Christians are comfortable sharing many prayer requests within the context of their church family, whether it’s asking for a house to be sold or for a teenager to have guidance on where to attend college. Asking for prayer and help for a porn addiction, however, is not a request that often makes the list. This is unfortunate because porn addiction is everywhere, even within the church.
Research reveals 68 million search queries on the internet, or one out of every four searches, are related to porn. But what about Christians? According to Barna Research, 68% of church-going men and more than 50% of pastors regularly view porn. And when it comes to Christians 18-24 years old, 76% actively search for porn.
The statistics of porn addiction in the world and among the churched are staggering, but it’s even more remarkable considering these statistics only reflect those who admit to watching porn. There is no telling the number of Christian men and women who are in the middle of this struggle and believe there is no way out, or they’re too embarrassed to share how far they’ve sunk in the dark hole of addiction.
The Stronghold of Porn Addiction
Porn subjects the brain to powerful neurological issues. Engaging with pornography often leads to an addiction like the kind created by cocaine, opioid, and alcohol use. This causes the human brain to be motivated to repeat the action in an attempt to receive the high it’s looking for.
The brain remembers this pattern and forms the disease of addiction. If one’s brain gets accustomed to the rushes of dopamine they get from regularly viewing pornography, they will naturally become disengaged with real life.
And this disengagement has only increased in the years marked by the digital revolution. Pornography consumption took an even greater hold on society after the iPhone was introduced in 2007, making watching porn easier and more accessible than ever before. And, with the launch of virtual reality, porn is made to feel as “real” as it ever has.
So, how should a Christian respond to all of this? With so many people addicted to porn and with its remarkably easy and ever-increasing accessibility, is there any hope?
Jesus Delivers and Redeems
There is hope found only in Jesus. If you are a Christian who has been struggling with porn, you can put your hope in knowing Jesus does not regret saving you. There is not a sin we can commit that would cause Jesus to regret going to the cross for us.
Because God is all-knowing, He knew the specific addictions or sinful actions we would struggle with. He knew every time we would say, “I won’t do it again,” only to end up doing it again. There is a demonic trick being played on our brain when we think, “If God only knew I would end up struggling with porn, He wouldn’t have wanted to save me.” Jesus knew every time we’d sin, and yet, He still chose to take the punishment for our sins. That’s why it’s called amazing grace.
“But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (CSB).
Our hope is also in knowing Jesus can deliver us from addiction. If we are believers in Christ, we are not in a place of bondage that is impossible to escape.
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” 1 Peter 2:24 (CSB).
Lastly, we can put our hope in knowing there is redemption. Paul interacted with some of the same people he formerly imprisoned. David led a nation after failing morally as its leader. And yet, following their repentance, God still used these men to do amazing things for His kingdom. God has redemption for those who are struggling. He knows the battles we’re facing that we don’t want to share with anyone else.
“He has sent redemption to his people. He has ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awe-inspiring” Psalm 111:9 (CSB).
Porn hurts the person viewing and the person on the other side of the screen. Addictions grow in the dark; if you find yourself tangled in porn addiction, please reach out for help.
