Six Things Pornography Users Do Not Want

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Pornography is a huge problem in our society. Many Christians have even fallen prey to it despite Jesus’ plain warning:

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:27-29).

Many believe pornography is harmless (or they simply refuse to admit to understanding how destructive it is). But Jesus said that lusting after someone is so destructive that one ought to be willing to go to extreme measures to remove the opportunity to lust. This is the primary problem with pornography – lust.

However, one can be guilty of lust without ever viewing pornography. While it is true that sin is committed anytime one lusts after someone, pornography is particularly dangerous. There are reasons why people choose to feed their lust in this way. It is because there are certain things that pornography users do not want. We will notice six of these in this article.

Pornography Users Do Not Want Reality

God created marriage as the relationship in which a man and woman could become “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). The “one flesh” refers to a sexual union (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:16). God designed our bodies in such a way that this sexual union would be a joyful and exhilarating thing (Proverbs 5:18-19). Sadly, too many people choose to have sexual relations outside of marriage in violation of God’s law (Proverbs 5:20; Hebrews 13:4). However, those who use pornography choose to feed their sexual desires in a way that is not only unauthorized, but is also completely fake. Pornography – whether in the form of pictures, videos, books, etc. – is fiction. Not only that, but it is a poor substitute for the sexual fulfillment found in a divinely-approved marriage relationship.

Pornography Users Do Not Want Repercussions

Even though pornography use is not without physical consequences – and certainly not without spiritual consequences (Matthew 5:27-29) – many pornography users choose to ignore these. Instead, they may see pornography as a way to feed their sexual desires without having to face the consequences of a sexually immoral relationship. Solomon, in speaking of the dangers of the adulteress, warned of such consequences (Proverbs 5:9-11) – personal consequences (throwing away your “honour” (KJV) or reputation); financial consequences (“your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien”); and physical consequences (“your flesh and your body are consumed” due to the negative effects and disease of sexual promiscuity). Besides these, there is also the threat of bodily harm from the jealous lover of the one with whom fornication was committed (Proverbs 6:32-35). To many, using pornography can be seen as a way to avoid these consequences.

Pornography Users Do Not Want Responsibility

Sexuality is to be limited to the confines of marriage (Hebrews 13:4). With marriage comes responsibility (Ephesians 5:22-33). Pornography – along with pre-marital and extra-marital sexual relations – can be used to feed one’s sexual desires without the responsibility of being a husband or wife.

Pornography Users Do Not Want Relationships

One thing that pre-marital and extra-marital sexual relations have in common is that they involve a relationship with another person. Pornography involves no relationship – it is based completely in a fantasy world. God intends for a man and a woman to enjoy a sexual relationship within the confines of marriage (Hebrews 13:4). But marriage is about much more than sexuality. There is a relationship that must be built and maintained. The husband must “live with [his wife] in an understanding way” (1 Peter 3:7), being willing to give up his life for her as Christ did for the church (Ephesians 5:25), and be always nourishing and cherishing her (Ephesians 5:28-29). The wife must do “good [for her husband] and not evil all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:12), supporting him as the “help meet” (Genesis 2:18, KJV) God created her to be.

Pornography Users Do Not Want Restraint

Those who use pornography refuse to exercise self-control in order to control their thoughts and prevent themselves from indulging in the pictures, videos, books, etc. that have the explicit content they desire. If we are to please God, we must “not be conformed to the former lusts,” but be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:14-16). In order to do this, we must deny self (Luke 9:23) and practice self-control (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:5-6).

Pornography Users Do Not Want Righteousness

Before Jesus warned against the sin involved when one “looks at a woman with lust for her” (Matthew 5:28), He said, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Keeping our thoughts pure and free from illicit sexual desires is one of the ways in which we practice the righteousness that Jesus described in the Sermon on the Mount. Unless we live up to His standard of righteousness, we cannot be saved. Jesus said elsewhere, “The righteous [will go away] into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). Pornography is incompatible with righteousness and is, therefore, destructive to our souls.

Conclusion

Job said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman” (Job 31:1, NIV). We need to follow Job’s example. Pornography is evil and presents a great danger to God’s people today and must be avoided. Those who have gotten caught up in it must be serious in repentance and in avoiding the temptation in the future (Matthew 5:29). God has provided the perfect relationship in which sexual desires may be fulfilled – marriage. Pornography is never worth damaging our marriages and forfeiting our souls.


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Comments

  1. Thanks, Andy, for another fine and timely article. Pornography is so dangerous and soul erroding as is every sin. It is used to sell everything from toothpaste to tires. You can’t escape it but you can look the other way.

    I appreciate all the good you are doing through your writings and I want to encourage you in that goal to turn hearts away from evil and to God.

  2. Thanks, Wayne! I appreciate your comment and your encouragement.

  3. Excellent article Andy, this topic needs to be addressed more, it’s going in the bulletin this week! Very timely, scriptural, and well written (as usual).

  4. Thanks, Kris! I’m glad you’re able to pass this along to others.

  5. I Rebuke You In The Name Of Jesus! says

    “Unless we live up to His standard of righteousness, we cannot be saved.”

    THANK GOD that He gave His only Son to be our righteousness for us, otherwise NO ONE could be saved at all.

    The writer of this article is teaching salvation by works, is a damnable heretic and is going to Hell unless he believes on Jesus alone for his salvation. I take no pleasure in saying that – it’s the truth.

  6. “Rebuke,”
    What you say is not the truth. What God’s word says is the truth (Psalm 119:160; John 17:17). Teaching that obedience is necessary for salvation does not make me a damnable heretic. That is what the Bible teaches. Notice the following passages:

    Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, BAPTIZING THEM in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to OBSERVE ALL THAT I COMMANDED YOU” (Matthew 28:19-20).

    Peter said, “REPENT, and each of you BE BAPTIZED in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

    Peter said, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and DOES WHAT IS RIGHT is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35).

    Paul said, “So then, my beloved, just as YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

    The Hebrew writer said, “And having been made perfect, [Jesus] became to ALL THOSE WHO OBEY HIM the source of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9).

    James said, “Even so faith, IF IT HAS NO WORKS, IS DEAD, being by itself” (James 2:17)

    You believe that belief alone is necessary for salvation. If that were true, the demons would be saved (James 2:19). James plainly says, “You see that a man is JUSTIFIED BY WORKS and NOT BY FAITH ALONE” (James 2:24). You should not be so bold as to condemn the words of Jesus and inspired men as damnable heresy.

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