The Pit of Porn - Part Two

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” James 1:14 (KJV)

What seems to be the problem? Maybe you have had a medical professional ask you that question or it is possible that you have found yourself in front of your Pastor or spiritual advisor that asked you something similar. When it comes to counseling, for the most part when an assessment process is engaged, a mental health professional, counselor or clergy member will utilize a variety of methods to arrive at a diagnosis. They will employ an inventory of questions, rely on visual observations and collected personal data in addition to drawing from their own experience and training. The bottom line is that the issue must be accurately diagnosed in order to address and solve the problem.

I submit to you that God’s Word and His Spirit are the only absolute answer to all problems. In this case our focus is the problem of pornography.  In this situation, as well as all others, there is no wisdom, advice, insight or counsel in the universe equal or greater than that of the Lord.

“The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” Psalm 33:11 (KJV)

“Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.” Proverbs 8:14 (KJV)

“The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.” Proverbs 12:5 (KJV)

We must not assess the problem of porn with what I refer to as an Adam and Eve-like approach. (That is blame-ology.) A person using this approach will say or think things like:

  • It’s my enormous and energetic sex drive.

  • It’s a man’s thing or struggle. (This statement is not only an excuse but also inaccurate because an increasing number of women are also in the pit of porn.)

  • I blame my broken relationships.

  • I am too inundated with a tsunami of stimuli from the internet, movies, magazines and locker room talk.

Instead of blaming it on the boogie, I blame it on the brain!

While these things might play a factor in a person’s pornographic bondage, they do not forward the true root of the problem. According to the Word of God (not the bible of the mental health experts known as the Diagnostic Statistical Manual or DSM) the problem of porn is that our hearts are heavily depraved, wicked or evil.

“O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?” Jeremiah 4:14 (KJV)

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

“And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.” Genesis 8:21 (KJV, emphasis mine)

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Luke 6:45 (KJV)

“But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.” Jeremiah 7:24 (KJV, emphasis mine)

When we seek a man-centered approach in addressing porn we will continue to go backward, not forward, thereby remaining a prisoner in the pit of porn. A godly and biblically-centered approach advances the truth that humans are born in sin (Romans 3:23). As a result, mankind has a natural disposition to deviate from and defy the dictates of God, especially when it comes to human sexuality. The responsible party for porn rests entirely on a rebellious and reprobate heart.

Our Lord Jesus Christ deliberately declared this in Mark 7:1-23. I am sure that it is extremely wise to embrace the position of Jesus rather than parking in the extreme error of the experts. A closing thought: A pure heart made possible by Jesus has the power to punch out porn!

Join me again next week when we consider the consequences of a pornography bondage.

For the Glory of God,
 
PBKSR

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