LCG: Pornography, Who’s Tempting Whom?

In today’s commentary, Adam J. West of the Living Church of God (LCG) wrote:

Are you a man? Are you plagued with battling vivacious visages of semi-clad women so common in modern-day marketing and entertainment? If so, lend me your undivided attention! If you are struggling with the secret seduction of viewing pornography and want help to conquer this societal scourge – read on!

To illustrate the pervasive problem pornography has become, the following are some startling and sobering statistics from the Internet Filter Review in regard to internet pornography:

U.S. pornography revenue: $13.3 billion

Pornographic websites: 4.2 million (12% of total websites)

Pornographic pages: 420 million

Daily pornographic search engine requests: 68 million (25% of total search engine requests)

Daily pornographic e-mails: 2.5 billion (8% of total e-mails)

U.S. adults who regularly visit Internet pornography Web sites: 40 million

Internet users who view pornography: 42.7%…

One lengthy look and you start storing away mental images. Click after click and soon, you’ve lost track of time and your integrity!…

You want to change, but how to do so eludes you! Yet time after time you face this continual battle to no avail. You may ask yourself, “Why can’t I stop?” Those who are familiar with the Bible understand the reality of a powerful spirit being named Satan. They may blame the Devil for their lack of will power. They employ the old saying, “The Devil made me do it!”

But is this always the case? Is it Satan’s problem, or is it yours? James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote: “…each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (James 1:14). Granted, Satan is called the tempter in scripture (Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5). However, until a person faces his own desires and addresses what is motivating him to act in certain ways, he will fight a losing battle!

Our desires, put plainly, are what we want. And what we want we do! So, ask yourself these questions: “What is it that I want? What do I feel I gain by doing this?” When a person can ask and answer these questions honestly, then he can begin down the road to victory. He can begin to conquer his wrong desires.

James also states, “Happy is the man who doesn’t give in and do wrong when he is tempted…” (James 1:12, Living Bible Translation). It seems many seek happiness in life, yet the path to happiness, in regard to purity and cleanness, is tied directly with not giving in and doing wrong when temptation rears its ugly head.

The most important question is, “Who’s tempting whom?” We must not tempt God by continuing in sinful ways and habits. Even though scripture is clear that God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone (James 1:13), yet it is still possible to put God to the test, and God does not play that game. We must not test the limits of God’s mercy and long-suffering.

If God is bringing you to understanding that viewing pornography is sin and if He is revealing to your mind, through the powerful messages you find on Tomorrow’s World, that there is a better way of life – a way that leads to real happiness – then continue to read and study and seek God with all your heart. Read the article, “Pornography: Pleasurable Pastime or Toxic Threat?” And above all, make sure it’s not you who is tempting God! Read more

Pornography is wrong. Those who provide it, however, often make a lot of money and feel that they are not harming anybody. But in addition to themselves, they are also harming society–as are their customers/viewers.

Any one (male or female) who is addicted to pornography obviously is in a state of sin and needs repentance.

Perhaps this post will give those involved in it, pause to reflect, consider, and repent.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Were the Ten Commandments in Effect Before Mount Sinai? Some have said not. This article provides biblical quotes to answer this important question.
Job and the Ten Commandments Was Job written prior to Mount Sinai? Did Job know about the ten commandments? This article provides biblical answers to those questions.
What Did Jesus Teach About the Ten Commandments? This article quotes what Jesus actually said about them (His words are in red).
Were the Ten Commandments Nailed to the Cross? Some have said so. This article provides some biblical quotes to answer this important question.
What Did Paul Actually Teach About the Ten Commandments? Many say Paul taught against the ten commandments. Is this true? This article quotes Paul with his words in green.
Are the Ten Commandment Still in Effect? This article quotes the ten commandments and combines some of the previous articles into one article about the ten commandments. The commandments are shown at Mount Sinai, before Mount Sinai, in the teachings of Jesus, after the crucifixion, and in the teachings of Paul. It addresses the most common “traditions of men” regarding them as well.
Were the Pharisees Condemned for Keeping the Law or Reasoning Around it? Many believe that the Pharisees were condemned for keeping the law, but what does your Bible say? If they were not condemned for that, what were they condemned for?
The Ten Commandments Reflect Love, Breaking them is Evil Some feel that the ten commandments are a burden. Is that what Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John taught?
Was the Commandment to Love the Only Command? Some have stated that John’s writings teach this, but is that what the Bible really says?
The Ten Commandments and the Early Church Did Jesus and the Early Church keep the ten commandments? What order were they in? Here are quotes from the Bible and early writings.