This year's topic for New Wine New Wineskins was masculinity and femininity. Several of the workshops at the conference dealt more specifically with the subject of pornography. I wanted to bullet-point some take-homes/thoughts that I think are important.
And please respond! This is such an important issue, and your voice needs to be heard. Hopefully this note can help keep the conversation going.
* Sex-trafficking and pornography are inextricable subjects; they are parts of the same dehumanizing monster. We cannot forget that fueling the pornographic industry is fueling this monster. The more that Christians access porn the more we drive the whole industry and objectify human beings. This is absolutely essential to understanding the significance of the issue. It is simply a contradiction to fight sex-trafficking and harbor a pornographic addiction.
* The most practical way to fight this monster is to strike the root: to create a zero tolerance policy for pornography and to develop a passion for purity and holiness. The problem is dehumanization, and the answer is sanctification and purity. While there is a place for social justice programs, these can often merely hack at the symptoms. The most practical response begins in your own room, and in your own heart.
* There should be open conversation and integrity between men and women. Obviously, there is a unique relationship and conversation among brothers and among sisters that must be respected. But what I have noticed is that men and women tend to wall each other out in this conversation. Guys deal with "guy things" and girls deal with "girl things." I think that by doing this we have created an unhealthy system of commiseration. Men desperately need to hear their sisters' voices, and vice-versa. Sisters, please tell your brothers that you actually care whether or not they look at porn, that you actually care about your value and worth. Men need to hear it. Men, we need to let our sisters have a voice in this issue. Brothers and sisters ought to work together to rid the church of this monster.
* Drag the monster into the light. Our generation is becoming more and more educated in this subject. I am thankful for this. It is an ugly monster, and it is despicable to see in the light, but the light will kill it. Pushing forward together with confession and repentance is key. Let your pride suffer. Whether you are a pastor in your forties or a woman who struggles with pornography, the way out is towards the light, towards openness and confession. The light brings healing.
What underlies this whole subject is the value and worth of human beings as sons and daughters created in the image of a relational God. Pornography is "the most destructive weapon Satan is using in our generation to destroy relational intimacy and damage healthy sexuality," as Steve and Celestia said.
God's holy image is stamped on marriage, purity, and family.
Pursue purity and holiness and relational healing in your family and community before you pursue a successful ministry. If you are pursuing a successful ministry in spite of pornographic addiction or impurity, please repent. Your ministry is probably your subtle way of resisting the grace of Jesus. "Yes, I have an ongoing addiction... but I do this or that great thing for the kingdom too..." This is nothing short of self-righteousness and pride. Hear Jesus' call. There is no greater priority in working for the kingdom. Pursue purity and holiness.
1 John 1:5-10"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
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