Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Like most young men who grew up in middle class America, during my teenage years, I was introduced to pornography. For those who get hooked, each has their own reason for why it captured them. Mine was curiosity initially, and then became the ability to see what was “secret” or hidden. Eventually, I found that it fed something in me as a teen. During those years of difficult adjustments to life, cliques among other teens, dating, etc. – porn became an odd sense of validation. And later in my 20’s it became something I no longer wanted, but still seemed to have a hold over me.
As I grew in my relationship with God and His validation of my life became more important, I found strength to overcome the hook of porn. But continued to wrestle. Freedom from porn itself was actually easy. Freedom from the triggers and desires it once soothed, was not so easy. As I have talked with other men, I realized that this sense of validation is really at the heart of the hook. And it’s the same hook for teens who cut themselves, for sexting, for lust, for drunkenness, and a host of other sexual and/or addictive behavior. The hook is not so much what the activity or desire is, but what we feel it gives us or satisfied in us. For example, teens who cut themselves often describe themselves as being completely numb about life, but when they cut themselves and see the blood flow, they are reminded they are alive. This coupled with the endorphin high from the pain, leads to a euphoric sense that they can live another day.
Colossians 3:2-5 says, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living among them.”
Notice what this passage says – ‘immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed, amount to idolatry.’ This was a HUGE awakening for me. Why?
Well what is idolatry? It is worshipping an image or a thing or an idea as if it were God. Another way of saying it is, idolatry is expecting something less than God to provide something that only God can really satisfy.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
by Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
