For some, boiling all human problems down to “idolatry” might seem like a bit of a stretch, but I am convinced every imbalance, every injustice, and every moral problem is under-girded by a “worship disorder.” We choose to worship false gods.
One of my personal idols was pornography. My attraction to it was not unlike religious devotion. To be sure, part of me hated pornography because it was so addicting and so controlling. But in reality, pornography was one of my gods.
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Digging Beneath the Surface
How does idolatry drive something like pornography addiction? In Colossians 3:5 Paul tells his readers, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” In this list, Paul goes from the most overt to the least overt sexual sins. It’s as if he is peeling away layers like an onion, looking for the sin underneath the sin.
Paul starts with outward behavior, moves to attitudes, and finally drills down deep to the place of desire. And underneath it all is “idolatry.” Deep within us, it is idolatry that drives our cravings for evil things.
John Calvin said, “The human heart is a factory of idols.” We were created as worshipers, and when the true God does not occupy the place of primacy in our hearts, we will find something or someone to take His place. It is unavoidable.
If I wanted to be able to just post the video part on my facebook is there a link this was derived from that I could copy and paste or is my best bet to just direct them to this whole page… just tagging the video though would be awesome though, thanks!
@Michael – You can find this video on the Mars Hill Church website.
i’ve watched 100’s of hours of XXX stuff, i’m sick & tired of it kinda. being a lover of pleasure rather than a lover of God. that’s my struggle, i love Jesus for saving me from my sin! i quite drinking (5yrs), smoking (2yrs), lusting not yet! help Jesus, help!
@hermann – I know how you feel. I have no idea how many countess hours I’ve spent looking at porn. May I ask you what sort of help you’ve sought out?
I am in the same situation. I cannot quit watching porn and masturbating.
I thought that getting merried will change my situation and I could be a real worshiper of God, but it didn’t.
This thing is still keeping me far from what God wants me to be!
What can I do? I really love Jesus and pray everyday, but I still go back to this situation from time to time! And I repent all the time and I say I can stop it and I pray for this, but then it happens again and I fall again in this sin.
I’m totally lost! I don’t know what to do! Maybe someone has an answer for me! I mean a practical one.
I know that is should work like Jesus changing your life, and He did change mine, but I still have this problem.
Maybe I am not close enough to God, maybe I don’t have the relation that I would need to have with Him! But this sin is still throwing me back, and I need to start all over again!
It’s a very guilty bad feeling…like ok…God is forgiveing me today, forgiving me tomorrow, but how much should he forgive me? If I am on the same situation?! :(
@R – One of the things I’ve written about before is the importance of repenting of going down the tempting paths. Remember Proverbs 7? We see in that text a young, foolish man, heading headlong into the direction of temptation. The whole chapter has some astonishing parallels to our own struggles with pornography. Here are some thoughts from an upcoming book we’re going to release on this site:
No, that’s not it. The problem is even when you accept Jesus into your life he cleanses the soul, but the body or flesh however will be continuously drawn to wickedness. That fact alone will highlight the conflict within all of us that’s born again. Keep fighting for your soul keep pulling for God through Christ Jesus. We all suffer and strain myself included. Sometimes I want to watch porn so bad it pains me. The enemy whispers in my ear “It’s not so wrong, it’s not like it’s a physical act.” The enemy is clever he knows how to pursue in individually he knows my unmovable stance against adultery so he backdoors my spiritual relationship with the Lord through idolatry which is spiritual adultery. Please fight brothers and sister even if you fall get up a fight! Don’t allow Satan to convince you it’s not wrong or “so bad” when it is. I will pray for all of you that struggle like I do and if we all stand firm I know we’ll see each other and celebrate with God together.