How To Overcome Watching Pornography: Over 50% Christian Youth Watch Porn

Statistics confirmed that over 50 percent of young Christians between the ages 13 to 34 watched and/or still watch pornography.

The Barna Group said “Porn in the Digital Age” is done by 41% of practicing Christian men, ages 13-24. This age bracket admits to frequently viewing porn, while 23% of Christian men, ages 25+, also admit to viewing porn on a regular basis.

The Barna Group provides spiritual influencers with credible knowledge and clear thinking, enabling them to navigate a complex and changing culture.

In the United States (US) amongst people of different religion and beliefs generally, a 2018 Gallup poll showed that nearly 43% Americans now believe that pornography is “morally acceptable.”

The 43% is a 7% upward move from the previous year and an almost 13% increase from 2011,.

It is also interesting to know that porn websites receive more traffic than Netflix, Amazon, and Twitter combined, according to a study published by Huffington post.

Research confirmed that 25% of internet searches are about sex and nearly 12% of all internet websites are pornographic.

An international news outlet said pornography is a global, $97-100 billion industry, with $12-15 billion coming from the United States.

Consumption of porn was said ti have increased at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic.

Porn business owners target young men as a study by the University of New Hampshire found that 93% of boys encounter some form of pornography before they turn 18.

Additionally, Psychology Today theorised that most children are exposed to pornographic material by the time they are eight years old.

It is also worrying that the National Center on Sexual Exploitation in the US said 64% of young people, ages 13-24, search for pornography at least once a week.

About 50 percent of young men claimed to have known that pornography was a sin when they had started watching it. This group claimed they hardly hear sermons about it, in their churches.

It is an understatement to say that pornography doesn’t pornography wreaks havoc on men, teens, and children inside of the church as well.

Satan has highly capitalised on the negligence of parents not monitoring their children, leaving them to roam on the internet with their smartphones.

Pornography may be described as audio-visual or pictorial sex and it is against the divine order of sex between a man and a woman. This is what makes it a sin. It is your body in sexual intercourse with video, sound, and picture.

No Controversy: Jesus is Lord. Take a listen and be blessed

The Bible may not mention pornography directly but IT IS WANTON DEMONIC PLEASURE AND SINFUL. Because the Bible does not mention or forbid something DIRECTLY does not legitimise it.

It may be addressed in other parts of the Bible but not directly.

Relevant Scriptures that may be dealing with pornography are:

1Cor 6:19-20.Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Here, it is clear that your body does not belong to you and it must only do things that glorify God.

1Cor6: 18 says “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” Pornography is sexual immorality and a sin against commits against your own. It’s a sexual sin from untameable sensual pleasure. Don’t be deceived that your body is yours. Your mouth is yours but you can sin with it.

Eph 2:3. “Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Passions of the flesh are opposed to the spirit. They are often unguarded with passion from the body and mind. As Christians and with the help of the Holy Spirit if we yield to His leading, we will overcome. Holy Spirit will never approve of you watching pornography if you care to ask.

1Cor10:13 “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” Pornography is a common temptation. Your own temptation along that path is not different.

Graciously, many people have overcome it. God will be unjust to allow a temptation beyond your power to come your way. And there is always a way to endure and escape. It may be by saying No for a few more minutes. You could rather switch to worship and prayer. It could be speaking in tongues or using the spirit of self-control.

1Peter2:11 “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” You are not the first to go through sensual and sexual passion, more than two thousand years ago, this scripture was inspired to help others like you. IT’S A WAR AGAINST YOUR SOUL. That’s why it becomes very compelling. Don’t give in to pornography.

James 1:14-15 “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death.” Temptation comes from (unGodly) desires. Desires come from the sinful nature of man, the sinful and perverted world, and from satan. You don’t belong in those places. Don’t let desire become sin but rather aspire for the refiner’s fire to purge your body and soul.

1Thess4:3-5: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God” Controlling your body in holiness and honour is the will of God. You can’t succumb and submit to every lustful passion like people who don’t know God or have access to the help of the Holy Spirit. Even some non-Christians exercise strong will against what they don’t want to do. Your will power must be invested in rejecting sin and immorality, not only in pursuing vain and sinful matters.

Col3:5 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Dying is not for babies. When your body lives, it’s a matter of time, it would submit to some earthly desires. You have to die and let Christ live through you. Dying to the flesh may require praying, fasting and studying the word of God aggressively and for a long time, not a casual exercise

Romans13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” You can’t overcome the flesh on your own. That’s why it appears hard. You need the help of Jesus Christ. When you put on Jesus Christ as a garment from head to toe through receive his gracious help, praying regularly and studying his word, the sinful nature will be silenced. Many people want to overcome temptation without investing spiritual resources. That’s impossible!

1Cor9:27 “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” That’s the word: DISCIPLINE. It’s a language of Kingdom Soldiers who would do anything to please their master. Apostle Paul indicated here that there were temptations from his body, but he kept them under control. Apparently, he had sexual urges of many forms, but through the help of God, he was able to control his body.

2Tim1:7: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Self-control is not a decision or wish. First, it’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit. If you don’t have the Holy Spirit, you can’t have the Spirit of Self-Control. You can pray to God to give you. I am doing so currently and I am witnessing improvements.

2Cor7:1 “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” Pornography obviously defiles our minds and bodies.

1Thess5:23-24: “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” Not only your spirit, what you do with your soul and body is important to God.

Romans 6:13 “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness”. This says it well, your eyes and mind cannot be used as tools for pornography and filth.

Romans12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service”. To quit pornography will require sacrificial disciple through prayer, fasting and studying the word of God.

You can’t follow what you feel always. ‘You feel like eating, you eat. You feel like drinking, you drink. You feel like exaggerating, you do it. You feel like fornicating, you jump onto the bed with someone. YOU ARE NOT A BEAST WITH NO SELF-CONTROL. Someone felt like killing and he killed. Someone felt like dying and committed suicide. Feelings can be brutally lethal. Control your feelings especially with the help of the Holy Spirit.