So this is a VERY touchy subject but I am curious as to what are men's thoughts about it.
Pornography.
Statistics show that 70% of men from age 18-34 visit a pornographic site in a typical month.
10% of adults admit to having an Internet sexual addiction. 28% of that were women.
29% of born again adults in the US believe it is morally ACCEPTABLE to view movies with explicit sexual behavior.
57% of pastors say that addiction to pornography is the most sexually damaging issue to the congregation.
47% of families say that pornography is a problem in their home.
The internet was a significant factor in 2 out of 3 divorces.
Average age of first internet exposure to pornography:11 years old.
50% of Christian men in churches are addicted to pornography.
Curious as to men's thoughts on this since it is found more often to be men struggling with addictions to pornography opposed to women. Not to say that women can't be addicted because they can also before anyone jumps me on that. It is just more prevalent in men, men are more visual stimulated than females are.
My response to pornography above does not deal with pornography directly. Instead it deals with the "soil" of untruth that enables pornography to take root and grow.=:devil:
There are basic untruths needed in order for pornography to be enticing to anyone.:eat:
As we come to know the truth of our own sexuality and of God's original blueprints for intimacy, pornography (a major untruth) will automatically begin to loose its grip within a person's life. = As we come to know God's truth (Light), the untruth in us (darkness) is automatically driven back. And we begin to be set free.:peace::angel:
Also,
"mmm mmm, christians are capable of just about anything, if they don't guard themselves and have hardened hearts."
Amen Tristan! I Agree Completely
I clung to Romans 7 and the life of Paul for dear life for many years. The life of David also.
As far as the not being a Christian and watching porn. Here are my thoughts.
In God's eyes a sin is a sin. Do we not constantly judge people? Do we love everyone equally and not show favoritism? Do we tell even white lies? Do we overeat? Not sleep enough? All of these are considered sins. Yet if we overeat we are still a Christian but an addiction to pornography makes you no longer a Christian? My understanding is once saved always saved. But you must repent of your sins and be sincere.
Praise the LORD JESUS CHRIST and peace be unto the saints of GOD.
My dear sister, Once saved surely Not Always saved, we must continue in the faith, lest we be cut off. But that's a whole separate topic. Let me know if you want more info.
But I do agree that just because a man sins, that doesn't make you a non-Christian.
By the grace of GOD, i too am against pornography, but also secular movies altogether.
So my question to those who don't watch pornography is this, do you m-st-rbate? If so, what thoughts are in your mind if/when you do. Do you watch sex scenes in the secular movies you view? Do you go to the Beach and watch women in their string bikinis? All of this would fall into the same category would it not? What do you do when you're walking down the street and half dressed women are everywhere? Do you stare or turn your head? And what if when you turn your head, there is another half dressed woman, do you close your eyes? What do you do football fans, (which I'm not by the grace of the LORD), when the cheerleaders come out and do their dances? Do you watch or do you not watch?
I'm not justifying for one moment the viewing of pornography, just want us to not be hypocritical in our stance.
Someone said that looking at a woman to lust after her is adultery.
If you believe that, then all men on this site who desire (for lust in the context of the said scripture means to desire) any woman that interest them, would be committing adultery. But is that what's really going on.?
What single man doesn't desire his wife before he marry's her? Note desire simply means to want her romantically (not always sexually).
How can two single persons be guilty of adultery in that since? Adultery is committed when the woman is married.
A close study of Matthew 5:28 will show that the "woman" the LORD JESUS speaks of has to do with looking at another man's wife to lust after (desire) her. Now you have adultery. Someone married is involved; and the LORD is saying the physical act isn't required for the person desiring the wife of another to be guilty of committing adultery.
Notice that the discussion was about what was termed adultery under the Law.
Le 20:10
And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
So if a man desires (with purity) a single woman, this is not sin, this is not adultery.
Remember Paul even gave marriage as an escape route not to burn in your lust. So honestly speaking a man in that situation would be marrying (and rightfully so) to quench his thirst for intimacy with a woman.
Now if you are thinking fornication/adulterous thoughts, this is sin.
to fix the desire upon, to have the affections directed towards any thing (of unlawful desires}
this greek definition also referenced to matthew 5:28
so to look, to use the eyes to see, look, used of the act of seeing, even though nothing is seen, to observe accurately with desire ,hence of mental vision implying more comtenplation than{ horao3708 }at any woman not your wife with lustful desires is committing adultery in your heart with her ..
BROTHER OLE CATTLE, GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR GREAT COMMENTS.
JOHN 8:7
�When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her�
MATTHEW 7:1-5
�Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, �Let me take the speck out of your eye,� when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. �
FIRSTLY, HOPE, I THINK YOUR RESPONSE WAS FANTASTIC, YOUR RESPONSE, IN SPECIFIC RELATION TO THE REPENTING AND THE SINCERITY, FORMED PART OF THE POINTS I MADE . I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THE FACT THAT IN MY EARLIER POST, I DID NOT PLACE ANY JUDGEMENT ON ANYONE, I INFACT DISCUSSESD THE SPECK THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY IN MY OWN EYE, EXPLAINED WHY IT IS WRONG, BACKED BY SCRIPTURE AND FINALLY, EXPLAINED THE METHODS I USED, WITH GODS GRACE AND MERCY, TO RID MYSELF OF IT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CRYSTAL CLEAR IF ANYONE THOUGHT THAT I WAS PRONOUNCING JUDGMENT ON THEM OR ON ANYONE ELSE. HOPE, IT IS STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS LIKE THE ONES WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN YOUR LATEST POST, THAT MAKE JAMES 2:10, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BIBLE VERSES TO ME, �For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it�.
I AM SINNER, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, WHICH IS WHY I DID NOT CAST ANY STONES, BUT USED SCRIPTURE TO JUSTIFY WHETHER OR NOT, THERE IS PURITY IN A CERTAIN ACT, IN THIS CASE, PORNOGRAPHY. IN ADDITION, I CAN CONFIRM THAT I OVEREAT SOMETIMES, FAVOUR ONE OVER ANOTHER SOMETIMES, JUDGE A LITTLE SOMETIMES, I TELL WHITE LIES SOMETIMES AND I SURE DONT GET ENOUGH SLEEP SOMETIMES, AS I SAID, I TO, I�M A SINNER, A SINNER WHO CONTINUALLY REPENTS, KNOWING THAT MY FATHER WHO IS SEATED ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, IS CONSTANTLY PLEADING ON MY BEHALF. THANK U JESUS. HALLELUYAH HALLELUYAH, AMEN.
SECONDLY, BROTHER THAD, IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTIONS, I DONT MASTERBATE, I DONT WATCH SEX SCENES IN SECULAR MOVIES, PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF EACH AND EVERY MOVIE THAT I WATCH, I DONT KNOW HOW THINGS ARE IN AMERICA, BUT HERE IN LONDON, THE BROADCASTER ALWAYS GIVES A WARNING AS TO THE NATURE OF THE MOVIE. REGARDING THE BEACH, WE DONT HAVE ANY BEACHES THAT I KNOW OF IN LONDON BUT MY MAIN AIM IN GOING TO A BEACH WOULD BE TO HAVE A NICE SWIM, ENJOY THE SAND, HAVE FUN AND NOT TO LUST OVER WOMEN IN BIKINIS.
I AGREE THAT MASTURBATION (1 CORINTHIANS 6:18), IS NO DIFFRENT FROM PORNOGRAPHY, THE WATCHING OF SEX SCENES (MATTHEW 5:28), IN ANY CONTEXT IS ALSO IN THE SAME CATEGORY BUT I DISAGREE WITH THE POINT YOU TRIED TO MAKE REGARDING, WOMEN IN BIKINIS, WOMEN HALF DRESSED DOWN THE STREET AND YOUR CHEERLEADERS THEORY. THE REASON I DISAGREE IS BECAUSE, DESPITE HOW TEMPTING THEY MAY BE DRESSED, NON OF THEM, IN THE STATE YOU DESCRIBED THEM, ARE PERFORMING A SEXUAL ACT. THEY MAY BE CAUSING OTHERS TO SIN, YES, BUT, IT IS UP TO US AS MEN AND WOMEN TO BE STRONG BECAUSE �No temptation has overtaken us that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. � (1 CORINTHIANS 10:13). IN ADDITION, GOD DOES NOT TEMPT US, WE ARE TEMPTED BY OUR OWN SELFISH DESIRES.
I AM NOT GOING TO BE A LIAR AND SAY THAT I DONT LOOK AT WOMEN IN BIKINIS, WOMEN HALF DRESSED DOWN THE STREET AND AT CHEERLEADERS, BECAUSE I DO, WHO DOES NOT, BUT I JUST DONT LET IT BECOME SEXUAL AND I DONT LOOK FOR LONG, IF IT DOES, I PRAY AGAINST IT. IN ADDITION, A LOOK IS A LOOK AND IN MOST CASES, IS A NATURAL ONE, BUT WHEN IT BECOMES A LONG LOOK AND OR A LONG STARE OR GAZE THEN THAT IS MOST DEFINATELY QUESTIONABLE, SUGGESTIVE AND CAN MOST DEFINATELY LEAD TO A SEXUAL DESIRE OF SOME KIND.
I DO HOWEVER UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT HOW YOU ARE TRYING TO DIFUSE THE HYPOCRSY.
YOU MAY ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT IF A MAN AND OR WOMEN, SINGLE, MARRIED, DIVORCED,SEPERATED AND SO ON, CLAIMS TO NOT HAVE A SEXUAL THOUGHT (LUST) IN THEIR MIND, WHILST WATCHING SEXUAL ACTS, OTHER THAN THAT WITHIN THEIR OWN MARRIAGE BEING PERFORMED, MY ANSWER TO THIS IS THAT, THE PERSON OR THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD JUST BE SINCERE WITH THEMSELVES AND WITH GOD, IF THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NO SEXUAL THOUGHT WHILST VIEWING SEXUAL MATERIAL, THEN GOD, BEING THE ULTIMATE JUDGE, WILL PROCLAIM HIS OWN VERDICT IN HIS LEISURE.
YES WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE GODS BEAUTIFUL CREATION IN OUR MINDS, AFTERALL, WE WERE CREATED IN HIS OWN IMAGE, BUT IT SHOULD NOT GO ANY FURTHER THAN THAT. THE WORD LUST MEANS, A STRONG SEXUAL DESIRE, A CRAVING, A GREAT DESIRE, IF WE BEGIN TO HAVE THESE THINGS, THEN IT BECOMES A SIN BECAUSE OF MATTHEW 5:28.
I AGREE THAT THE WORD LUST IS TO DESIRE, BUT BROTHER THAD, WHAT TYPE OF DESIRE, I WILL TELL YOU, A SEXUAL DESIRE. THE WORD SEXUAL IS THE KEY PART BROTHER. GO TO GOOGLE PLEASE AND TYPE THE WORDS �define:lust� AND YOU WILL SEE THE MEANING OF THE WORD LUST.
AGAIN I DISAGREE THAT ALL MEN ON CDFF ARE LUSTING BECAUSE NOT ALL OF US ARE HAVING SEXUAL THOUGHTS AND OR SEXUAL DESIRES WHILST WE VIEW PICTURES.
OF COURSE WE ALL DESIRE AND OR ARE ATTRACTED TO POTENTIAL SUITORS, BUT IF THE DESIRE BECOMES SEXUAL, WE NEED TO PRAY AGAINST IT, REPENT AND BE SINCERE, AS HOPE SAID. MARK 9:47 SAYS, �And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell�.
IN ADDITION WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THE VERSE WHICH YOU CLAIMED WAS USED IN THE WRONG CONTEXT, I TELL YOU NOW BROTHER THAT THE WORD SAYS �But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart�. YOU SEE THE KEY THING HERE, IS THE WORD ANYONE, NOT JUST MARRIED MEN AND WOMAN, ANYBODY. THE QUESTION YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF IS THAT, WHY WOULD GOD EXCLUDE SINGLE MEN AND WOMEN FROM THIS RULE? OR ARE YOU SAYING THAT SINGLE MEN AND WOMEN ARE PERMITED BY GOD TO HAVE SEXUAL THOUGHTS (LUST), ABOUT OTHER SINGLE MEN AND WOMEN AND ARE NOT TRANSGRESSORS OF ADULTERY?
IN GODS EYES AND IN GODS LAW, ADULTERY IS NOT ONLY COMMITED IN A MARITAL SENSE, GODS LAW IS FINAL BROTHER.
I DO HOWEVER AGREE THAT IF A SINGLE MAN DESIRES A SINGLE WOMAN WITH PURITY, THIS IS NOT A SIN AND THIS IS NOT ADULTERY, HOWEVER, IF THIS DESIRE BECOMES SEXUAL THEN THAT IS WHEN IT GOES AGAINST MATTHEW 5:28, AS I EXPLAINED ABOVE. IF WE DO ENTER INTO SEXUAL THOUGHTS, WE NEED TO CAST IT OUT AND THROW IT AWAY, RATHER THAN HAVE OUR WHOLE BODY, ROT FOR ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE.
�How can two single persons be guilty of adultery in that sense? Adultery is committed when the woman is married.�
MY ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION IS TAKING FROM YOUR VERY OWN POST ON WOMEN IN MINISTRY, PAGE 3, WHERE YOU CAME TO A VERY GOOD CONCLUSION BY SAYING �That's just it. GOD'S WORD rules and there is no vote.� DONT YOU AGREE?
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAJORITY OF EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE BIBLE, APPLIED TO A CERTAIN SITUATION THAT OCCURED IN THOSE TIMES, BUT THE FACT THAT THEY ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW (BIBLE), MEANS THAT EVERY WORD SHOULD BE FOLLOWED, NOT MISUNDERSTOOD AND NOT FINETUNED FOR OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING AND OR PERSONAL COMFORT.
AS WRITTEN IN JOSUA 1:8, �Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.�
SO MY BROTHER, WE ARE TOLD TO DO EVERYTHING IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW (THE BIBLE), NOT JUST THE BITS THAT APEASE OUR SOUL, BUT EVERYTHING, EVEN IF IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CLEAR TO US AT THE FIRST INSTANCE OF READING IT, WE NEED TO PRAY FOR THE UNDERSTANDING CONSTANTLY.
I AGREE THAT �Paul even gave marriage as an escape route not to burn in your lust� (1 CORINTHIANS 7:1-40) , BUT AT THE SAME TIME, EVEN DURING MARRIAGE, A MAN AND OR WOMAN MAY STILL �thirst for intimacy with� ANOTHER MAN AND OR WOMAN, CAUSING THEM TO LUST AND COMMIT ADULTERY, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUOUSLY �REPENT AND BE SINCERE� AS HOPE SAID, WHETHER WE ARE SINGLE OR MARRIED, BECAUSE, �If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. � (1 JOHN 1:19)
Praise the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Peace be unto the saints of GOD.
Brother Cattle...Strong's Concordance does show woman to mean wife. The context proves this to be the correct interpretation.
To desire doesn't have to be sexual to be adultery.
If a man who is no longer able to have sex desires a another's man's wife just to be his companion in marriage, because she may makea him feel good via conversation or otherwise, this is still adultery.
He is coveting his neighbor's wife in a romantic way. This is adultery.
How can a single man commit adultery with a single woman. The WORD of GOD doesn't call this adultery.
So I ask you did you desire any woman on this site at any time? Or any where else for that matter? Was it adultery? Beloved we have to get the proper understanding of what adultery is. CHRIST was referencing an old testiment scripture and was bringing clarity to it. Read my post carefully.
Brother Kidd...understand dear one...as stated in my post...if a single person desires a married woman, this is adultery.. So no I did not exclude single person's from the rule. But still adultery is only committed when a married person is involved. Adding to GOD'S WORD is never wise...even if we attemp to look more spiritual. GOD is Watching. Amen.
I CAN CONFIRM THAT I HAVE MOST DEFINATELY DESIRED WOMEN BEFORE, BUT I HAVE NOT DESIRED THEM ALL SEXUALLY. FOR THOSE THAT I DESIRED SEXUALLY, I BELIEVE, VIA MATTHEW 5:28, I COMMITED ADULTERY, IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT. SO IN THAT CASE, NO OFFENCE, MAYBE YOU NEED TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT BOTH OF MY PREVIOUS POSTS AND ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL ATTACK OR A DEMONSTRAION OF ME BEING OFFENDED.
REGARDING ME ADDING TO GODS WORD, AGAIN, READ MY POST CAREFULLY BROTHER. IF THAT, HOWEVER, IS WHAT YOU THINK, THEN, WHEN THE TRUMPET SOUNDS AND HEAVENS GATES IS OPEN, WE WILL SEE WHETHER OR NOT, I HAVE ADDED TO HIS WORD.
YOU MAY EVENTUALLY BE RIGHT AND VICE-VERSA, OR WE MAY BOTH BE WRONG, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO EQUALLY LET GO WHEN THERE IS A CLEAR DISAGREEMENT ON SOMETHING, WE SHOULD BOTH, PERSONALLY, TAKE IT TO GOD IN PRAYER. LETS NOT GENDER STRIFE BROTHER.
2 TIMOTHY 2:23-24
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
TITUS 3:10
Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.
I AM NOT GOING TO SAY THAT I HAVE BACKED DOWN, IN ADDITION, I AM NOT OR NEVER WILL BE COMPETING ON WHO CAN INTERPRET GODS WORD BEST, I REMAIN FULLY CONFIDENT AND I STILL AGREE STRONGLY WITH THE POINTS I MADE AND OF THOSE THAT MADE SIMILAR POINTS TO MY OWN AND OF COURSE, I OBVIOUSLY REMAIN IN DISAGREEMENT WITH YOUR POINTS, APART FROM THE ONE OR TWO WHICH I AGREED WITH IN MY SECOND POST ON PORNOGRATHY.
IN ADDITION, PERSONALLY, I ALWAYS PRAY, BEFORE AND AFTER EVERY SINGLE COMMENT THAT I MAKE, I USUALLY PRAY FOR A FULL UNDERSTANDING ON TOPICS AND TO NOT CONFUSE PEOPLE. I PRAY THAT THE SPIRIT WILL DELIVER ME, IF MY COMMENTS WERE WRONG AND VICE-VERSA.
CLEARLY WE DO NOT AGREE WITH EACHOTHER, SO MY CONCLUSION IS THAT, ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, WE WILL HEAR GODS VERDICT ON THIS.
I STILL LOVE YOU AS A FELLOW MEMBER OF CHRISTS BODY BUT I WILL PERSONALLY TRY TO AVOID PROLONGED DISCUSSIONS WHICH WE MOST PROBABLY WONT AGREE ON.
Actually, If I remember correctly, adultery actualy means, literally, to put together to things that don't belong together. i.e. any two people who arent married and decided to get it on.
