Porn addiction is a hidden sin in the church! In my 23 years as a Certified Pastoral Counselor, many people (men & women) have come to me for porn addiction recovery. It is the most destructive addiction, stronger than alcohol, prescription drugs or street drugs. The person who uses porn satisfies self sexually and produces a sensational chemical jolt in the brain that does not happen with God’s design for sexual intimacy within marriage. It is a self-induced chemical addiction in the brain.
One 20-minute exposure to porn can easily create an addiction. The latest statistic from the American Family Journal is that 56% of pastors and 50% of men in churches are addicted to porn. Porn destroys the relationship with God, self and others. This creates a “lonely self” in all areas of life. Life is centered on the addiction need. The church needs to become equipped to help the addicted person. I teach seminars on this subject.
The porn addiction must be exposed and confessed. The use of all internet/phone devices must be stopped or totally monitored with www.covenanteyes.com. Please never tell a wife to give her husband more physical intimacy – it is not a cure. It will also make a wife feel like an object instead of a woman created by God to be a helper like God = azar (from my marriage seminars).
Qualified educated counseling is needed. There needs to be an accountable person that is God-centered. The sin of porn is from the root word of fornication = (Gk. Porneia – immoral sexual conduct – it includes taking pleasure in pornographic pictures, films or writing.). This addiction leads to sexual abuse, voyeurism, flashing, adultery, homosexuality, etc. It destroys ministries and marriages.
Porn addiction is totally consuming to heart, soul and mind. Healing and transformation can happen by genuine repentance and a lot of hard work in rewiring the brain to godliness, but the temptation will always be there because we live in a sexualized world. God makes a way of escape by our choice!
I counsel nationwide by phone/Skype (636) 448-0121. I also teach for churches/conferences nationwide. Visit www.carolclemans.org – Life Enrichment Ministries, Inc. (501c3) – bio, 215+ articles, teaching, CD’s & DVD’s, book: God’s Design for Marriage – order through website or www.amazon.com as eBook.