A couple weeks ago, Liberation Track went to Atlanta to receive training from “Out of Darkness” which is a local, anti-trafficking ministry. They spoke on various topics related to sex trafficking, we heard testimonies, and they gave us training to be able to volunteer with them in different capacities.
One thing that really stood out to me from this event is the topic of pornography. It is extremely prevalent and incredibly harmful to the viewer and those involved. You may hear people say that pornography is harmless, a normal part of life, and even healthy. It’s just not true. Studies show that pornography affects our brains in multiple ways:
- It decreases our sexual satisfaction
- Disconnects us from real relationships
- Lowers our view of women
- Desensitizes us to cruelty
- Makes us want more porn1
After a while, porn becomes not enough. It causes people to need something more and with the way it affects us it can lead to things like buying girls for sex. We need to stop sweeping this topic under the rug. The longer we allow it to stay in the dark, the more the problem will grow. Another important reason we need to remove the stigma from this topic and start discussing it’s impacts is because the average age of exposure to pornography is 8 years old. If porn has as negative implications as studies show, is prevalent enough for our kids to stumble across, and stays as taboo as it currently is, this will have seriously detrimental implications. Let’s start addressing it and dealing with it.
Let’s also not ignore the fact that it’s real people on the screen. Watching porn is not a harmless act when it fuels an industry that drugs and abuses women. Despite what might be depicted, none of the women in these films truly want to be there. Many times these women are tricked or they may have made poor choices through unfortunate circumstances that led them there (most often these decisions being made as a pre-teen). I promise you none of them just woke up one morning and decided that’s what they wanted to do with their life. Once the women are in, they are often trapped in the industry through psychological games and physical abuse. Porn isn’t worth supporting this treatment and use of God’s beautiful daughters this way.
A great resource you can look into about the effects of pornography is fightthenewdrug.org
If you are someone who struggles with pornography, the best advice I can give you on how to deal with it is accountability. Sin has control over our lives when we leave it in secret. Pornography stands firm on the three facts that it’s accessible, free, and anonymous. Removing anonymity from the equation is definitely a step in the right direction.1 Share with others what triggers you and be active and intentional to motivate one another to resist temptation. We are called to confess to one another, encourage each other, pray for one another, and keep each other accountable. Don’t keep it in the dark any longer. Put your hope in Christ’s power and let God replace your fleshly desires with His holy ones. I promise you are not the only one struggling, don’t go in this fight alone.
1. Information pulled from article received through Out of Darkness “Your Brain on Porn” by Luke Gilkerson.
