I went to a men’s chili cook-off this past Sunday evening at our church.  Mike Young, founder of Noble Warriors, a local men’s ministry, admonished the men for the pervasive use of porn in our Christian culture.  He recently had an opportunity to talk with a young woman, who indicated that porn has become epidemic on college campuses.  It’s in open view, without shame, on computer displays everywhere.  He was shocked, particularly about her casual attitude about it.  He reminded us of the conversation that God had with Cain, “sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  Viewing pornography is a very dangerous area to thread upon because it is so highly addictive.  In 2014, Proven Men Ministries commissioned the Barna Group, a leading research organization focused on faith in our changing culture, to conduct a national survey related to the use and effects of pornography.  According to the survey, which is entitled “2014 Pornography Survey and Statistics,” about 55-77 percent of Christian men view porn monthly.  About 18-32 percent of Christian men admit being addicted to porn, and these numbers are purportedly higher.  I estimate that about 300 men attended the chili cook-off on Sunday.  Based on the statistics above, about 165 to 231 of these men, Christian men, had viewed porn in the past month, and about 54 to 96 are addicted to it.  When put in this perspective, it’s alarming.  I have talked with a number of Christian men in confidence who admit having a struggle with porn.  Men are hiding in the darkness, with unconfessed sin.  They are accountable to no one.  Sin is ruling over them.  If they confessed this sin, based on the statistics above, they would very likely find other men who are struggling with the same sin.  Confession is the first step towards becoming accountable.  As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.  Quit hiding your sin.  Start ruling over it!

Get honest about your Internet use.  Send Internet use reports to someone you trust to hold you accountable.  For more information, visit CovenantEyes, an Internet filter and accountability service.