Editorial: Plague of pornography demands urgency

The world recognizes the epidemic of pornography. So should we. 

In a recent cover story, Time magazine notes that easy access to explicit images and videos has emasculated an entire generation of young men. Now, the magazine reports, former users are speaking against porn’s devastating effects.

Time magazine coverThe church is not immune, as The Christian Chronicle has reported for more than a decade. Too, too many terrible stories in our fellowship begin with wandering eyes and the click of a mouse.

Recently, Steve Holladay, founder of the Ultimate Escape ministry, which is associated with Churches of Christ, joined hundreds of attendees at the Set Free Global Summit. Organized by Josh McDowell Ministries and Covenant Eyes, which offers Internet filtering and accountability, the event featured presentations about the neurological, psychological and spiritual effects of pornography, Religious News Service reported.

According to findings presented by Barna Group at the summit, young adults and teens see pornography as less immoral than littering, and two-thirds have engaged in “sexting,” receiving a sexually explicit image in a text message.

It’s past time, as Holladay sees it, for Churches of Christ to develop a sense of urgency about the porn problem.

What to do? Let’s talk and teach about the problem — in our pulpits, in our Bible classes, in small groups. Provide opportunities for fellow believers to confess this sin like any other. Develop accountability partnerships and groups for Christians to receive the support they need. 

Let’s take advantage of technological tools, such as filtering software, but use common sense. Know that giving a child a smartphone — without proper guidance and oversight — is asking for trouble.

Let’s refocus on God’s vision for healthy sexuality and spend much more time devouring the Scriptures than we do browsing the Internet.
We have a pornography problem, but we serve a God bigger than all our problems.
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