Pornography – The Sin of Choice
Jimmy PorterMonday, March 18, 2002, federal authorities investigating an Internet-based child pornography ring arrested 40 people in 20 states, including two Catholic priests, youth baseball coaches, a school bus driver, a police officer and a teacher’s aide. FBI has dubbed this effort “Operation Candyman.” This Internet child pornography ring has over 7,000 members worldwide with about 1,400 in the USA. More arrests are expected. www.USAToday.com.
Here are samples of the articles found in the Clarion Ledger daily newspaper over the past several months as they relate to pornography, especially child pornography:
“Police find porn, photos in kidnap suspect’s home,” Clarion Ledger, 4/10/01
”Child porn tops U.S. concern for Internet,” Clarion Ledger, 4/3/01
“100 arrested in child porn investigation,” Clarion Ledger, 8/9/01
“Supreme Court will hear federal child porn law case,” Clarion Ledger, 10/28/01
“FBI joins porn case involving 7-year-old,” Clarion Ledger, 9/26/01
“Web site closed; child porn allegations lead to nine arrests,” Clarion Ledger, 3/27/01
One year ago the Customs Service estimated that about 100,000 Web sites worldwide were involved in some way with pornography. Two years ago a study conducted by psychologists at Stanford and Duquene University found at least 200,000 Internet users were hooked on porn sites, X-rated chat rooms and other online sexual materials. These addicts are called “cyberspace compulsives,” people who spend more than 11 hours a week visiting sexually oriented areas.
The tragedy of these numbers is that they do not reveal the depth of this moral problem. Staggering profits, a gullible market, and a sleeping public have all attributed to the proliferation of this “evil trade.”
Dan Yeary, pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church in Phoenix, Ariz., writes in the August, 2001 issue of Home Life, “Pornography is the complete exploitation of the concept of human sexuality and is the utmost perversion of God’s intention for sex as a creative gift.” He further adds, “Pornography undermines every spiritual value regarding sex. It encourages and condones infidelity and promiscuity. It is worse than a poisonous snake in a child’s nursery. Its danger is extreme; its devastation is total.”
One lady, using a well-known search engine on an unfiltered Internet service provider, searched for the word “pornography.” There were 1,463,437 matches and most of them led to very graphic material. According to the National Review Online, this smut industry brought in an estimated $8 billion in 2000, plus the fact that more than 200 new porn sites flood the Web every day. ( HYPERLINK “http://www.renewingtheheart.com” http://www.renewingtheheart.com)
As a Christian, “How am I to respond to this evil?” First, I must recognize the fact that God establishes the moral standard for his creation. Culture attempts to do this for us therefore convincing some that to eradicate pornography would be trampling on constitutional rights. But sin is still sin and pornography is sin. Recognize it for what it is – the exploitation of human sexuality for perversion, profit and pleasure.
Second, I need to have and share with others a strong biblical ethic regarding sexuality. Yeary further states, “The Bible is abundantly clear regarding pornography. There is no defense for it. Summarily, the Bible teaches against pornography because it does the following four things: 1.) Creates a false view of sex; 2.) Promotes a sexual concept devoid of spiritual values; 3.) Promotes men, women and children as objects and tools for pleasure; 4.) Undermines every chaste ideal and advocates every sexual perversion known to man” (Home Life, Aug. 25, 2001, p. 41).
The use of pornography perverts and distorts all of the God-given purposes for sexual intimacy First, by feeding lust, both men and women are encouraged to have sexual relations with many partners. Pornography teaches people to disregard the sanctity of marriage and the “one flesh” concept of the Word (Man. 19:7-9). Second, pornography teaches people to disregard the intimacy of “knowing” another person by encouraging sexual intercourse as a casual relationship. Sex is viewed as a form of recreation for superficial self-gratification. Third, pornography teaches self-gratification without regard for the welfare of sexual partners. People are seen as objects to be enjoyed, not persons to be respected and loved. Pornography is more than lewd stories or pictures in books, on film, or on television. Pornography represents a lifestyle which denies God and rejects the high and holy standards of His Word. (The Christian Life Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, June, 1993)
Finally, I must determine in my own heart to serve the Lord and him alone. I must say with Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Jimmy Draper has called pornography “the sin of choice.” I must guard my heart with scripture and prayer so as not to make it my sin of choice. Pornography is devastating and deadly.