THE PLAGUE OF PORNOGRAPHY
by Dr. Ken Matto
Pornography is one of the greatest scourges on our society today. The word "Pornography" is derived from four Greek words in the New Testament. They are:
Porneia - - Fornication
Porne- - - - A Harlot
Porneoo - -To commit fornication
Pornos - - A fornicator (one who prostitutes themselves)
As we can see from the words God uses, the predominant theme is "fornication." Jesus states in Matthew 5:28:
(Mat 5:28 KJV) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
We can rightly establish that looking at pornography causes one to lust and leads to a desire to commit adultery. Anything which is pure and becomes tainted is considered adulterated. The purity of the sexual union between husband and wife has been adulterated by the pornographer in his desire to make billions off the lust of both men and women. Pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry and getting bigger. Porno is becoming more prevalent in both advertising and on TV. We are assaulted daily with pornographic signals from all directions which range from dirty jokes to erotic magazines to the Internet.
Almost every newsstand and convenience store sells this smut. Some merchants are removing this garbage from their shelves because of pressure being put on them by various groups and individuals. The world will keep enjoying its smut but in this monograph I want to focus on the spiritual problems engendered by pornography. It has been well-established what pornography does to the mind by means of chemical reaction in the brain which allows erotic images to keep reappearing long after we have looked at those pictures. God has many warnings against "porneia." Here are 6 of them:
(Acts 15:20 KJV) But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
(Acts 15:29 KJV) That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
(Acts 21:25 KJV) As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
(1 Cor 5:1 KJV) It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
(1 Cor 6:13 KJV) Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
(1 Th 4:3 KJV) For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
In 1 Thessalonians 4:3, the word "abstain" may also be translated, "to hold back one’s self from." God uses this word to warn us to restrain because there will be a strong fleshly desire to get involved with pornography. Keep in mind whether "porneia" is partaken of in the mind or in the flesh, it is sin as we read in Matthew 5:28. God gives strict warnings in Scripture that we are not to look on another’s nakedness except that of a spouse.
The book of Leviticus gives many warnings about looking on the nakedness of others. These warnings apply since the camera images exactly what it photographs. If a naked person is photographed, you are looking on the nakedness of another person which violates God’s law. Parents must teach their children this principle. There are also many parents who take baths or showers with their children and this practice should be avoided also. To bathe a baby is a different story than showering with a child of 5 years and up. The premium cable channels must be avoided because they contain much nudity.
CHRISTIANS FOOL THEMSELVES WHEN THEY BELIEVE THEIR HOME IS PRIVATE BECAUSE WHATEVER WE WATCH OR READ IS LAID BARE BEFORE ALL OF HEAVEN.
(Heb 4:13 KJV) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Pornography serves a major principle so commit this to memory and you will be armed in case Satan attempts to invade your mind and divide it:
PORNOGRAPHY IS DESIGNED BY SATAN TO RETRAIN YOUR THINKING ABOUT GOD’S GIFT OF SEXUAL ENJOYMENT BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE!
If one continually views pornography, all their morals will go right out the window as porn becomes a way of thinking leading to a "free thinking" mentality. There are steps to an addiction of any kind and sexual addiction is no exception. I would like to offer eight progressive steps which can lead to self-destruction through sexual addiction.
1. PORNOGRAPHIC JOKES - This is usually the catalyst which begins to get our mind into a sinful pattern. Jokes are sporadic and do not continually permeate the mind. Sinful Jokes lead to:
2. PORNOGRAPHIC SPEECH - Here is where our mind churns out the filthy words which will become part of our vocabulary. It is also know as shop talk and leads to swearing as a normal pattern of speech. Sinful speech leads to:
3. PORNOGRAPHIC THOUGHTS - At this stage you begin to fantasize about sexual encounters even at times when your mind should be on other things. Sinful thoughts lead to:
4. PORNOGRAPHIC DESIRES - Now that your mind is being retrained, it now begins to propel your body into a desirous state that wishes to perform what it sees or dwells on. Sinful desires lead to:
5. PORNOGRAPHIC ACTIONS - Now that your mind and body are in harmony with your desires, you can begin to act because you can no longer limit these desires to your mind because your drives are in high gear. It is at this point you may begin to experiment with masturbation or prostitution, or something else you believe will satisfy (but never will), but will drive you deeper into sin. Sinful actions lead to:
6. PORNOGRAPHIC HABITS - In this stage you are hooked on sexual sins and you find it virtually impossible to break the habit because your rationale is time will satisfy and then you will quit." Sinful habits lead to:
7. PORNOGRAPHIC LIFESTYLE - Now that your sin has overtaken you, there is openness about your sin, or even a boasting. Inside you cry out for help but the outside (the flesh) continues to desire greater thrills but when you attain them, you find it is only the same old sin with a different face. There are only a few basic sins (murder, theft, adultery, et al) but there are many variations on these themes. A sinful lifestyle leads to:
8. DEATH - A person who is sexually active outside of marriage runs the risk of catching a fatal disease (judgment) like AIDS, and this warning includes Christians. No one can violate God’s principles and expect to escape the consequences. Just because God delays judgment does not mean it is aborted. We reap what we sow and there will be no crop failure.
I can almost guarantee that every sex-aholic will have a long history of pornography behind them. The mind dwells on what it has been trained to dwell on. This is why God wants us to dwell on spiritual things, so He can retrain our minds from the effects of sin.
(Phil 4:8 KJV) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
(Col 3:1-2 KJV) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. {2} Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
What Pornography Communicates to Women!
What Pornography Communicates to Men!
With communication of these principles into a mind subliminally, no wonder there is such a high divorce rate along with many anti-women and anti-men groups. We have been sold a bill of goods by Satan who has successfully retrained an entire generation’s attitude toward pornography. This cancer has a long range effect on the viewer as it is not easily forgotten and can be remembered in detail many years later. The same principles which are taught by hard core pornography are also being taught to us and our children through amoral mediums such as television, radio, music (includes both Rock and Country/Western), and the printed page.
Under the Reagan administration, Senator William Armstrong urged the President to sign an executive order prohibiting the sale of pornography in federal facilities including military bases. In a speech before the National Association of Evangelicals, he stated, "I personally believe that the erosion of values and the undermining of lifestyles that is part of the Playboy/Penthouse/Hustler mentality is a very serious threat to this country. If our armed forces do not honor the living God, How can we expect that he will sustain strength in us?" Senator Armstrong hit on a major biblical principle, that being, when one does not want God in prosperity, He will not be there in tough times. God is not an emergency room where we go to get emergency treatment and then leave.
Albert Regnery, who served as Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention stated, "A nationwide child abuse study evidenced that as many as 6,000 children per year are murdered each year in the U.S. A substantial number of them were sexually abused by their murderers. Police routinely find quantities of pornographic materials in the possession of offenders. Of the nearly two million children who run away from home each year, 200,000 do not return and a high percentage of these support themselves by prostitution, pornography, drugs, and sex. Adults who feed on pornography are the ones who lead them into the perverse lifestyle."
So what is the final analysis of pornography? It is more than dirty pictures as children are the innocent victims of its pollution in the form of sexual abuse. A question arises, If I am hooked on porno, How do I break free from its pull? These guidelines will help you on your path to deliverance: