You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28
The house that stands in the storm will be the house of the man that guards his heart from the lusts of his eyes. This is an incredibly important issue for the church in America; particularly when you consider the houses that are being built around our pastors and our fellowships. Of all the judgment that will come to the house of God (1Peter 4:17), the judgment for this sin will be one of the most severe.
Consider the statistics. A Leadership Journal survey reports that four in ten pastors online have visited a pornographic Web site; and more than one-third have done so in the past year. Expastors.com reports that, of the 1,351 pastors that Rick Warren’s website, Pastors.com, surveyed on porn use, 54% said they had viewed internet pornography within the last year and 30% of those had visited within the last 30 days.
Patrick Means, author of Men’s Secret Wars, reveals that 63% of pastors surveyed confirm that they are struggling with sexual addiction or sexual compulsion including, but not limited to, the use of pornography, compulsive masturbation, or other secret sexual activity. Furthermore, 75% of pastors do not make themselves accountable to anyone for their Internet use.
The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matthew 6:22
Without question, pornography is one of the vilest demonic attacks unleashed on the church. If pastors are suffering in this way, what would we imagine for the rest of the congregation? BTW: Men are 5.3 times more likely to be addicted to pornography. Honestly, I am surprised that the number is not higher. This epidemic is affecting women more than I thought.
It would be easy and common to throw the victims under the bus. Yes, Christians are ultimately responsible for their own personal decisions. However, we must keep in mind that these are our brethren; and captives of our most powerful enemy. We must speak the truth, and discipline, in the unconditional and sacrificial love of God. In this, we will stand apart from the world and destroy the enemy’s plans.
I believe the Lord is trying to tell us that “doing these sayings of Mine” is a community effort. Most victims suffer in addictive sin because we have become an isolated community of believers. Perhaps the most telling statistic above is the one related to pastor accountability. Every one of us should be accountable to the community of Jesus Christ. We should desire that protection for each other.
With all this in mind, I am going to make two bold suggestions; both of which will take great courage. First, implement an internet accountability program for your church fellowship – beginning with your pastor. Ground this endeavor in combative prayer. Identify prayer warriors and put them to work covering the spiritual battle field of your fellowship. Satan will vehemently and violently resist.
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7
Second, a word to the women in our fellowships: Please stop dressing in a way that invites your brothers to lust after you with their eyes. Men are created by God to be attracted to certain things. Trust that the beauty of Jesus Christ in you is more valuable that the beauty of your appearance.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1Peter 3:3-4
Humbly yours and forever His,
