beauty of the woman. But, the only way to overcome the lusts of

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this world is to have a fixed gaze on a greater Beauty, God Himself. Lastly, we must let the word of God live in us. In verses 1-4, we see the special relationship we must have with the word of God. Solomon instructs the man to Keep my words (v.1); Treasure my commands (v.2); Bind them on your fingers (v.3); Write them on our hearts (v.3); and Say to wisdom, You are my sister, and call understanding your intimate friend (v.4). While they seem to be Solomons words to his son as he instructs him, it must be reminded that these are also Gods words to us as He instructs us in avoiding sin. These are important biblical guides by which one can help fight against the sin of porn addiction. But what if a Christian man or woman needs additional assistance in their fight against addiction to pornography? There are a plethora of resources available to both congregation and leadership. Some are as standard as kits or workshops, while others are as unusual as a traveling side show. First, there are accountability websites and software that one can install, which puts you in touch with two or three other addicts who bi-weekly or monthly will receive reports of the persons internet activities. This holds one another accountable for misuse on the internet. A few such sites are www.xxxchurch.com, CovenantEyes.com, and www.x3watch.com. Each of these sites provide free accounts, and also offer pay services with added features. Second, there are various online videos and DVDs available that can be individually shown or viewed as a congregation or small group. These are usually real life testimonies of others who have been addicted to pornography, and their powerfully moving stories of overcoming their addictions. These are great tools to help open the eyes of a congregation who may not realize the severity of porn addiction. YouTube.com and Tangle.com have several testimonies.

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Third, PowerPoint presentations and sermons on porn addiction are available from various sites, including the widely popular CovenantEyes.com. These presentations and sermons can assist leadership in informing the congregation of the symptoms of porn addiction, and preventative measures individuals and families can take, as well as introducing biblical programs centered around assisting addicts. Fourth, there are books and curriculums available (for a fee) that can assist the individual or groups associated with porn addiction. These range from assisting members of the congregation suffering from porn addict to the pastor who may struggle also. Crossroads, a curriculum by Edwards Welch is an excellent resource. Freedom Begins Here is a popular curriculum by Mark Laaser and Dr. Gary Smalley. Harvest USA Seminars also provide educational resources and hold seminars regarding sexual addiction. Fifth, there is CCEF Counseling Training available (for a fee) which can equip a church and leadership to assist in the counseling of those who suffer from porn addiction. Sometimes a great defense is better then a good offense. Having certified counselors (they offer a three course certificate) is a great resource for those who need to find assistance within their own church community. Sixth, there are various speakers who will speak at a church (usually for a fee, but not always) by giving their testimonies of their porn addiction. A popular website that offers up a number of speakers for an engagement is xxx.church.com and a few of the speakers are Bryan Johnston, Jason Harper, Donny Pauling and Jake Larson, as well as Pastor Craig Gross, its founder. Lastly, and perhaps the most unique, are other acts that can be retained to perform for a congregation. One such act is the White Collar Sideshow

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(www.myspace.com/whitecollarsideshow), which is a traveling road show. The visual sights and sounds of the group offer a unique way to get the message across of honesty and accountability of porn addiction. Also, Michael Leahy, a former porn addict, has founded Porn Nation (pornnationthebook.com), and offers to come to college campuses and churches. While this list is not exhaustive, it does show various methods of informing, assisting, and training those involved in porn addiction. In conclusion, as the porn industry continues to grow at extraordinary rates, our churches have become equally susceptible to the dangers and sin of porn addiction. But there is something the Church can do about it. No longer does the congregation or leadership have to live with this sin against God. There are various tools and resources at our disposal to defeat this monster call porn addiction. We have a biblical mandate to turn away from pornography, and, along with Scripture, we have a means to do it.

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References Ball, Larry E. (2003) Pornography and the Church. Web Article. Retrieved on April 18, 2010 from: http://ldolphin.org/pornchurch.html Bissette, David C. (2004) Internet Pornography Statistics: 2003. Web Article. Retrieved on April 17, 2010 from: http://www.healthymind.com/s-porn-stats.html Court, John H. (1980) Pornography: A Christian Critique. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press CovenantEyes (n.d.) Pornography Statistics. Web PDF. Retrieved on April 17, 2010 from: http://www.covenanteyes.com/blog/2009/03/10/addressing-pornography-temptation-in-yourchurch/ CovenantEyes (n.d.) Pornography Unmasked. Web PDF. Retrieved on April 17, 2010 from: http://www.covenanteyes.com/blog/2009/03/10/addressing-pornography-temptation-in-yourchurch/ Frykholm, Amy (2007) Addictive Behavior: Pastors and Pornography. Web Article. Retrieved on April 18, 2010 from: http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=3629 Gilkerson, Luke. (2009) Addressing Pornography Temptation in your Church. Web Article. Retrieved on April 17, 2010 from: http://www.covenanteyes.com/blog/2009/03/10/addressingpornography-temptation-in-your-church/ Lampman, Jane. (2005) Churches Confront an Elephant in the Pews. Web Article. Retrieved on April 18, 2010 from: http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0825/p14s01-lire.html Wildmon, Donald E. (1986) The Case Against Pornography. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books