Hell of a Drug - First Action, Confronting the Issue

"Cocaine is a hell of a drug." Rick James made this comment after explaining his past behavior with drugs. The comment was to make some light about his addiction, issues and other drugs he was consuming. However, it was also a severe truth in his life. His life would eventually be affected heavily from these drugs. Like cocaine, pornography is a "hell of a drug". While the masses seem to still shy away from the word drug and addiction when the word pornography is associated with it, it is just that., a drug. This drug is just as addictive and damaging just as cocaine, heroin or any other ingested drug. The difference is pornography requires some screen time and has a general acceptance  and justification among the population, including church-goers. But what is that drive, that compulsion that demands the attention, the participation in an addiction? Well this is a question that can't be fully answered or discussed in one discussion nor fully explored but let’s unpack a common question surround pornography addiction.

Is pornography and sexual addictions a spiritual problem? When you have an addiction does this immediately equate to a strained relationship with God? Does an uncontrollable fetish or sexual stronghold determine your relationship with Jesus? Does this issue with pornography and sexual sin discount you from being used by God, to experience all of God's unconditional love?

Well lets go to straight to a staggering truth. According to the latest Barna Group study there are more than 50,000 U.S. church leaders using porn on a regular basis. That is 1 n 5 youth pastors and 1 in 7 senior pastors. In my small interaction with accountability and mentoring through porn addiction over half of the people I have mentored have been in some form of a church leadership, this includes pastors, youth pastors, missionaries,  and youth workers. But the number that totally drives me crazy is that 75% of pastors for the Barna Group survey said they do not make themselves accountable to anyone for their Internet use. If a portion of church leaders are suffering from pornography addiction then where can we assume the congregation is on this subject? So, I ask the question again; is pornography and sexual addictions a spiritual problem?

What I want to be careful of on this subject is not to give a free pass to just go on in addictions. Nor do I want a blanket judgment to go over all church leadership. My hope is always to bring awareness and a sustainable approach that brings on active recovery and sobriety to those dealing with an addiction and healing those who have walked or walking with the addict. So here we go...

First what is addiction? "Addiction is a complex disease, often chronic in nature, which affects the function of the brain and body. It also causes serious damage to families, relationships, school, workplaces and neighborhoods. Symptoms of an addiction include: loss of control, continued use of despite serious consequences, preoccupation with using, failed attempts to quit, tolerance and withdrawal." (Center of Addiction) [Side note, compulsive sexual behaviors are not recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) under section 6C72 of impulse control disorders.]

Now what does the Bible say about addiction? A lot actually and this is why so many recovery programs and groups are focused on Biblical teachings. The one that I will point to is more obvious in 1 Corinthians 6. There is a lot that the Apostle Paul is discussing in this chapter and I am sure that there is a theologian that can break it neater then I am but overall Paul is going over a lot of situations that are causing separation. He is reminding them, the Corinthians. The Corinthians had caused much division and stress in the church. He isn't even talking to those that were outside of the church. He is reminding leaders and members of this church about greed, cheaters, drunkards (those under the influence of drugs or alcohol), idol worship (people, materials worship other then God), and sexual immorality. This was again inside the church walls. Paul very simply reminds them that "....do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) He is reminding them that even with all the junk they were in to that God loves them. That it is not to late, all is not loss. Encouraging them to step out of these strongholds. Just like then, now it is hard for someone to simply stop. Just stop something that has been a source of escape and comfort from various emotions, habits and behaviors built over the course of life's journey.

Why is pornography a hell of a drug? Because it is a drug that can be isolated, hidden and the outward affects our minimum unless you know what to look for. There are people reading this now that have an issue with internet pornography. The odds are you are running into people everyday at your work, at home, at grocery stores and at church that are struggling with a porn addiction that is realized, questioned, denied, unrealized, unacknowledged or on a recovery journey. It is the one drug being used throughout our Christian church movements among leaders and congregation. This drug of porn has multiple levels of distribution that feed a demand for some of the most vile, twisted industries that make mainstream pornography business seem like something on Mr. Rogers neighborhood.

Freedom and healing from an addiction is not a overnight process and sometimes not a year process. It varies from person to person, and depends on exposure and triggers tied to the compulsion and need to act out (in this using a computer for a "fix").

There are some immediate actions that can be taken and the first someone in addiction has to do is confront the issue directly and with total honesty and admit the problem. Face the fact that an addiction to porn  exist and the porn and/or sexual strongholds are causing your life to become more and more unmanageable. Without this admission, the choice of healing cannot be made, and lasting change is not possible. Denial is almost always present in any form of addiction, and it will try to convince you otherwise. But only the truth sets us free, and acknowledging the truth about what is happening puts a person on the road to healing.

Photo by yang miao on Unsplash