Text: Matthew 5:27-29
Pornography is a huge problem in our society. Many Christians have fallen prey to it despite Jesus’ warning (Matthew 5:27-29). Jesus taught that lust is so destructive that we should go to extremes to remove opportunities to lust. The primary problem with pornography is lust. However, one can be guilty of lust without ever viewing pornography. Yet pornography is particularly dangerous. There are reasons why people choose to feed their lust this way – it is because there are certain things that pornography users do not want.
Pornography Users Do Not Want Reality
- God created marriage as the relationship in which a man and woman become “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24) – the “one flesh” is a sexual union (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:16)
- God designed our bodies such that this sexual union would be a joyful and exhilarating thing (Proverbs 5:18-19) – yet many choose sexual relations outside of marriage in violation of God’s law (Proverbs 5:20; Hebrews 13:4)
- In using pornography, one chooses to feed his sexual desire in a way that is not only unauthorized, but also fake – poor substitute for the sexual fulfillment found in a divinely-approved marriage relationship
Pornography Users Do Not Want Repercussions
- Pornography use is not without physical consequences, and certainly not without spiritual consequences (Matthew 5:27-29) – but many pornography users choose to ignore these
- Instead, they see it as a way to feed sexual desires without the consequences of an immoral relationship – loss of honor/reputation, possessions, health (Proverbs 5:9-11); threat of harm from a jealous lover (Proverbs 6:32-35)
- To many, using pornography can be seen as a way to avoid these consequences
Pornography Users Do Not Want Responsibility
- Sexuality is to be limited to the confines of marriage (Hebrews 13:4) – with marriage comes responsibility (Ephesians 5:22-23)
- Pornography (as well as pre-marital and extra-marital sex) can be used to feed one’s sexual desires without the responsibility of being a husband or wife
Pornography Users Do Not Want Relationships
- Pre-marital and extra-marital sex have one thing in common – a relationship with another person
- Pornography involves no relationship – it is based completely in a fantasy world
- God intends for man and woman to enjoy a sexual relationship within the confines of marriage (Hebrews 13:4), but marriage is about more than sexuality – there is a relationship that must be built and maintained (1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:25, 28-29; Proverbs 31:12; Genesis 2:18)
Pornography Users Do Not Want Restraint
- Pornography users refuse to exercise self-control – controlling their thoughts and preventing themselves from indulging in the explicit content they desire
- If we are to please God, we must give up our former lusts and be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:14-16) – to do this, we must deny self (Luke 9:23) and practice self-control (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:5-6)
Pornography Users Do Not Want Righteousness
- Before warning against the sin of lust (Matthew 5:28), Jesus spoke of righteousness (Matthew 5:20)
- Keeping our thoughts pure and free from illicit sexual desires is one of the ways we practice the righteousness that Jesus described in the Sermon on the Mount
- Unless we live up to His standard of righteousness, we cannot be saved (Matthew 25:46) – pornography is incompatible with righteousness; therefore, it is destructive to our souls
Conclusion
- Job made a covenant with his eyes “not to look lustfully at a young woman” (Job 31:1, NIV) – we must follow Job’s example
- Pornography is evil, is dangerous to God’s people, and must be avoided
- Those who have gotten caught up in it must be serious in repentance and avoiding temptation (Matthew 5:29)
- God has provided the perfect relationship in which sexual desires may be fulfilled – marriage
- Pornography is never worth damaging our marriages (or future marriages) and forfeiting our souls
Read the article: Six Things That Pornography Users Do Not Want
