Pornography──Becoming Recognized as "Normal"

by Leonard V Johnson

Pornography as we know it today was first published and invented in 1524 AD in Rome. Marcantonio Raimondi published 16 sexually explicit engravings by Giulio Romano entitled the I Modi. And, photography, which was invented in 1826 AD, unsurprisingly soon led to pornographic photos.

Pornography──in this present evil age──is becoming evermore recognized by secular sources as “normal.” Notice what the BBC (a noticeably Left-Center biased news source) put out concerning pornography –

November 29, 2024

'I couldn’t stop watching': Personal stories of how porn obsession takes over lives.

Ofcom’s Online Nation 2024 report suggests 29% of United Kingdom adults accessed online porn in May 2024. Additionally, new research from addiction treatment center, UKAT, suggests that millions of Britons are viewing pornography regularly – with 1.8 million watching daily, some multiple times a day.

According to treatment providers, more people are seeking help for problematic porn use.

Dr Paula Hall, a UKCP-accredited sexual and relationship psychotherapist at The Laurel Centre, in London, specializes in helping people affected by sex addiction and porn addiction.

“The numbers of clients seeking help with pornography problems at The Laurel Centre have doubled over recent years, as have our requests from health professionals for further training,” she tells the BBC.

Dr Hall explains that they have also seen a growing number of younger people seeking help.

“Ten years ago the majority of our clients would have been married men in their 40s and 50s who were seeking help because their partner had discovered their use of sex workers,” she says.

“But increasingly, our clients are in their 20s and 30s, many of whom are single, who are recognizing the growing toll of porn use on their lives and on their ability to get or maintain a relationship.” …

“Young people tell me their exposure to pornography is widespread and normalized – with the average age at which children first seeing pornography being 13 years old,” Dame Rachel de Souza, the current Children’s Commissioner, tells the BBC.

“Pornography is no longer confined to dedicated adult sites – children tell me they can see violent content, depicting coercive, degrading or pain-inducing sexual acts on social media.”

As on Facebook and MeWe!

Continuing…

“The implications of seeing this kind of material are vast – my research has found that frequent users of pornography are more likely to engage in physically aggressive sex acts.”

De Souza adds that it is “vital” for high-quality relationship and sex education to be given parity of importance with other subjects to help young people understand that pornography is unrealistic.”

(https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg57r337rvzo)

Now, pornography is unrealistic──but pornography can certainly also be dangerous to a relationship. It is HARMFUL mentally and spiritually to those who are enticed by it!

King Solomon, the wisest man of his time, inspired by the very Spirit of God says –

“My son, if sinners entice you, DO NOT CONSENT. 11) If they say, ‘Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12) Let us swallow them alive like Sheol [meaning, the grave], And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; 13) We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; 14) Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse’ ──

15) My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path.” – Proverbs 1:10-14.

The Satan-inspired pornography industry is indeed a sin-filled abomination unto the LORD God──and they have been from the beginning trying to entice people to sin!

We can certainly think of the ancient city of Pompeii (which was utterly destroyed in 79 AD by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius), which was a haven for the Roman mores of pornography, lust, and sex!

God’s living immutable word speaks against being “secretly enticed.” The prophet Job (Phonetic Pronunciation of Job is dzhob) in his discourse says –

“’ If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’; 25) If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much; 26) If I have observed the sun [literally the light] when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness, 27) So that my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand; 28) This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above.’” – Job 31:24-28.

He also speaks against being “secretly enticed” regarding sexual lust –

“’ I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? [see: Matthew 5:28] … 9) ‘If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door, 10) Then let my wife grind for another, And let others bow down over her. 11) For that would be wickedness; Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.’” – Job 31:1, 9-11.

Now, NEVER THINK that one can view pornography secretly──even though one may have an “InPrivate window” on their computer──because eventually, the LORD God says, “ … take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.” – Numbers 32:23.

I referenced this above, but again, notice what our Lord Jesus Christ says to us –

“’ You have heard that it was said to those of old [within the law of Moses], ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28) But I say to you that WHOEVER looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

29) If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you [in other words – STOP COMMITTING THAT SIN AND CAST THAT SIN AWAY FROM YOURSELF]; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell [here speaking of gehenna fire].’” – Matthew 5:27-29.

Also, the apostle Paul speaking to the Church there in Corinth –

“Do you not know that YOUR BODIES are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot [a prostitute; and especially in that era and location – a temple prostitute]? CERTAINLY NOT! 16) Or do you not know that he who joins to a harlot is one body with her? For ‘the two,’ He says, ‘shall become one flesh.’ 17) But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

18) Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality SINS AGAINST HIS OWN BODY. 19) Or do you not know that YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT [that] is in you, [which] you have from God, and you are not your own?

20) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” – 1 Corinthians 6:15-20.

Both physical and spiritual adultery is breaking the SEVENTH COMMANDMENT of the LORD God!

Our Lord Jesus, as well as the apostle Paul, WARNS US against stirring up, or mentally succumbing to sexual lust. “Sexual immorality” is most frequently translated as “fornication” ── in Greek porneia, meaning marital unfaithfulness, prostitution, adultery, a generic term for sexual sin of any kind.

Here are a few Scriptures that speak of sexual immorality –

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but FORNICATORS and ADULTERERS God will judge” – Hebrews 13:4.

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should ABSTAIN FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY; 4) that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5) not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles [or also the atheists] who do not know God.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5.

“But FORNICATION and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints. … 5) For THIS YOU KNOW, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” – Ephesians 5:3, 5.

And since pornography (in any form, i.e. video or magazine) causes a person to commit sexual immorality──our Lord Jesus Christ as well as the apostle Paul are also speaking about pornography! Including a person dressing inappropriately –

“’ A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the LORD your God.’” – Deuteronomy 22:5.

The apostle Paul──under the divine inspiration of God’s Spirit──admonishes us –

“I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; …” 

– especially in Church services.

9) in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing.”

Things that adorn a woman to bring prideful attention to herself.

10) but which is proper for women PROFESSING GODLINESS, with good works.” – 1 Timothy 2:8-10.

The apostle James explains how we come to sin against the LORD God –

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; … 14) But each one is tempted when he is drawn away BY HIS OWN DESIRES and enticed. 15) Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death [here speaking of the ‘second death’ – Revelation 21:8].” – James 1:12, 14-15.

When one flees sexual immorality, one endures (or rather resists) temptation.

The apostle James admonishes us, brethren, to always submit to God! –

“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’

7) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. … 10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” – James 4:6-8, 10.

Being double-minded literally means undecided in your faith and conviction to the LORD God, or being a hypocrite – as in condemning something, yet doing that same thing you just condemned.

Satan the Devil desires that you accept the falsehoods associated with pornography.

And, if you are struggling with any pornography──i.e. videos or magazines──go to the LORD God in prayer and supplication and ask for help and strength in overcoming the temptation of pornography. Or, contact Help.org for sexual addiction rehabilitation and treatment.

You, my dear friend, can overcome!

The apostle Paul, speaking to the saints that were in ancient Corinth –

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? DO NOT BE DECEIVED. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

11) AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU. But you were washed, [recall our Lord Jesus says, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.’ – John 13:8], but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. □