The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
Autor: WordTruth authors
Data: 23.05.2011
Category: Testemunho Pessoal, Formação de Líderes, Verdade & Pluralismo
Perhaps the people most unaware of pornography’s “relational deception” are professing believers in Christ who erroneously think they are growing in their love for God and others while being involved with pornography. The absurdity of this illusion is revealed since “loving God” is equated with “obeying His Word” (1 John 2:4-6). One cannot claim to authentically “love God” while violating directives of Scripture with regard to lust (Psalm 101:3; 1 Thess. 4:3-4). Similarly, one cannot claim to authentically “love others” while putting self-centered desires above the welfare of others (Galatians 5:13; Philippians 2:3-4).
Palavras-chave: love, leadership, pornography, truth, obedience, flesh, integrity, discipleship, loving God, loving others
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Comentários: 42
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Great perspective. One of the reason any addiction is so hard to break is because it is both secret and there’s a sense that it is not affecting anyone else. The perspective in this article shines a much needed light on how destructive pornography is in the areas loss “love-productivity.” Our love is withheld in destructive ways as a result of this gripping addiction.
05.05.2013
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@ moviepastor:
I like that you refer to it as an addiction because for many it is almost impossible to break away from porn. This addiction is harmful personally, spiritually, and socially. The family faces so many difficulties in today’s time. The church must find a way to help those suffering with this addiction and bring healing to families that are broken.
05.05.2013
Estados Unidos
I am so glad that someone is calling attention to this problem. I have heard people call attention to how pornography affects the person dealing with it, but rarely do people talk about how affects how people relate to others. It hurts a person’s relationship with God as well as their relationship with others. Everything is distorted.
27.04.2013
Estados Unidos
@ skh718:
I agree, I’m glad that someone is drawing attention to this. As a youth pastor this problem is something i run into often with guys. I’m currently discipling one of the guys in my group that is struggling with pornography. This will be a good resource in that discipleship process.
02.05.2013
Estados Unidos
@ jcmode14:
As a youth minister have you come across any good ways of talking about pornography that are preventative? So many teenagers struggle with this issue, but it seems that people only want to deal with it after it’s already a problem.
02.05.2013
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@ skh718:
Pornography can tear apart homes. It is an addiction that the church has not addressed as much as it should. I think the church needs to address the issue and help those who are struggling with addiction.
03.05.2013
Estados Unidos
This article simplifies and captures in a nutshell the mess an idividual enters into when self-centeredness is pursued. Thank you for untangling and clearly laying out the problem with pornography. Nothing about GOD is SELFISH.
17.07.2012
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One cannot claim to authentically “love God” while violating directives of Scripture. I don’t think you can make a overcast statement that entertaining pornography makes your walk with God a facade. We have to remember we are all on the GROW in God and we have all fallen short. Sin is sin, so one person’s sin does not cancel their relationship with God..it just separates us...but thank God for grace and mercy. Everyone has a thorn and the propensity interact in a sin, but the Bible states His grace in sufficient. So why do Christians...some Christians..try to give more weight to the struggles of others. Sin. separates us from God. The sin of pornography doesn’t cancel our relationship with God. It does however dilute our perception of love. Pornography is nothing but FLESH in CONTROL...but so is greed and hatred. It is another way of disobedience and an addiction that has to be release to God for freedom and peace.
18.07.2011
Estados Unidos
@ marcus14:
I agree with you especially on the part about that Pornorgraphy is just flesh in control. God still loves us, but pornorgraphy is such a disrespect of the flesh.
Rachel
18.07.2011
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@ marcus14:
Might I add that the only way one can overcome such separation is through Christ. The person must be willing to let go. Then the Holy Spirit can teach tem the correct way to love one another.
19.07.2011
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@ Rapture7:
Yes, it is a disrespect of the flesh. Sexual immortality is the sin we sin against the body. BUT actively engaging in sin period is disrepect of what God has done for us.
19.07.2011
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@ MzBoom:
Nice addage. Any sin has to be release to God for freedom and peace only through Jesus with the guide and council of the Holy Spirit, can the sin be cleansed out of our lives. God loving us is the prototype of love. What a sacrifice just to love us!
19.07.2011
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@ marcus14:
I do feel that pornography is a sin, a desire takes the love and intimacy a man should have for his wife to a level of not love, but an act of disrespect.
19.07.2011
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@ Phil9759:
Yes, but don’t be dismayed...there are some women who are addicted to porn as well and consider the women who perform the porn...no matter the gender it is a sin that God can cleanse and a sin that was on the cross with Jesus.
19.07.2011
Estados Unidos
@ marcus14:
Great point, Marcus14!
03.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ jdb11583:
Porn leads to other things. An obsession with the bodies of others can only go on so long without turning into an active seeking to experience those things that the watch. This leads to prostitution and affairs. Not to mention the damagin effect this has on marriages when the partner refuses to perform the acts the viewer sees done in the porn. They need the light of Christ and the loss of anonimity in order to come out of it.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ TomTharpGW:
Well said. Porn is just a gateway to many other problematic behaviors. The real questions the watcher should be asking is "why am I watching?"
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ marcus14:
I am glad that you pointed out that sin is sin. I believe we add weight to sins because of our judicial system, we put different weights on crimes, so that is how we see sin. If anything takes your eyes off God then you will be just like Peter was when he was walking on the water with Jesus, as soon as he took his eyes off Jesus he began sinking. That is exactly what something like pornography can do to our sight. And if our eyes are not towards God how can we love Him the way we are supposed to. and if we can’t love God the way that we are supposed to, how can we truly love one another???
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ MzBoom:
We are supposed to learn how to love through the love of Jesus Christ. Jesus loved everyone, especially the ones that society deemed as unclean and unworthy. I think Jesus would love the people in and involved in Pornography to show them that they deserve love as well because it seems to me that people in that industry do it because they have a lack of self-worth.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ TomTharpGW:
Pornography is something that a person can watch in private. It seems like a lot of people don’t see anything wrong with it "because it is better than them going out and having sex with someone"... but the thing that people don’t think about it God is there for everything they do and everything they watch. Would you do it if GOd were in the room with you? that is always something to ask someone and if they say NOOOO, that is when you tell them if they wouldn’t do it with GOd in the room then they probably shouldn’t be doing it in the first place. Like you said watching pornography can lead to other things. someone may start out watching porn at home in their bedroom and end up watching it at work in thir office... and with sex on their mind they might treat someone of the opposite sex disrespectfully because they can only see that person as a sexual object.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ marcus14:
It is amazing to me how many people don’t live their lives seeking God. John 3:30 states "He must increase, I must decrease". There are so many ways humans disrespect God and His Glory. I think people are so consumed with themseleves they don’t stop to think about Jesus on the Cross when they are acting in sin. Jesus died on the cross for all sins, every single sin, even the "smallest" sin imaginable.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ embracecarrie:
Exactly. Sin is sin. Other sins, such as greed, can be damaging to relationships as well. Its important to remember that there is hope for those who are struggling with this addiction. The ability to have a proper relationship with God is still there because God has not turned his back. Therefore, as pastors, we must be willing to see this relationship and help those who are struggling.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ marcus14:
The condeming & unloving manner of judging those with this form of addiction is only further pushing the individual with this disease (yes, I said disease) away from their true relationship with GOD. Let me explain...If they did not have a relationship prior, or if they did and need to come back to him, ither way it is the same; the healing of any addiction is to find out the core reasoning-the background of that individual that caused him/her to begin such an act. Granted, not everyone has such a histroy, but, I can guarantee you that the majority with big addictions as drinking, drugs, porn, etc. are from something in their childhood/teen years...Speaking from experience with a traumatic childhood and younger years and later made very bad decisions in my life; not just rambling or making off the wall thoughts or statements...My father was an evangelist that molested many young boys, and I was molested as a child, and later raped twice; then physically & otherwise abused. I tell you this for no pity; I am well past any negativity or self-pity, etc. from my past. However, when younger, those traumatic events led my mind to believe I was only worth such treatment. And, I ended up living, for a period of time, in a manner where I highly disrespected myself (and allowed others to disrespect me)...It took programs such as Celebrate Recovery (through a great church) to help me find myself back to GOD! I am now in seminary; where GOD was calling me for a long time prior and I was too lost and ashamed to head His call. I now feel that I am mandated to share my testimony to help others understand (and discontinue judging others) those actions of others. We must take the time to listen to each other before judging one another; we all have a story, and reason; and GOD love us despite us!
03.12.2011
Estados Unidos
Great article! The key is understanding the meaning of love. So many people believe that love is about a feeling. But as you mentioned love has nothing to do with feeling. The feeling that pornography generates is compared to a drug addiction. One thing that I have learned about love is that it should benefit more than you and it should be shared with others. As you so well stated pornography is all about you!
11.07.2011
Estados Unidos
@ Harley:
Not to lose the message of what love really is but we ahave a faith where no one really studies how to love sexually becasue in American society sex is not discussed, especially not in churches. We need to get over this barrier of propriety so that we as a church of God’s people can discuss every aspect of a person’s life out in the open without fear of judgement or taboo. Christ reaches into every part of our lives and we should be sharing the most inner parts of ourselves with our brothers and sisters in Christ. The most dangerous part of any sexual sin or even other sin is that if it remains hidden it festers and then blooms into a full fledged infection that can endanger the entire person. And when the doctor’s (Christians) refuse to treat it it is often fatal.
21.11.2011
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@ TomTharpGW:
I agree. The concept of sex simply for procreation purposes has to go. Religion has attached so much guilt and unwarranted evil to sexuality that we’re really screwed up when it comes to figuring out what role sex should play in the Christian’s life.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ japhia1906:
I have been listening to Mark Gungor’s podcast on marriage and he has a way of putting it that gets to the heart of the issue. I’d advise every Christian to listen to a few of his shows. He isn’t afraid to talk about the stuff that we Christians shy away from. I guess the problem is more that the World is talking about this stuff and we Aren’t!
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ TomTharpGW:
I completely agree. This is something that needs to be discussed. I will have to agree with one of my Pastoral Counseling professors and say that some of us who plan to be pastoral counselors or licensed Christian Counselors need to be trained in marriage and sex counseling. We need to be able to educate those who come to us with concerns about sex. It is a gift given to us by God in order that we can experience intimacy with a spouse. It is not to be taboo.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ Harley:
Sadly, pornography is almost mainstream now. What was considered as R rated or X rated when I was a child is now one rate lower... (R=NC17 X=R) The media uses sex to sell things and to draw more people in. It really is sad that pornography is just about physical satisfaction, but that is what our society is teaching us.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ jdb11583:
This is very important because sex is real in every marriage. BUT pastors need to be careful when they are "involved" with a couples sex life. Pastors can get too involved and cause themselves to have sexual thoughts or impulses. There is a pastor in my home town now who is no longer at a church because he "fell in love" with a woman that he was counseling with her husband and they had an affair. It was devistating to the whole community becuase he was a man of God. God can do anything but man can easily give in to the flesh and stray from God, even pastors.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ embracecarrie:
I think that can happen to any pastor, whether they are counseling a couple on sex or not. Any time a pastor or counselor is working with a client, there is the risk of transference where the "patient" begins to displace strong emotions on the pastor. If the pastor is unable to recognize this, he or she can get into serious trouble. That’s why I am a HUGE proponent of proper training/education/licensing, continous studying and debriefing with a fellow colleague. This is especially true when dealing with sex counseling.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
God did not create sex for physical pleasure, sex is of course a sacred bond between a husband and wife but it is also something there for reproduction. Love is supposed to be the basis of sex but with pornography physical pleasure is the basis.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
Pornorgraphy is disrespect, hatred of God and others. The article says, "it is self-love," and it is in a disrespectful way. You cannot say, you love God and be involved in pornorgraphy. No one should be involved in this self-degrading of self and degrading of others.
I John 5:3 says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous"(KJV). Pornorgraphy is grievous and stops all righteous love.
Rachel
13.07.2011
Estados Unidos
@ Rapture7:
Rapture7 I do agree that the effects of pornagraphy are very detrimental to the lives of those involved as well as those who are on the peripheral. But to say that one cannot love God because he/she is involved in pornography is very firm. The bible says that we all have sinned and fallen short. It is only by the grace of God that we are saved. I truly believe that it is an addiction. It amazes me that we will permit certain sins as the norm but because a person is dealing with something that is outside of our realm of sin we say their is no hope. We all are sinners saved by GRACE! So if we sin does that mean that we do not love God?
14.07.2011
Estados Unidos
@ Rapture7:
Pornography goes a step further. In reality it is self-loathing not self-loving. There is a void that needs to be filled and this is a immoral way to try and fill it.
15.07.2011
Estados Unidos
@ Rapture7:
The only problem here is, What is the definition of pornography? To some looking at a swim suit catelog might be just as harmful to their walk with God as a nasty trashy dvd. What if someone watches people at the mall and gets excited that way... is that pornography? What is against God and what is acceptable to God?
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ Harley:
I agree with you on this one. God loves all of us and We sin everyday. God knows what we fail Him everyday but He still loves us UNCONDITIONALLY! God wants us to love Him and He lets us love Him even through our sin.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
One aspect of this that hasn’t been looked at here is the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual dangers that the models/actors/producers/etc put themselves in when they produce pornography. I assume most would not be involved in this if there wasn’t real money to be made, and I wonder how that lust for money and flesh affects them for the rest of their lives. Does anyone know any stories of how someone in the industry has come to know Christ? I’m sure it has happened at some time. I would be interested to see how God can and has healed those wounds.
04.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ gwu_stevens:
I don’t know any actors or models that are in the industry, but I do know a director that lives in LA, who directed Porn as a way to make extra money when he wasn’t making much money elsewhere. He did come to Christ and he quit directing porn. He still lives in LA and he still directs other movies. He stopped drinking and smoking and partying. He said that God was tugging at his heart and he knew that he had to do something. God was putting those young 18-19 year old girls on his heart especially, because all he could think about was they are someone’s daughter. So because of those girls God touched the heart of at least one person.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
One aspect of this that hasn’t been looked at here is the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual dangers that the models/actors/producers/etc put themselves in when they produce pornography. I assume most would not be involved in this if there wasn’t real money to be made, and I wonder how that lust for money and flesh affects them for the rest of their lives. Does anyone know any stories of how someone in the industry has come to know Christ? I’m sure it has happened at some time. I would be interested to see how God can and has healed those wounds.
04.11.2011
Estados Unidos
Marcus14, you make a very good point! I do believe that if are going to claim to be Christians that we must adhere to the Word of God. However, if we were able to do so perfectly, then Christ’s sacrifice would have been unnecessary. It is important to remember that we are a fallen people in need of God’s grace and mercy, which were given to us in the form of Christ Jesus. Those who are addicted to pornography are no different. God’s grace and mercy will be with them as well as those who are not addicted. It is when we rely on this grace and mercy that God is able to move through us helping us to GROW in his love and overcome our transgressions. I often wonder why a good deal of us, sometimes myself included, are so harsh towards those who suffer from this addiction, but are willing to show a good deal of compassion through prison ministries to those in jail for theft and murder (which are strictly forbidden in the 10 commandments). I do not see the difference. Sin is sin, is it not? This article does remind us that pornography has become a major issue that needs to be addressed by the church. The question becomes, “how can we reach out to those who are suffering because of this addiction and help them overcome it and rely on God’s love, grace and mercy without diminishing their view of their absolute value (which is given and can only be taken away by God)?”
03.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ jdb11583:
Within a modern Christian context, I think pornography is so dangerous becuase it is one of the most self-destructive sins that we can partake in anonomously. It slowly destroys the spirit of the one engaging in it, and there may not be another soul who knows that there is even an addiction problem.
04.11.2011
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