Pornography is designed to stimulate sexual feelings. Viewing pornography is part of a cycle of thinking, feeling, and acting which is used to distract and comfort people. When some men (or women) experience emotional pain like emptiness, stress, anxiety, loneliness, boredom, grief, depression, etc., they turn to pornography to alleviate their distress. When they see the arousing pictures of women, they become sexually stimulated and they forget their pain. Yes, powerful sexual feelings can subdue emotional pain. The behavior does give relief and it definitely works. However, these people believe this is a victimless solution as they are not acting sexually with another person. But pornography is highly destructive.

First, it hurts the person’s relationship with God. Whenever we are in pain, God wants us to turn to Him. “When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” (James 1:2) Why would James say that? How can pain bring us joy? Because when we turn to God for help, our relationship with God grows and we are transformed into Christlikeness. Personally, I am very, very thankful for my painful experiences. When I look back, it was during those times of deepest pain, that I grew the most. I would not trade my trials for anything.

God has promised to be there with us in all of our hard experiences. Are you stressed and burdened? “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’” Matt. 11:28. Are you lonely? “God places the lonely in families.” Psalm 68:6. Do feelings of grief and sorrow fill your soul? “Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me…” Psalm 119:76. Are you bored? Then work. “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:8,9.  Are you full of doubts and don’t know what to do? “When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” Psalm 94:19, “I meditate on your age-old regulations; O LORD, they comfort me.” Psalm 119:52.

Some may say that they use pornography for sexual release. This is nowhere authorized in the Scriptures. The Bible always tells men to “enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days…” Ecclesiastes 9:9. Learning to love and find sexual joy with your wife can produce great character development. If a man is not married, ask God to bless you with a wife, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.” Proverbs 18:22.

Can you see that by turning to pornography instead of God, that person is using sexual arousal as his god of comfort? No, we must resist the temptation to use pornography to help us. James 1:14, 15, 12, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death…God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” 

Additional Resource:
Christian Questions Podcast Episode #1039: “Have You Lost Faith in Your Spiritual Leaders?”
The dangers, pitfalls and powerful reality of Christian leadership
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CQ Rewind Show Notes