Let’s face it; it’s difficult to talk about pornography, especially among Christians. We get overwhelmed with feelings of shame and embarrassment while fearing how others will regard us with disgust or disdain. However, this issue is a huge struggle for a ton of Christians (and non-Christians) in the world today. Drawing on some of what he shared last week about spiritual disciplines, Blake Cortright joins us once again to tackle this sensitive topic. He explains why porn is so hard to quit as well as reasons why it’s worth it to gain freedom from this taskmaster. In a remarkable display of courage and honesty, Cortright also shares his own 10+ year struggle with pornography and what measures he took that finally liberated him.
Warning, if children are around, although we do not discuss any graphic content, the general topic is probably inappropriate, depending on the ages.
Notes and Links:
- Follow Blake Cortright on Twitter @blakecortright
- Check out Interview 19: Spiritual Disciplines
- Intro music: “District Four” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.
What a powerful interview. Thank you Mr. Cortwright for being transparent and for sharing your experience. I’m thankful that I was able to get married at the young age of 20, yet I still struggled with pornography from time to time. I think that being part of a Church environment where grace is being taught down your throat and even if you sin it doesn’t really matter.. because.. well… we’ve got His grace!!! I believe I’ve already expressed in previous comments on the Restituio page, how God has done a miraculous work in my life, placing within me a tremendous desire to know Him and His son so much better. In regards to the issue of sexual temptation and struggle, when I was studying Isaiah a couple of years ago I dug deep into 66:1
[Thus says the LORD,“Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is a house you could build for Me?And where is a place that I may rest?] In my studies I pondered the idea of God’s feet reaching down to the earth. I examined some Rabbinic commentaries and struck this Talmudic passage “Whoever commits a sin secretly is considered as if he pushed away the feet of God’s presence.{Kiddushin 31a} I digested the concept that if I sin secretly, if I do a sin that I would be ashamed to do in public, it would be as if I’m pushing away God’s feet (His presence) I ended up with the mindset that when I would commit this type of secret “alone” sin that it would be as if I’m denying the existence of God. Through God’s spirit ,this verse and Rabbinic commentary, really struck me and helped me repent of my sin. Again, thanks for this awesome and transparent interview. Read on Black, read on!
Brian
Just curious – what do you think would have happened to you if you did not get married until 30 or 40 or 50 or even 60… or never.
This is the second podcast which includes a warning of inappropriate content for children; the other was Podcast 81 which was indeed inappropriate for children. We must remember that children have access to Christian websites; perhaps then a Christian website is not the place for content that requires such a warning.
You are concerned about kids accessing this website on the internet because it is inappropriate? You should be concerned with why the government in charge of regulating the internet allows such unrestricted content to be published on it.
Something that helped me is Melissa Otto (Australian Christian singer) “Don’t Give Up” and “Goodbye Old Man” music videos, you can find them her YouTube. Before visiting porn sites watch these videos. Watch “Don’t Give Up” twice then “Goodbye Old man” then, hopefully, the temptation will pass.
What neither of you mention is simple and direct scripture answers. We live in a culture where marriage and family relationships are completely attacked….God is not complicated. The Scripture gives direct scriptural answer for our problems and y’all should be teaching this to people.
1 Corinthians 7:9
But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
1 Timothy 5:14
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
Proverbs 18:22
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.