Porn Culture
This comes via the blog at Covenant Eyes: Porn Culture v. The Gospel.
A few of the more salient points include:
The gospel says: “Seek the glory that comes from the only God” (John 5:44).
Porn culture says: “Seek the imaginary sexual admiration that comes from fantasy people.”
The gospel says: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
Porn culture says: “Cast all your anxieties into fantasy, because there you can believe for a brief moment that you are desired.”
These, and other aspects of the difference between porn and the Gospel, came leaping to the forefront of my mind the other day as i met with a man who was in the early stages of trying to save his marriage and deal with his lustful tendencies.
The admonition of scripture, and the stark language it uses when discussing the seriousness of sexual sin and lust seem out of place — a little over-the-top, frankly — until you accept that there are two irreconcilable cultures that collide every time Jesus collides with porn.
His teaching that even looking at a person with lustful intent constitutes adultery is bizarre to most people, even many Christians. Paul’s clear instruction to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God, and to no longer conform to the pattern of this world seems way too intense and unnecessary.
Unless…there really are two diametrically opposed cultures at play.
The man i was talking with just seemed to really not get it that lustful intent equalled adultery. He wasn’t totally convinced that his perusal of web sites featuring lingerie and sexy swimsuits worn by women posing provocatively was anything of significance on a spiritual level.
Or on a relational level.
To him, that’s just what men look at.
As a Christian, he was clearly under the influence of Porn Culture. So many of us are.
Jesus really does not negotiate with alternative philosophies of life, such as Porn Culture. He says we are to do whatever it takes to get that out of our lives.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” [Matthew 5:27-30]
Jesus suggests drastic measures because the situation is that serious. Porn Culture and Gospel Culture cannot simply coexist.
Intentional Warriors 
3 Responses to “Porn Culture”
Excellent post. The world tries to convince us daily that “it’s just what men do” and “every man does it”.
The world has fallen far from the definition of real manhood: Reject passivity, accept responsibility, lead courageously; all things a real man, Jesus Christ, did and something we should strive to emulate.
Therapist Ella Hutchinson wrote a great piece on how sometimes porn addiction is more difficult to treat than those who practice infidelity because of how much denial the porn user is in because of how much the world “accepts” porn.
Thank you,
Jorge
Castimonia.org
Thanks for sharing this!
my pleasure, Luke.