The Fernando Valley is home of the booming U.S. pornographic film industry, with America producing approximately 80% of the world’s pornography, grossing millions of dollars. “Porno is far bigger than rock music and far bigger than Hollywood. Americans spend more on strip clubs than they spend on theater, opera, ballet, jazz and classical-music concerts—combined (Martin Amis, “Sex in America,” Talk magazine, February 2001). In an ironic development Americans have embraced pornography as a constitutional right while making school prayer a crime. According to one report, 21 million Americans visit at least one of the 60,000 pornographic Internet sites once a month or more.
Denmark was the first Western nation to legalize the publication of pornography in 1969. After a decade of societal change starting with the birth-control pill and continuing with the liberalization of sexual and divorce laws throughout the Western world, the Danish parliament decided that pornography was harmless and would, in fact, result in fewer attacks on innocent girls by sexually frustrated men. But once pornography was made legal every imaginable sexual act became widely available—even to children, on the Internet. In a television documentary titled “Letting the Genie Out of the Bottle” on the History International channel aired in November 2000, Danish parliamentarians responsible for the original decision said they never imagined that it would lead to what we now see.
Just as commercials for junk food make people want to eat more, viewing pornographic materials makes the viewer more obsessed. Pornography—whether in print, video or online—may push those who are having sexual problems over the edge. With the ability to download digital pornographic movies in the privacy of their own homes, those hooked on pornography can escape the potential embarrassment of being seen in public leaving an adult theater, or browsing through X-rated films.
But pornography isn’t just a problem for those who succumb to its addictive influence. Pornography corrupts more than just the person viewing it. Relationships with the partners of porn viewers are also negatively affected. Pornography by its very nature encourages self-centeredness. Rather than focusing one’s sexual thoughts on one’s marriage partner, porn fixates the mind on sexual lust and the prospect of a temporary sensual thrill. Such diversions from the commitment of the marital relationship will lead only to an absence of self-control and, in far too many cases, other immoral acts that break the Seventh Commandment.
Jesus explained that sin begins in the mind, with our thoughts. Viewing pornography and committing adultery are both sinful and violations of God’s law. The corruption of our minds by the viewing of pornography occurs even if these illicit thoughts are not physically acted upon: “whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). The seventh of God’s Ten Commandments says, “You shall not commit adultery,” and the 10th tells us not to covet, which includes extramarital sexual lust (Exodus 20:14, 17).
Pornography is almost always a private obsession. Individuals who view pornography, even those who are married, typically do so in secret. But God sees everything. Ultimately we answer to Him. “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light” (Luke 8:17). We should take to heart Paul’s words in Philippians 4:8: “…Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Pornography is none of these things.
Most people addicted to pornography and sex don’t realize it. As with so many addictions, the difficult first step is admitting the problem (even to yourself) and being willing to seek help in changing. If you have exposed yourself to pornography, realize that we have a Savior who will both forgive and will provide the spiritual help to overcome all our character flaws. Jesus wants us to repent and “sin no more” (John 8:11).
