As we all know, the Bible tells us we need to abstain from sin in order to achieve intimacy with Christ. Yet, one of the biggest barriers to true intimacy is the false intimacy pornography provides. In a world where porn can be found by a simple click of a mouse, churches need to be aware and provide the necessary tools and resources to help both men and women burdened by this destructive addiction. Pastors are finding themselves ill- equipped and the number of men and women affected by this issue is growing at an alarming rate. The tendency of today’s churches, however is to pretend the sin doesn’t exist rather than admit they don’t have the proper resources to deal with this growing problem. As leaders turn a blind eye, families are drifting away not only from their marriages, but also from God. If we want to combat this problem once and for all, help needs to start at home. One way is to put proper safeguards into place to make it difficult for children to gain access to the material if they have never viewed it before, and to bring the issue into the light and provide answers if porn is a problem.

 

 

The alarming statistics

According to National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families, 2010, 47% of families in the United States reported that pornography is a problem in their home1. If your family is struggling with this issue, chances are higher your children will be exposed to it at an earlier age and therefore struggle with it as well. Studies show the average age a child is exposed to pornography is eight years of age. 2 Along with the seemingly easy access to pornography, the downplaying of looking at porn as a destroyer of relationships on TV and in today’s music, porn can pose a major problem that is not resolved, can leave families devastated. If porn is a struggle in your home, there is hope.

 

Here are three ways you can porn proof your home.

 

Talk about it- Open communication is a must when it comes to exposing and eradicating this sin. The appeal of any sin is its ability to be kept in the dark. When Adam and Eve first struggled, God gave shutterstock_1449138191them the opportunity to confess it and return to paradise. but instead they refused to take responsibility and blamed each other. Your kids are looking to your for guidance and direction. Be open and honest about sexuality, puberty and all other issues surrounding it. The more embarrassed we are to talk about it, the less our kids will want to come to us about it. 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” As Christians, we are commanded to expose the dark things of life into the light so we can experience freedom that comes through Jesus Christ.

 

Filter it– Kids can navigate the web faster than we can channel surf. Growing up in a technologically advanced age, this is their reality. Porn can be more easily accesses than ever before, simply by misspelling a word in the Google search bar. Kids at ten years of age should not have access to everything on the Internet. Seeing porn at an early age can have a devastating effect on them emotionally and mentally. Purchase filters to block your children from accessing these sites. www.truevine.net, www.barracuda.com and www.netnanny.com are all great places to start.

 

Study it- Like many issues, the Bible does not give clear- cut examples as to how to eliminate the temptation of porn to enter your home. However, there are great resources to help you understand more about this struggle and practical ways you can permanently erase it from your home. The following books are from Christian men and women who have or experienced this first hand and can help you better understand its devastating effects:

 

Pure Eyes, Clean Heart: A Couple’s Journey to Freedom From Pornography by Craig and Jen Ferguson.

 

Healing Your Marriage When Trust Is Broken by Cindy Beall and Craig Groeschel.

 

Porn can be a destructive behavior. Although it is addictive in nature it can be eliminated and healing and freedom are possible. By establishing an open and honest line of communication with your children you can prevent them from becoming porn’s next victim.

1 http://www.webroot.com/us/en/home/resources/tips/digital-family-life/internet-pornography-by-the-numbers

2http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/sexuality/when-children-use-pornography/when-children-view-pornography