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?
Isaiah 58:6
Prayer breaks chains and gives favor that is supernatural. It enables rescue and puts people in the right place at the right time.
Greetings!
I hope you are well, and I hope you were able to attend the Aglow U.S. Conference in Albuquerque, NM October 30 – November 2. It was a wonderful time, and one of the privileges of our gathering was getting to hear John Hammer give a short talk on his new book "eXXXit".
"eXXXit" is a powerful book about pornography – the multibillion dollar a year industry that enslaves millions of men and women, including many Christians. John shares his own experiences, and most importantly he shares his tesimony of hope – hope that we have in Jesus to set us free and break every chain, including the chains of sexual addiction. This month we're going to look at the link between pornography, sex trafficking, and us.
Pornography: Helpful or Harmful?
You may be reading this and wondering, “What does this have to do with trafficking? Why are you talking about pornography?” But sadly, pornography has everything to do with sex trafficking. Pornography, one could argue, is a root cause of sex trafficking. Consider the following except from this article by Jen Spry, R.N.:
There is often a common denominator between buying sex with children and consuming child pornography. News coverage about child pornography being found on people’s personal computers who were arrested for sex offenses against children is common, and research shows that in 80 percent of child sexual abuse arrests, the offender also possessed child pornography. (Peters, R., Lederer, L., and Kelly, S., 2014). Viewing child pornography causes a physical response in the brain that releases chemical mediators which can lead to addiction and subsequently acting on those addictions with real children.
The (physiological) similarities to drug use and pornography are serious cause for concern. Just as a drug addict must constantly increase the dosage to get the same high, a consumer of pornography often needs to increase the deviancy of the pornography. Consumption of pornography increases with this level of addiction and can lead to fetish pornography, including child pornography. (Paul, P. 2007). This extreme level of consumption can then lead to the most deviant form of pornography—violent sexual acts against children.
So how does pornography feed trafficking? It’s quite simple. Men – young, old, married, single, Christian, non-Christian – Men engage in pornography.
- As the addiction gets deeper, the pornography must become more ‘hardcore’ to sustain the high.
- If the partner of this man is unwilling to engage in these new sexual experiences the man is learning, he can simply see a prostitute.
- Some men confess they are unwilling to bring these suggestions to their ‘clean’ wives, and go straight to a ‘dirty’ prostitute to live out their fantasies. (For more, see The Johns by Victor Malarek)
The Real Enemy
There is a popular young adult book that was turned into a movie last year, you may have seen it: Catching Fire. As the heroine of the story is heading into battle, her mentor turns to her and gives sage words of advice: “Remember who the real enemy is.” What words to live by.
It’s so easy to be disgusted and horrified by what we’ve just read. But we must remember who the real enemy is. 1 Peter 5:8 in the Amplified says, Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. The enemy of our souls seeks to destroy all of mankind, and he seeks to use us against one another.
Am I in any way excusing the behavior of those who use and abuse prostitutes, brothel workers or others? NO. Not at all. I’m saying that we must remember that the adversary is our enemy – and he is seeking to kill, steal, and destroy – and will use others to do so. Recognizing this, there are a few things we must do:
- Pray – Pray for those of us enslaved in sexual sin and pornography. Yes, I said “us.” This is not an “us Christians vs. them” issue. Pornography has saturated our culture, and this includes the church. The statistics are the same within the church, and the ‘world’. There is no variation. That means your family, your friends, your church members, and perhaps YOU, need prayer.
Not shame.
NOT condemnation.
They need freedom. From Jesus.
And YOUR prayers help get them, or get us, there. Pray for freedom from impurity, to purity. Pray for healing. Pray for wholeness. We - the church, your friends, your family - need this. - Have Grace – Grace says, Come as you are NOT Stay as you are. Grace is how we help others and direct them to people and resources that can help them and bring them freedom. We can point and shame the “dirty” people all we want. But when those “dirty, pornographers” are your friends, cousins, sons, daughters, grandkids, and others – they will not seek help from you if shame is your approach.
Remember who the real enemy is – the devil, who seeks to devour their soul. Allow God to soften your heart with HIS Grace and forgiveness so we can help, and not shame/criticize, those who are ready for and looking for help and freedom.
And if/when they come to you? You don't have to have all the answers. But you can point them in the direction of a professional, a specialist, a book, or a pastor who does. - Get Help – Pornography is not just a male problem. It’s portrayed that way socially, but a huge aspect of pornography addicts women, a large aspect of that being erotica. "50 Shades Of Grey" alone has surpassed the Harry Potter series as the fastest selling book in the U.S. - selling over 100 million copies to date, and even coining the phrase "Mommy Porn."
Just as pornography is harmful to men, exploiting a fantasy world that does not exist, erotica does the same for women. Pure Desire Ministries is a helpful, safe program for men or women, to find freedom and wholeness, and meet in free, non-denominational Christian small groups all over the U.S. You can also talk to a pastor. You can talk to a professional. The important thing is, if you’re ready and you want out – seek help from a SAFE, trustworthy, individual.
PRAY about who to talk to. And follow the Holy Spirit’s guiding as you seek who, when, and where to find someone to help walk you through this.
It Matters...
In the fight against sex trafficking, we must make sure that we have no foothold for the enemy to come after us. If pornography can destroy men's minds and marriages, what is it doing to women? Let's pray and seek healing where it's needed. God knows we have a great work ahead of us!
Suggested Resources
- eXXXit by John Hammer
- Pulling Back the Shades by Dr. Juli Slattery & Dannah K. Gresh
- Pure Desire Ministries This Christian ministry is active in the U.S. and includes: Help for men struggling with porn, help for women struggling with porn, and a "Betrayal" series which helps women whose husbands have admitted to a pornography habit deal with feelings of betrayal and lead to healing.
- Covenant Eyes This site helps provide internet accountability and filtering, and also provides helpful articles.
- Focus On The Family
Standing in the gap with you,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Anti-Trafficking Specialist
Aglow International
