The High Cost of Free Porn: Hindering God's Mission and Perpetuating Injustice

The Devastating Cost of Free Porn

In the age of the internet, free porn is just a click away. But at what cost?

In recent years, the topic of pornography has become more mainstream, with celebrities and public figures speaking out about the harmful effects of porn addiction. One such figure is Terry Crews, former NFL player and actor, who shared his struggles with porn addiction and the toll it took on his marriage and personal life.

While the personal effects of pornography addiction are undeniable, the cost of free porn goes beyond just individual lives. Pornography hinders the mission of God in the world in multiple ways. Here are three ways that free porn comes at a high cost for society, and what the Bible has to say about it.

1. Pornography Hinders God’s Mission in Our Own Lives

Perhaps the most obvious cost of free porn is the toll it takes on our own lives. Porn addiction can lead to a host of psychological and social consequences, including depression, anxiety, and decreased intimacy in relationships.

But the cost of pornography goes beyond just personal struggles. In Ephesians 5:3-5, Paul writes, “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

As believers, we are called to live lives that are pleasing to God and free from sexual immorality. When we indulge in pornography, we are not only sinning against God, but we are hindering our ability to live out his mission in the world. Pornography addiction can lead us to become more self-focused, leading us away from loving others and serving God.

2. Pornography Contributes to the Objectification of Women

Another cost of free porn is the objectification of women. Pornography often depicts women as objects to be used for sexual pleasure, rather than as individuals with inherent dignity and worth.

As Christians, we believe that all people are made in the image of God and have inherent dignity and worth. In Genesis 1:27, we read, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” When we view women as objects for our sexual pleasure, we are devaluing the very image of God that they bear.

Furthermore, the objectification of women in pornography contributes to a culture that normalizes sexual violence and exploitation. According to the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, “Research has found that the more pornography one views, the more likely they are to engage in sexually aggressive behaviors, as well as engage in risky sexual behavior.”

3. Pornography Perpetuates the Demand for Sexual Exploitation

Finally, the cost of free porn goes beyond just individual struggles and the objectification of women. Pornography perpetuates the demand for sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

According to the International Labour Organization, there are an estimated 40.3 million victims of human trafficking worldwide, with 81% of them being trapped in forced labor and 25% being children. Pornography is often a part of the demand for human trafficking, as traffickers use porn to groom and sell their victims.

As believers, we are called to love our neighbors and seek justice for the oppressed. In Isaiah 58:6, we read, “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?” When we consume pornography, we are contributing to the demand for sexual exploitation and perpetuating the very injustice that God calls us to fight against.

Hope for Sinners

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the devastating cost of free porn. But as Christians, we have hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel reminds us that we are all sinners in need of God’s grace and forgiveness.

In 1 John 1:9, we read, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” When we struggle with pornography addiction, we can come to God in confession and repentance, knowing that he is faithful to forgive us and restore us.

Furthermore, the gospel empowers us to live lives that are pleasing to God and free from sexual immorality. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we read, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome pornography addiction and live lives that reflect the image of God in us.

Conclusion

The cost of free porn is high, both for individuals and society as a whole. Pornography addiction hinders our ability to live out God’s mission in the world, contributes to the objectification of women, and perpetuates the demand for sexual exploitation.

But as believers, we have hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through confession and repentance, we can find forgiveness and restoration. And through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome pornography addiction and live lives that reflect the image of God in us.

Let us be a people who seek to honor God with our bodies and our lives, and who work to bring justice and freedom to those who are oppressed by the demand for sexual exploitation.