I’m the kind of person who readily admits that, although pornography hasn’t ever been an addiction for me, it is still a Y.E.T. People in AA circles will know what that stands for — You’re Eligible Too — meaning, if it’s not been an issue, it could soon become one if you let your guard down. None of us are too old nor too mature to be tempted.
In this article I want to appeal to the fear of self-preservation. That alone will motivate most people who need to change to change.
Now, there are many additional motivators to want to stop using pornography. It objectifies woman. But that’s not even scratching the surface. If you only knew what using porn does — the complete picture — you’d probably vomit. But not simply for disgust, but for the evil it endows, for the extortion it empowers, for the widespread exploitation it engenders, and lastly for the empathy it erases.
Then there are the personal and interpersonal impacts.
Pornography literally changes our brains. It changes how our bodies work and respond, not just sexually. And it changes how we interact sexually. For men trapped in the cycle, it is always bad news for the woman you’re romantically involved with. Honestly, in such few words I haven’t even scratched the surface, yet the impact is telling.
But this is the reason I’m writing.
What’s in your hand? What fills your hand most of your day? It’s a device. Like many people, you probably have more than one — a phone, a tablet, a laptop, a desktop. If you’ve got a real problem with porn, devices are a real problem for you.
What about what you’ve got recorded on your device? What about what’s on the cloud? What about your search and roaming history? What about others who may have access? Is there even one site you’ve been on that’s linked to the hidden web? (I’m only scratching the surface here.)
Can you be certain that the porn you’ve used or downloaded is “appropriate” i.e., legal? Can you be certain the women used in the content aren’t girls, i.e., children? (This question is only one of dozens of the kind you need to be asking yourself — yes, the others relate to a morality that breaches the divide into criminality.) Can you be certain that you’ve done nothing to warrant criminal charges and a potential jail term? Can you be certain there’s absolutely nothing to worry about? If there is anything, it would be better to confess it now and begin the journey of recovery. It is not too late, so don’t leave it until it’s too late.
Pornography is a slippery slope. Sure, porn is a shameful problem to have, but that’s the best of it if you’re concerned there is even one count of criminal dealing. One slip and life changes irrevocably. I presume people who read this have Christian faith. It concerns you, doesn’t it? It ought to motivate you to change. If that’s the case, I take it you’ll be feeling the Holy Spirit’s unction right now. If that is the case it is GOOD news. It will lead you to life if you act to obey God’s voice. It will be worth the cost of honesty.
Think of the possible consequences if you’re exposed. Shame to one degree, that’s yours. What about your loved ones? It’s better to own the thing now and get your recovery as you run a million miles an hour away from it into the loving and saving arms of Jesus. Seek your recovery today… yesterday… certainly don’t put it off until tomorrow!
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