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Pornography is a sin. How do I know pornography is a sin?
Not everybody believes pornography is a sin
I remember doing prayer ministry with a young man several years ago and listening about his battle with pornography. He seemed desperate for answers and for a way out of his mess. I asked him if he ever spoke with a mature believer about his struggle. The young man told me that he spoke with his pastor about it. And to my surprise, he said that his pastor said that pornography is not a big deal and he should not worry about it.
Do you think that pastor is the only one who thinks that way about pornography? How many other pastors, priests or so-called spiritual leaders believe the same lie that pornography is not a sin? I know of Churches where the leaders say that pornography is OK—that’s a big lie. However, what does the Bible say?
Pornography is a sin in the Bible
One might ask where is pornography mentioned in the Bible as sin? We will look at that because it is mentioned, but not with the name of pornography.
In Exodus 20:14 (ESV) we read
You shall not commit adultery.
In my post about sin I defined sin not just as something we do, but also as something we think or imagine. Let’s see what Jesus says about this in Matthew 5:27-28 (AMP)
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who [so much as] looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
So, pornography fits perfectly into the words of Jesus.
In the passage above, Jesus explains to us, with the authority He has as the Son of God, what ‘do not commit adultery’ means. Mainly here Jesus is prohibiting all of us from lusting. And pornography is lusting!
More verses from the Bible
Jesus gives us the solution in Matthew 5:29-30 (AMP)
If your right eye makes you stumble and leads you to sin, tear it out and throw it away [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble and leads you to sin, cut it off and throw it away [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
[There are even some theologians suggesting that the right hand here means the male sexual organs]
Jesus continues to declare that it is better to lose some parts of your body than to end up in hell. Therefore, anyone who has his faith in Jesus will fight lust and knows that pornography is one form of sexual immorality. Yes, pornography is a sin. Please also read Eph. 5:3-6 and 1 Cor. 6:9-11.
I wanted to show you that one can find pornography (sure, with a different name) in the context of the Bible. If one will dismiss this truth, he or she is on the way to death.
And more verses…
In 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (ESV) we read
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body(ESV).
The word in Greek for sexual immorality is porneia from which we have the word pornography!
One of the commands in the New Testament is to flee sexual immorality—and pornography is a form of sexual immorality— and to glorify God in our body and spirit, because they belong to God, not to us anymore. We were brought with a price. [Please, read my post about adultery in the heart]
1 Corinthians 6:9 (ESV)
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality
Indulging in pornography will not glorify God, and one will not flee from immorality while indulging in this sin. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and that means God Himself is dwelling inside us!
A couple more verses
We even worship God with our bodies, as we can read in Romans 12:1 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
What we do with our bodies matters to God.
In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV) we read
do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Therefore, we are not to damage or defile our bodies—the physical temple of God. Moreover, many types of research will show that pornography has harmful consequences for the human body such as brain disorders. You can read more about this here.
In 2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV) we read
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
As believers in Jesus, we will be held accountable by God for the things done while in the body. So, we should be serious about that warning too.
Pornography is also time-consuming
Psalm 90:12 (TLV)
So teach us to number our days, so that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Many times after I did indulge in pornography I felt miserable and wanted to go back in time and undo what I did. However, I was never able to do that.
Anyone who was addicted to pornography can tell you how much time they invested in indulging in this sinful habit. It is a waste of time, and it is a sin to waste time. Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV)
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Pornography is a sin and sin is defiling
Pornography will affect your mind and conscience. It will change the way you look at women and sex (one will have the impression that women are objects and not real persons) and by indulging in pornography one is supporting human trafficking and sex slavery. And these are facts.
Pornography will bring guilt and shame like nothing else. One can hear the accusations of the enemy for days because of his indulging in sin even after he or she did confess their sin to God. In Revelation 12:10 we read that Satan is the accuser of our brethren and he does his job day and night, relentlessly. Also, guilt and shame will make one wonder if they are forgiven and saved and if they will ever be free, or even if God can do something about their situation and if He cares enough.
Moreover, with guilt and shame, one can also experience all kinds of fears—like fear of failure, and doubt, unbelief, anger, confusion, and even depression. The enemy knows that a believer is vulnerable while overwhelmed with guilt and shame, and he will continue to whisper his lies. Lies such as God cannot hear your prayers, He does not care about you only about others, you will never be free, you did commit the unforgivable sin, or you better not even try to live a pure life, you lost your calling,etc.
Where you look matters
Sin of any kind and name will produce in the beginning some pleasure. Indeed, sin will make you big promises but sin always disappoints because it cannot keep its promises. We all know that is true. Moses knew that too. In Hebrews 11:24-26 (ESV) we read
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
Moses did not want to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. He was intentional about sin. He knew how much pleasure sin could produce, but he chose Christ, and he looked to the reward.
In this process of getting free, it is crucial where you look. Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV)
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
If you look at sin and continue to think about sin, you will fail. However, if you apply the scriptures above in your life, you will have victory, by faith in Jesus, over temptation.
Now what?
I want to encourage you to choose today to make a change in your life and walk in the light. Right here and right now ask the Holy Spirit to take you to the cross of Jesus and ask for the gift of repentance. Pray 1 John 1:9 (ESV)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If you need further help write me here—I would love to help you. And remember—there is nothing fun about sin and pornography.
Pornography is a sin—like it or not. That’s what the Bible says! Do not believe anyone who tells you something different than the Bible!
Do you agree?
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I am a blogger, writer, pastor, Director of Zion Romania Bible School, husband to Olguta, a father and, most importantly, a child of God. I also completed my studies at the King’s University where I earned a B.A. in Theology with a concentration in Messianic Jewish Studies. I love Israel and I love the ‘Jewishness’ of the Bible.
This is absolutely the Truth. Run from porn as fast as you can…
Amen!