I ran across this blog article written by Tim Challies on the churchleaders.com website. Sadly, my belief is that pornography is just the top layer in a severely escalating problem and addiction in our society today.  The problem is so widespread, that it is now being review as a mental/psychological disorder and has been included in the clinical guide used by mental health providers this year (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – DSM5).

Pornography is ubiquitous today; addiction to pornography, especially among men, is equally widespread. Young men are often introduced to pornography long before they are able to understand what it is and what it means.

Many a young man’s first awakening to sex and sexuality is by exposure to pornographic sex and nudity. This is sadly, increasingly, the case with women as well.

Some Christians can take a kind of refuge in the fact that so many others share in the struggle. “We are all in this together” can minimize the weight of it. Yet the ubiquity of porn and porn addiction does nothing to lessen the horror of it.

I want to ask you a question. But not quite yet. Read on …

Desecration and Titillation.

There is an inescapable consequence to the fact that human beings bear the image of God: There is nothing God values more than human beings.

Bearing God’s image is an extraordinary privilege and brings with it extraordinary worth.

Jesus asked, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul?” If you were to accumulate the wealth of Bill Gates and add to it the wealth of Solomon, you would barely be scratching the surface of the value of a soul, of a person. Wealth will fade. It will rust and decay and be lost. People are eternal. When all of that wealth is gone, the soul will live on.

God says there is nothing in all creation that he values more than human beings. And if this is true, there can be nothing more abhorrent to God than the desecration of human beings.

There is nothing that displays greater spite toward God than destroying what he considers most significant. As man rejects being made in God’s image, there necessarily follows a culture of death and desecration.

When you look at pornography, you are watching the violation of what God considers more valuable than anything else he has created.

It is a violation of all that person is, for sex is not only skin deep, but soul deep. You are not only watching it, but enjoying it, and not only enjoying it, but being titillated by it. God says, “I value her above all else because she is made in my image, in my likeness.” You watch her being humiliated and violated and desecrated, and all the while fantasize about doing the same.

God says, “Of all I created, there is nothing with more worth and dignity,” and you delight in her desecration and indignity.

God says, “I hate it when her body and soul are stained,” and you say, “It turns me on.”

I have an important question I want to ask you. But first I want you to consider another consequence of pornography.

Porn and the Portrait.

There is nothing in all of creation with more value than human beings. There is no message more central than the gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection.

Long before the cross, God decided that he would embed within humanity a picture, a portrait of the gospel: marriage. The great mystery of marriage, a mystery that could be revealed only after the cross, is that marriage has always been and will always be about the gospel. The relationship of a husband and wife is to be a constant pointer to the relationship of Christ and his church.

Sex is inextricably bound to marriage. The only right expression of sex is within marriage, for only then can the sexual relationship point us to the intimate love of Christ for his people.

Sex outside of marriage tells lies about Christ, it tells lies about the church, and makes a complete mockery of the gospel. To tamper with sex is to tamper with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

When you look at pornography, you are participating in this mocking of the gospel.

You are watching the violation of the gospel, you are enjoying the violation of the gospel, you are being aroused by it. God says, “I have given you this great picture of Christ and the church,” and you watch that portrait be defaced and violated and mocked, and you enjoy it all the while.

God says, “The purity of the sexual relationship points you to the purity of the love the Savior has for you.” And you say, “Right now I need a different kind of salvation from a different savior. A more satisfying kind, and one Christ did not supply at the cross. I need salvation only this god can provide.”

The Question.

Pornography desecrates the one thing in all of creation that God values above all; pornography makes a mockery of that great portrait God has given us of Christ’s faithful, compassionate love. And you who claim to love this God and who profess faith in this Savior, enjoy it, dedicate yourself to it, are titillated by it.

God wants you to know that there is forgiveness, that the same gospel you have mocked offers you forgiveness even for so grave a sin.

But I think God wants you to consider something else. He wants you to consider a warning:

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. … Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him (1 John 3:6,8-10).

Here is what I want to ask you: Do you love pornography enough to go to hell for it?

Am I Making Myself Insignificant?

It all started months ago with this quote I read quoted by Nelson Mandela:

I absolutely love this quote! It inspires me but you know what? It just hit me and I do mean it just truly hit me like a ton of bricks! I want success and I want to fulfill my purpose in life, and I want to be somebody to make a difference in this world to be a light unto many…But when the going get tough, the tough makes Amy want to say forget it. HA, talk about a coward, how do you like them cookies?

Oh but it gets better! I started thinking about some of the individuals through history, through life that have inspired me and this is what I started to realize:

1. Jesus- He was on Earth for a purpose, to die for the sins of a world that truly did not deserve it. In order to reach this world before his death (and mind you, he knew that was his purpose his destiny to die so that others may live, try those shoes on for size) he had to find and recruit Apostles that would help him on his journey to fulfilling this purpose. Note: I don’t know about you but I don’t think I could or would want to fulfill that purpose but he did.
2. Nelson Mandela- That man WOW amazing (not that Jesus isn’t amazing-just more of in the present, my time). Kind of reminds me of the Apostle Paul and his imprisonment. Do you realize that Nelson Mandela was in prison for over 30 years, lost his wife, lost his family? I mean his daughter quit talking to him because he REFUSED to give up on what he believed. Like Jesus, he held no ill will towards those that persecuted him, no hate towards those who ripped his life apart. When he was released and finally became President, you would think that those who took his freedom away would in some way pay for what they had done, right? NO! He refused to let hate and ignorance destroy what he was trying to accomplish. Note: That is a human being that like Jesus is bigger than me because I know I am human so truly imperfect! God would most definitely have to do a miracle in me, in order for me not harbor anger and I know I definitely would not make it no 30 years in prison, FORGET IT! Purpose abandoned.
3. Martin Luther King- He had DREAM, a dream bigger than him, a dream that would change our world as our Grandparents and their parent and their parent would know it. He reminds me of Moses, you know, “Set my people free.” Moses had a purpose to fulfill and that was to set God’s people free (in his case the Israelites). Martin Luther King Jr. in the same way as Moses, his purpose was to set God’s people free.

Dr. King endured so much like Jesus, Moses, Mr. Mandella, and so many others. They endured, they overcame, they conquered and fought and died fighting for what they believed in. They lost so much. They were attacked, persecuted, tried, condemned fighting for what they knew to be right, to fulfill a purpose so much bigger than themselves. Pushing on no matter what was put in front of them. Fueled by passion, fire and drive to see their purpose through to the end, and then there’s me! When the going get tough…Amy has her foot out the door. I thank God (and so should you) that a world surviving does not depend on me!

Point: I have a purpose to fulfill, a vision of where the Lord wants me to be, what he wants me to accomplish and what it’s going to look like when it’s done. My purpose? To be a light unto many. How? By helping families heal, especially single mothers and teens by educating them on how to take control of their money instead of someone else controlling it for them. To empower them to believe in themselves, to dream again, to aspire to be more than they are right now, and to show them how they can not only help themselves and their families  but how they to can help other to do same. So, how is it that I would somehow think that things would be easy? How is it that I would think that my journey to fulfilling my purpose would be any easier than theirs? If I want to touch the hearts of many, if I want to give others hope and a purpose they would want to fight for, what makes me any different than any of those who have gone before me to fulfill their purpose? I AM NOT! So, today…right now I stop being a coward, I stop letting fear determine what my direction will be, right now I fight for what I believe in and will remind myself to be ashamed of myself if I don’t believe in me like God believes in me! Ashamed that those three men could go before me willing to lose it all for what they believed in and I am too afraid of finding those who have a burning desire to fulfill their purpose.

So with that being said, I leave you with this:

What was isn’t.

What is won’t be.

What will be is up to YOU!

There is a choice you have to make, in everything you do. And you must always keep in mind the choice you make, makes you.

– Anonymous

<<This post was written by my beautiful wife, Amy>>

Psalm 139 is more than just scripture to read about what David was going through, it is a prayer that I know should be applied in my life often. As one of the men states in the video linked below, “there is a battle going on for the allegiance of our hearts, we are ‘luke warm’ at best. We need to fix some things, otherwise we’ll have to do open heart surgery.” Those words spoke to me the most, out of the entire 13 minute video.

What did this statement tell me?

First, there is a battle going on, and it’s REAL! This battle is spiritual, and temptation gives me the opportunity to either sin or do good. (Ephesians 6:12)

Second, being ‘luke warm’ has a deeper meaning which convicts me because of my ‘trying to be better,’ knowing good and well that ME trying will usually lead to sin when I should be relying on taking my prayer life, Bible reading and fellowship (including reaching out) more seriously each and every day!

Finally, the idea of having open heart surgery would likely make many of us cringe. Our spiritual well being should be taken just as seriously as our physical well being, allowing ourselves to erode either way leads to a lot of pain, suffering and heartache (excuse the pun) not only for ourselves, but for those around us who love us. Same as having a doctor perform surgery on our bodies, forcing the hand of the Holy Spirit to act in the same manner spiritually will also lead to a long road of recovery! Many of us are already in this place, but how serious are we about fighting for our lives? Will we put the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) on each and every day? Will we rely on one another to “check our armor” for us, just like a soldier would before entering a battle field? Or will we remain relaxed, keeping our Armor loose fitting and allow Satan to penetrate us from any angle?

Check out this video, sometimes it takes a different perspective:

1. Get Real – Recognize that sexual temptation is unavoidable in our sex-obsessed culture. Erotic images on billboards, films, television and a thousand other stimulants are bombarding you daily. Being a Christian doesn’t exempt you from temptation — the godliest of men can fall prey to it. So the first step towards maintaining sexual integrity is to get real. Admit to yourself that sexual temptation is a problem that you have to reckon with. Remember John’s warning: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.

2. Get Serious – You should know by now that sexual sin ravages everyone connected with it. What you may not know is that every sexual fantasy you entertain, every flirtatious conversation you keep up, or every “second look” you indulge in is the seed for AIDS, adultery, a broken heart, a shattered life. Get serious — if you’re entertaining lust, you’re dancing on a cliff. Take concrete action now while you can. “Lust when it is conceived, brings forth sin, and sin brings forth death.” (James 1:15)

3. Get Ready – If you really believe an earthquake is coming someday, you prepare for it by developing an emergency plan. If you really believe sexual temptation is both common and can become lethal, you’ll make an “emergency plan” for it, too. Decide in advance what to do when you’re tempted: how to distract yourself, who to call, how to escape close calls. Even St. Paul admitted: “Like an athlete I train my body to do what it should, not what it wants to do. Otherwise, I fear that I myself might be declared unfit.” (1 Corinthians 9:27)

4. Get Connected – Sexual sin thrives in the dark. If you’re caught up in any sexual vice, one thing is certain: The secrecy surrounding your behavior is what strengthens its hold on you. However ashamed you may feel about admitting your problem to another person, the reality is this: You can’t overcome this on your own. If you could, wouldn’t you have done so by now? Take a hint from James: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that you might be healed.” (James 5:16) Find a trusted, mature Christian friend to confide in. Make that friend a partner in your recovery, and NEVER assume that you’ve reached a point where you no longer need accountability.

5. Get Brutal – I believe there’s an eleventh commandment somewhere that says “Thou Shalt Not Kid Thy Self.” If you’re serious about sexual integrity, you’ll distance yourself not only from the particular sexual sin you’re most prone to (fantasizing, pornography, affairs, prostitution) but you’ll ALSO distance yourself from any person or thing that entices you towards that sin. Sometimes, even a legitimate activity (certain movies, music or clubs, for example) may be OK for other people to indulge in, but not for you. Get brutally honest about your lifestyle: anything in it that makes you prone to sexual sin has to go. “All things are lawful for me,” Paul said, “but not all things are edifying. I will not be brought under the power of anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)

6. Get Help – Sexual sins are often symptomatic of deeper emotional needs that a man is trying to satisfy in all the wrong ways. Repenting of the sin itself is a necessary first step, but recognizing the conflicts or needs that led you into that behavior may be the next step, requiring some specialized care from a Christian professional. Don’t hesitate to seek Godly counsel if you’re trapped in cycles of ongoing, out-of-control behavior. The answer you need may be more than just “pray and get over it!” King David (who was no stranger to sexual sin, by the way) found refuge in Samuel’s wise mentoring. (I Samuel 19:18) If you’re willing to seek professional help for taxes, medical care or career counseling, surely you’ll be willing to do the same to maintain your sexual integrity.

7. Get Comfortable – The problem of sexual temptation isn’t going anywhere. It’s been with us since time immemorial, and no doubt it will plague us until Christ comes. So get comfortable with the idea that you’ll need to manage your sexual desires throughout life, always remembering that your sexual integrity is but a part of the general life-long sanctification process all Christians go through. “I count myself not to have attained perfection,” Paul told the Philippians. “I am still not all I should be.” (Philippians 3:12-13) So learn to love the process of pressing on, not perfection.

8. Get Love – “I’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places,” an old song laments. The sexual sin you’re drawn towards may indeed be a cheap (though intense) substitute for love. You can repent of the sin, but not of the need the sin represents. So get love in your life: friendships, family, spouse, fellow believers. A man who truly loves, and knows he’s truly loved, is far less likely to search for what he already has in places he’ll never find it. “Why do you spend your money on that which is not bread, or your labor on that which cannot satisfy?” Isaiah asked. (Isaiah 55:2) Learn to be intimate and authentic. It’s one of the best ways to protect your heart and your integrity.

9. Get Grace – It isn’t the sinless man who makes it to the end; rather, it’s the man who’ll learn to pick himself up after he stumbles. If your struggle seems relentless, remember this: when you commit yourself to sexual integrity, you commit yourself to a direction, not to perfection. You may stumble along the way — that’s no justification for sin, just a realistic view of life in this fallen world. What determines the success or failure of an imperfect man is his willingness to pick himself up, confess his fault, and continue in the direction he committed himself to. Remember Paul’s approach: Forgetting those things that are behind, I press on towards the mark of the high calling. (Philippians 3:14)

10. Get a Life – What’s your passion? What’s your calling? How clear are your goals? And, by the way, do you have any fun? The man who doesn’t have a life — a passion, a sense of meaning, an ability to play as hard as he works — is a man with an emptiness tailor-made for sexual sin. Life is about more than keeping yourself sexually pure, as important as purity is. It’s about knowing who and why you are, where your priorities lie, and where you’re headed.

If you don’t know that much about yourself, you have some serious thinking to do. Commit yourself to developing your life as a good steward of your gifts and opportunities, and make that the context in which you seek to maintain your sexual integrity. Sexual integrity for it’s own sake is a good thing: sexual integrity for the sake of a higher calling is better. So by all means turn from your sin. But as you do, turn towards a goal-oriented, passionate, meaningful life. That is repentance in its truest, finest sense.

The above tips come from the web site Everymansbattle.com. They have articles and blogs you can read, which can help you, concerning sexual issues. You will also find a number of resources you can obtain, as well to help you live in sexual integrity.

via 10 Tips For Maintaining Sexual Integrity.