Well, me being me, I had to say just a couple more things to Mr. or Ms. Anonymous (from a comment deleted after my previous post today), seeing as he or she wanted some clarification:
First, you and I are obviously looking at this from completely different perspectives, mine being that of a Christian. There's going to be an inevitable clash there, especially when a subject like this comes up.
Second, if it seems as though I am opposed to the viewing of pornography and not just the addiction to it, it's because I am. By the way, how do you think the addiction comes about anyway?
Thirdly, and most honestly, it's really not me who denounces pornography, it's the Word of God -- and that needs no support:
First, you and I are obviously looking at this from completely different perspectives, mine being that of a Christian. There's going to be an inevitable clash there, especially when a subject like this comes up.
Second, if it seems as though I am opposed to the viewing of pornography and not just the addiction to it, it's because I am. By the way, how do you think the addiction comes about anyway?
Thirdly, and most honestly, it's really not me who denounces pornography, it's the Word of God -- and that needs no support:
'Everything is permissible for me' — but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible for me' — but I will not be mastered by anything. Food for the stomach and the stomach for food — but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. ~ I Corinthians 6:12-13
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. ~ I Corinthians 6:18-20
Now, none of this is going to mean much to you if you don't view pornography to be any kind of immorality. To that I have to say...you are only kidding yourself. Of course just about anything can become an addiction, but the subject I chose today was pornography, not alcohol or anything else. And no, I never made a statement claiming that pornography causes STD's. I believe I was talking about how sexual our society has become, how casual and accepted pornography has become, and thus sex itself is also very casual -- to a point where STD's are rampant. These things are all a part of the world of sexual immorality. Kirk Franklin himself tied his addiction to pornography to his promiscuity before marriage. He did not separate them. He also linked 'just looking' at pornography to adultery. Don't tell me that doesn't hurt a marriage.
I don't think I'm 'warning' anyone against pornography, Mr./Ms. Anonymous. I think I'm saying that there should be more talk about the struggles that are involved with it. And I'm afraid you are sorely wrong on the point where you stated that the source of the addiction does not come between people in a relationship. I can guarantee you that there are many people out there whose marriages would be and are tried because a spouse 'just looked' at pornography.
And the relationship it comes between more than any other is ours with God.
12 comments:
Hi Tracey, hope your Turkey Day was good and you are feeling ok.
Great rebuttal by the way. Very well thought out. I always think it's important to make that point that 'God says'. As Chrisitans we don't live our lives based on opinions (hopefully) but on the Word of God.
Thanks Lori. I know that there are many others who could say all of this better than me, but I thought I'd try to go ahead and clarify anyway. I also think it's important that we make sure to say that it's God's Word telling us these things -- and for our own good, too! There are so many distorted views of Christianity and the Bible out there.
Thanks again!
I think I made it clear that I did not keep your earlier comment for the simple fact that you chose to criticize me, yet hide behind no name. You took it to mean I was 'censoring' you, which I wasn't. Please, say what you want to say, but leave your first name, at least.
You obviously believe very strongly in what you are saying, and so you shouldn't be worried about sharing who is saying it. My first name appears on my blog and comments...and if you do know me -- really -- then you know that my name is spelled with an 'e'.
Also, I am capable of rising above simple back-and-forth comments. I don't allow mere words to come between myself and my friends.
Yes, I might have misread your earlier comments. That's because they were very confusing. And I'm not concerned about having my 'work cut out for me' -- I'm making a call for more Christians to speak more openly about all of this. I think I made that clear from the beginning...and the middle...and now, the end.
Hi Tracey,
Amy's husband, Brian here. Just wanted to chime in on the porn thread. I was addicted to pornography for eleven plus years. I had no idea how it would wreak havoc on my relationship with the Lord or with my future wife. I don't know what your anonymous commenter wrote, but I know from experience the destruction porn use causes. And yes, I believe Victoria's Secret ads, Cosmopornitan--oops, I mean Cosmopolitan--magazine, etc. are not much better. For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about, look at every issue of Cosmo and there will be articles such as "10 Naughty Things to Do to Your Boyfriend in Bed." But I don't blame magazines; I take responsibility for my own actions.
I just want to testify that Jesus does set people free from porn addiction. He set me free. It was a long process, but well worth it. What finally got me over the hump was experiencing the joy and pleasure of being close to Jesus. I realized I couldn't have both: Jesus and porn. I couldn't serve two masters. I would highly recommend Desert Stream Ministries for anyone who may be in the position I was. If you're struggling with porn--male or female--don't hide in shame! You're not alone. God can deliver you.
Brian, thanks so much for sharing this. Wow! I have just started reading your wife's blog (which I love, by the way). It sounds like you've been sharing your story for a while, and that's the kind of thing I hope can happen more, because I think it can help so many others. Thanks again for your comments and great insight.
Great post and rebuttal, Tracey. I didn't see anonymous comments before they were deleted, but I think you were right to delete it. Anyone who wants to share their opinion should be able to have the guts to put their name to it.
Thanks Sarah...I have enabled the moderation here for a bit, but hopefully I won't have to do it for long.
tracey, your use of the word "censoring" really hit home for me. i have censored my blog comments. twice that i can think of, once last week, i deleted comments that included cursing.
as the administrator of this blog, you have the right to control the content. if you feel you are under attack, i think you have the right to fight back, however you deem appropriate.
fight the good fight girl! praise God!
Thanks Rebecca Marie! It was a hard decision to make in some respects, but I felt that it was what I needed to do.
Nothing gets the blood pumping like a disagreement in a blog comment. So what did Anon have to say?
I disagree with deleting comments that are remotely relevant, no matter how misguided, rude, or just plain wrong they are. If they crossed the line in some other respect (verbal assaults, invasion of privacy, stuff that's actually illegal, etc.), you could have just deleted it and brushed it off as a lurking wacko. By deleting Anon's post, and then responding to him, you've opened the door to a debate on Internet censorship, which derails your original topic.
I have no idea what Anon said, so I'm not defending him.
Internet pornography is destroying minds now, but in five years, the fad will have passed. In the magazine Wired, a recent poll among 16 year old boys called Internet pornography "boring." Yeah... the cheap, free thrill is starting to wear off.
Thanks Trace.
Thanks for the comments, James.
That's fine if you disagree with deleting comments that have some relevancy...for me, it is my blog and I made the choice. And like I explained before, relevant comments or not, I deleted them because Anon was asking for clarification, was making somewhat snide remarks, and yet left no name. Simple as that. Maybe it doesn't seem appropriate for me to respond after the fact, but again -- it is my blog and I made that choice. As for a debate on internet censorship, it hasn't happened thus far, and I won't be debating again anytime soon.
The fad will have passed in five years? I sincerely doubt that, James. Mostly because 16-year-olds aren't the only ones online! And in case you haven't noticed, the internet is not the only place where pornography reigns (yes, reigns, with millions of sites). I don't think we can wipe our brows and feel relieved just yet. Evil abounds.
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