PORNOGRAPHY:
Freedom from Pornography
pdf version for print and distribution available here
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When police found the bloodstained body of 7 year old Ramonde Jacobs,
of Mitchells Plain, they discovered – five metres away – the pornography
saturated room of the rapist who had murdered her. The walls were covered
with pin-ups from Scope, Stag and Bunny Girl (Cape Times, June 1991).
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Nineteen year old Elvis Jotamo testified in court that it was
while paging through a Scope magazine that he visualised a sexual fantasy
with an acquaintance. Over a six week period his fantasy developed into
an obsession. He testified of how he had strangled Linsey Boyd and then
had sex with her corpse (Die Burger 5/8/93). He was sentenced to life
imprisonment for rape and murder (Argus 21/9/93).
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Convicted serial killer and Norwood rapist, Jacobus Geldenhuys,
26, testified that he was relieved when police arrested him as he knew
he was incapable of stopping himself from committing further similar
crimes. Geldenhuys was convicted of 15 charges including five counts
of murder and three of rape. His constant obsession with violent and
pornographic videos could also have played an indirect role in the happenings,
the Rand Supreme Court heard (Citizen, 21/9/93).
"Then when
lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished,
bringeth forth death." James 1:15
The present breakdown of
moral standards and the increase in lawlessness and break-up of families
is related. Pornography is hostile to law and morality. It favours rebellion
against morality and it advocates and encourages adultery, homosexuality,
perversion and carnal desire. Pornography discriminates against and exploits
women for profit. Testimony presented to the US Attorney General’s Commission
on Pornography led them to unanimously declare that hard core pornography
is a "manual for rape."
Pornography is the theory
– rape is the practise
Advertisers know that what
we see influences what we think and therefore what we do. Ideas have
consequences. Actions flow from thought patterns. That is why companies
invest millions of rands into advertising – because visual stimulation
works. What you see influences what you become and what you do. Exposure
to sexually explicit material will affect our thought patterns and habits.
And pornography can be addictive.
Alcoholism is not cured
through alcohol, nor is hunger satisfied with pictures of food. Porn is
an insatiable cancer, stalking and devouring with ever-increasing appetite.
The more one ingests, the greater the lust for more.
Dr. Victor Cline, a clinical
psychologist at the University of Utah, USA, describes the four-step process
whereby a person becomes addicted to porn:
Step 1: Addiction
to the material and repeated return to it for sexual excitement.
Step 2: Escalation
in the individual’s need for more explicit, deviant and sexually
shocking material to achieve the same level of sexual stimulation.
Step 3: Desensitisation
towards initially gross and shocking material so that, in time,
this material becomes acceptable and desirable to the viewer.
Step 4: Increased
tendency to start "acting out" sexual activities
seen in porn.
Clearly pornography
is addictive, progressive and dangerous. Pornography desensitizes, removes
inhibitions and undermines moral restraint. And pornography is destructive.
It destroys morals, minds, minors and marriages:
The Law of God forbids
adultery and covetousness:
"You shall
not commit adultery . . . You shall not covet
your neighbour’s wife . . . or maidservant . . ."
Exodus 20:14,17
Our Lord Jesus Christ warned
that:
"Anyone who looks
at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It
is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body
to be thrown into hell." Matt. 5:28-29
Pornography is addictive:
". . . due to the hardening of their hearts. Having
lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so
as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more."
Ephesians 4:18-19
Pornography attacks
the image of God in people (Genesis 1:27).
Pornography is anti-Christian:
"Do not be
deceived; neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers
nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders . . .
will inherit the Kingdom of God . . . The body
is not meant for sexual immorality . . . Do you
not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?" 1 Corinthians
6:9-19
Pornography involves the
exploitation of women and often leads to the abuse of women
and children.
"Whatever you
did for one of the least of these . . . you did
for Me." Matthew 25:40
Hope for the Porn Addict
"If the Son sets
you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36
For those who are already
ensnared in the compulsive web of pornography it’s not too late. "The
Lord has anointed me to preach good news . . . to
proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners."
Isaiah 61:1. There is hope for the addict who desires freedom from the
time, money and energy consuming obsession of pornography.
"You, my brothers,
were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the
sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." Galatians
5:13
The people at Ephesus (Acts
19:17-20) were really converted. They had come to love God and to hate
sin. They wanted to obey the Word of God and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
They wanted their lifestyles to be transformed. They didn’t keep their
old books hidden in the basement. They wanted to make a clear and clean
break with the pagan publications of their past. They knew that if they
kept these scrolls then they might be tempted to return to them.
We need to show the same dedication today.
Those who are Christians need to tear up and burn the pornographic books,
magazines, posters and videos in their homes. Are you willing to destroy
those things which are threatening to destroy your family and yourself?
It doesn’t matter how much money all these things cost. They are accursed
and you have to get rid of them. As the fire from those books went up
– so the fire of the Holy Spirit came down.
Isn’t that what you need
in your life?
"Therefore,
there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because
through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from
the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2
Jesus said: "Go now
and leave your life of sin." John 8:11
What Can I Do About Porn?
Information:
Read "Finding Freedom
From the Pornography Plague" and "Make a Difference - A Christian
Action Handbook for South Africa."
Contact ACA for a list
of other available resources, tapes, videos and books.
Intercession:
Pray for those addicted
to pornography, for the victims of pornography, the children, rape victims
and those manipulated into prostitution and pornography. Pray that God
will bring the pornographers to repentance or that He will remove them.
Involvement:
Join Africa Christian
Action, Christians for Truth, STOP, Christians Against Pornography or
any other pro-family group that is making a stand and doing something
positive against the exploitative industry of pornography.
Speak up and voice
your objections to storeowners who peddle porn. Encourage those who don’t
stock anti-family materials to stand firm.
Write letters to
government officials and editors of publications urging action to protect
women and children from exploitation and abuse.
Contact: Africa Christian
Action for more information, for counselling or resources to help you
in the fight against pornography.
Obtain: Finding Freedom
from the Pornography Plague – for just R8 a copy; and Make a Difference
-A Christian Action Handbook for S.A. - for R59 a copy.
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For
more information and resources contact:
AFRICA CHRISTIAN ACTION
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