Why Christians (Men & Women) View Pornographic Web Sites

Why do Christian men and women choose to look at pornographic web sites? What do you think? Why do men and women, with a faith in Jesus Christ, choose to type words into a search engine that will lead them to pictures and movies that graphically display individuals in the sex act?

Some statistics on the wide spread use of sex sites among Christians.

A 1996 Promise Keepers survey at one of their stadium events revealed that over 50% of the men in attendance were involved with pornography within one week of attending the event.

Out of 81 pastors surveyed (74 males 7 female), 98% had been exposed to porn; 43% intentionally accessed a sexually explicit website
National Coalition survey of pastors. Seattle. April 2000.

34 percent of female readers of Today’s Christian Woman’s online newsletter admitted to intentionally accessing Internet porn in a recent poll.

In March of 2002 Rick Warren’s (author of the Purpose Driven life) Pastors.com website conducted a survey on porn use of 1351 pastors: 54% of the pastors had viewed Internet pornography within the last year, and 30% of these had visited within the last 30 days.

Statistics prove that Christian look at sexual material. Christian are choosing sin over a deep and personal relationship with Christ. The real question is why. Why do we as Christian choose to sin? I am not just talking about sexual sin but any sin. God gave us clear direction for a fulfilled life but we deliberately choose to disobey. Believe me, I am not one of those legalist that condemn those who fail. I have failed miserably in my Christian walk. I have abused the grace of God on more than one occasion. I have been guilty of looking and pornographic web sites. Therefore, who am I to judge? Again, the question is why do we choose to sin?

I believe the root of the problem with sin involves what we tell our selves about any given sin. It does not matter what the sin of choice is; a Christian has to believe and tell themselves several things in order to follow through with the sin.

Three beliefs that allows us to choose sin over obedience

1. I cannot help myself. I have to look at porno because my wife, husband does not satisfy me. I cannot help it because it is everywhere. I cannot stop myself from looking after all they send me email and I cannot stop myself from opening it.
2. It is good for me. I cannot help myself and it will help me deal with my anxiety if I have a release. It is good to view porno because that way I do not bother my wife, husband so much. This belief can take on various words but the main point is we justify our behavior, sin, by telling ourselves it is good for me and I can’t help myself.
3. No one will know. Sin always tries to hide. When we tell our self that no one will ever find out what I do late at night while my spouse is asleep. What they don’t know can’t hurt them. Yeah, right. What about God, He never sleeps or slumbers. Remember, eventually your sin will find you out. What are you going to do when your spouse does a history search and finds out you forgot to delete that site? What are you going to do if you’re found out?

I have mentioned a few beliefs associated with a Christian’s choice to sin, view sex sites, but I am sure there must be more. What do we do about our false beliefs that cause so much trouble? This might sound very simple but all we have to do is face the truth and change what we tell our self before we sin. Before you type in a word or words that will lead you to a sex site tell yourself the truth. I cannot without God’s help over come this urge. I can refuse to sin because I have power in Christ to say no. I don’t have to look, do anything that I choice not to do. I have a choice to live in freedom or to live in slavery to sex sites and lust. Moreover, when it comes to believing no one will find out remember God is watching. In addition, remember that eventually your sins will be made public. I know a few famous preachers that believed they would get away with their sin but they didn’t and neither will you.

Let me challenge you to try a different way before it is too late. Try telling yourself the truth it works if you work it.