Sunday morning, on TV, I heard a minister preach on pornography and stated 70% of Christian men struggle with or are addicted to porn and 20% of Christian women.  This was difficult to believe so I began researching.  A poll taken by CNN gave these figures.  Another poll had it 50% men and 20% women.  A survey taken at a Promise Keepers meeting, when asked the question: Have you in the last week been involved with any pornographic material, 53% checked they had.

Two or three years ago the Reader’s Digest had an article stating that pornography was a $97 billion dollar business.  In the story they had a web address.  My wife and I decided to see what it was all about.  We watched for a couple minutes and couldn’t believe that anyone with a computer could watch this stuff.

I keep hearing about our church having a recovery program for those dealing with addictions.  I am told that many Friday’s more than 750 attend.  Most of us probably do not realize Satan’s powers of temptation over the lives of people, including Christians.  Is there any doubt that Satan is the instigator of porn and does everything he can to separate us from God.  If you have an addiction you must first realize you have a problem and that the Bible says we cannot serve two masters.  Does an addiction help you to live a holy life?

Romans 6:16 – “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Hebrews 12:14 – “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

I Thessalonians 4:7 – “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

I Peter 1:15 – 16 – “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”

Sunday, Dr. Charles Stanley has a problem with anyone who teaches differently from once saved always saved.  Millions of Christians believe you can give up your salvation if you ignore the Holy Spirit and continue to live as the world lives.  If you do not have a repentant heart and live to please God you are not living a holy life.  Many more millions of Christians believe once saved always saved.  Does this give permission that it is o.k. to be addicted to porn?

When I read Hebrews 11:35 – 40 – telling about all of the Christians that were persecuted, flogged, chained in prison, stoned, sawed in two, put to death by the sword because they would not deny Christ and pledge their allegiance to Caesar.  Why didn’t Paul address this and state:  why not lie, because you have been forgiven and you will get to heaven?  I think they believed that denying Christ would separate them from God and that would mean eternity in Hell.   Take the “mark of the beast”, if you are still alive, and see if you will be forgiven and live with God in eternity.

The reason I point this out is if you are a Christian and addicted to porn you are allowing Satan to manipulate you.  Being addicted to porn makes you a slave to sin.  Scripture says a slave to sin leads to death and obedience to God leads to righteousness and eternal life with Him.

So what should a person do?

We must admit we have a problem and believe it could separate us from God.  You need to join a recovery program.  Get a web filter to screen out these sites.  You need to get an accountability partner.  Possibly it may require counseling from a Christian counselor.  I believe it is mandatory to read Scripture every morning and develop a prayer life. Realize that your porn temptation comes from Satan and you are ignoring the checking coming from the Holy Spirit.  If you have no guilt it is serious.  Are you a slave of Satan’s sin or obedient to God?   Which do you prefer?  Will your addiction send you to hell or will Christ continually forgive and rescue you?

Matthew 7:22 – 23 – “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

Don’t gamble with where you will spend eternity!  If you have an addiction it is time to get help.