The Holy Bible makes it entirely clear to us that watching pornography is sinful. First, the very word pornography comes from the Greek word ‘porneia’. In Galatians, Chapter 5, verse 19, we read, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are immorality, impurity and sensuality.” Watching pornography involves taking pleasure in observing other people in a state of nakedness, which is the sin of sensuality or lewdness according to Holy Scriptures.
Glorying in another person’s nakedness is a sinful behaviour. Beginning in the Garden of Eden and continuing throughout the Holy Bible, we find that those who take pleasure in another’s nakedness (outside of marriage), are depicted as shameful and due condemnation. For example, when one of Noah’s sons took pleasure in seeing his father lying naked in his tent (Genesis, Chapter 9), the Bible portrays the son’s act as shameful and dishonoring. In 1 John, Chapter 2, verse 16, we read, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
In Exodus, Chapter 20, verse 17, we read, “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbour’s.” Coveting can include a desire to have people, possessions, or status. Satan uses the lust of the eyes as one avenue of temptation. More importantly, the Lord God sees such conduct as reprehensible. Consider the Lord’s admonishment against Israel when they engaged in lewd and immoral conduct.
In Matthew, Chapter 5, verse 20, we read, “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” The sexual acts on display in pornographic material are acts of fornication, which is the sin of sexual contact outside marriage. When we take part in this enterprise as an observer (i.e., as a customer of pornography), we are condoning and promoting fornication. This promoting behaviour is itself the sin of licentiousness, or giving license to sin.
Pornographic materials are intended to illicit sexual arousal in our flesh, which is lust. Lust is any arousal of the flesh which occurs in an immoral manner, and the whole purpose of filming other people engaging in sexual acts (often grossly distorted and perverted acts) is to entice lust in the hearts of the audience. Lust is a sin, and anything that brings us to the point of lust is a sinfully corrupting and tempting influence. Jesus Christ said that the commission of lust is equal to the commission of adultery. The act of watching pornography is immoral and sinful. It is wrong because it condones fornication and is licentiousness. It is intended to induce lust in the heart, and exposes us to the nakedness of strangers.
For those involved in pornography, God can and will give you victory. Here are some steps to be followed if you want to be free from it. 1. Confess your sin to God, 2. Ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse, renew, and transform your mind, 3. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill your mind with good and holy things only, 4. Learn to possess your body in holiness for it is the temple of the Holy Spirit, 5. Understand the proper meaning of sex and rely on your spouse alone to meet that need, 6. Realize that if you walk in the Spirit, you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, 7. Take practical steps to reduce your exposure to graphic images.
Install pornography blockers on your computer, limit television and video usage, and find another Christian who will pray for you and help keep you accountable. Watching pornography will take your soul to hell after you die. Remember, the devil is waiting to devour you. So repent for your sin/s today and start life afresh. The Bible says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” But I say, “Resist pornography and it will go out of you.”
Jubel D’Cruz
