Porn Addiction in the Pews

Porn Addiction in the Pews
by Lorie Newman
All For His Glory Ministries

Not too long ago I did an informal survey with the women's Bible study class that I teach on Sundays. The lesson was on addiction.

I gave each woman a blank index card and asked them to answer a question with simply 'yes' or 'no' and not to let anyone see their answer. They were instructed not to write their names on the card.

This is the question I asked: During your marriage has your husband ever used pornography?

My co-teacher was visibly shocked by the results. As I read each card out loud and she tallied the results on the board, her mouth dropped open as we all sat in silence. It took a few seconds for the magnitude of the results to set into our spirits.

Out of a classroom full of 24 Christian women, who regularly attend church with their husbands and children, there were only four "no" responses. I was not surprised at all.

Some studies I've seen estimate that 50% of men in a given Christian church congregation are addicted to pornography. How many more are not addicted, but have haunting images in their minds from past exposure?

With porn so available through the internet, this is fast becoming a silent epidemic in our churches. Satan would love nothing more than to destroy marriages as he wreaks havoc in the minds of Godly men.

But there is hope! I have seen God restore marriages where porn addiction had all but killed any hope of restoration. Good news! God is in the Resurrection Business! If He can raise the dead—the rank, rigor mortis, "in the tomb four days"-dead body—He can raise dead marriages! He can resurrect the dead hearts of Godly men who are trapped by porn addiction! No heart is beyond His resurrection power! And no marriage is too far gone to be healed and completely restored!

God not only can bring restoration and healing, but in the book of Joel, God tells us that He will give us back what the "locusts have eaten!" Glory! He is the Healer, He is the Restorer, and He is the Redeemer!