Yesterday’s post on the disenfranchisement of Christian therapists and clients from professional counseling had a surprising source of linkage that drove a decent amount of traffic to the blog.
The sources of the links: Two gay/porn sites. And I think it comes as no surprise I won’t be linking back to them. 
I didn’t investigate them to figure out what the purpose of these sites were or what is being said but given the URL of the addresses it was kind of obvious what the overall sites are about.
So … sincerely … welcome!
I can’t quite figure out why yesterday’s post would be of interest to those websites but regardless of how you got here I am glad you came here. We at Exodus do have definite opinions on sexuality, morality, spirituality and all that but we do our level best to be clear and honest about those deeply personal issues. I think if you read through various testimonies and articles, with an open mind and listening ear, you will see that to be true.
In the spirit of being clear and honest, I hope you will read the following as a personal plea and not lecturing impersonal judgment. The rest of this post is directed toward those linking through from the pornographic sites. I don’t lecture and while I might judge actions, I am not judging *you* personally. I have no idea why you are clicking through from a porn site or the state of your soul. I would never presume to know.
Now, what I do know about porn isn’t good.
With all that disclaiming aside. I know that porn might temporarily entertain but we all know it does not satisfy the deep longings in our hearts. It sexually objectifies, thereby dehumanizes, men and women. It takes our money and attention and only hands it over to a corrupt industry. Porn is like a thought vampire that drains the soul of true relational energy. It can destroy marriages because of the adultery of the heart. Porn can create a habituated process that enslaves a person into sexual addiction and any number interpersonal dysfunctions. Porn numbs our spirit to devalue the human form for our personal consumption instead of revering the human form (male and female) as bearing the Image of God.
Remember, I am not lecturing … just sayin’.
Porn is destroying millions of lives every day. It is a sin against those in the pictures and videos. It is a sin against ourselves in that we are taking in images and memories we were not created to experience and hold on to. It is a sin because we are stewarding our sexuality in a way that brings personal instant gratification instead of Glory to God. And it is a sin against God for those same reasons. He designed us all for something much much better than what porn has to offer.
He loves you. He’s seen every single thing you have done and wants you to know He understands and will walk with you as you seek freedom from using porn.
Again, I don’t know you and am not condemning you. Whether you agree with me on the morality of gay sexual behavior or not, I do hope to compel you to consider not using porn for all the above reasons.
Thanks for visiting our blog and I hope you will consider what we post about here.
MORE:
The Social Cost of Pornography
White Knuckles, Porn and Shame
Porn “Hijacks” The Male Brain Wired for Intimacy
About Randy Thomas
Maybe I can address one or perhaps two things with the people linking in from those sites, since I’m a career porn addict of 23 years or so.
Stop. Now. PLEASE.
Maybe I can address one or perhaps two things with the people linking in from those sites, since I’m a career porn addict of 23 years or so.
Stop. Now. PLEASE.
>> “Porn is like a thought vampire that drains the soul of true relational energy. ”
Absolutely brilliant. I’m adding this to my wisdom journal. (Which, by the way, Harvest House indicated interest in publishing!)
Love you, Randy!
Love you too Sue. Thank you
>> “Porn is like a thought vampire that drains the soul of true relational energy. ”
Absolutely brilliant. I’m adding this to my wisdom journal. (Which, by the way, Harvest House indicated interest in publishing!)
Love you, Randy!
Love you too Sue. Thank you
Great post Randy. Porn totally hijacks our brains, keeps it bound. Interestingly if you talk to pretty much anyone, about the first pornographic image that they saw…they can remember it, though we can forget a phone number, meetings etc. It is a powerful addiction. We talk about idol worship all the time when it comes to pornography. We essentially are worshiping the created beings rather than the creator. We worship ourselves ultimately when we masturbate to the images. Saying to ourselves, we are our own god. Keeping us bound from relating to others, and to God.
God bless you Randy…may the Lord pour out a greater anointing on your life…
Kenny
Great post Randy. Porn totally hijacks our brains, keeps it bound. Interestingly if you talk to pretty much anyone, about the first pornographic image that they saw…they can remember it, though we can forget a phone number, meetings etc. It is a powerful addiction. We talk about idol worship all the time when it comes to pornography. We essentially are worshiping the created beings rather than the creator. We worship ourselves ultimately when we masturbate to the images. Saying to ourselves, we are our own god. Keeping us bound from relating to others, and to God.
God bless you Randy…may the Lord pour out a greater anointing on your life…
Kenny
Randy, great article and great quote that I will be sharing next month as I do a workshop on porn for our Super Saturday events in Kentucky put on by the Kentucky Baptist Convention along with another workshop on the Christian response to those struggling with same-sex attractions. Also noted TWO’s response to the article on FB and per usual it appears they missed the point.
Thanks Bob. I don’t follow TWO. I prefer to follow constructive feedback.
Randy, great article and great quote that I will be sharing next month as I do a workshop on porn for our Super Saturday events in Kentucky put on by the Kentucky Baptist Convention along with another workshop on the Christian response to those struggling with same-sex attractions. Also noted TWO’s response to the article on FB and per usual it appears they missed the point.
Thanks Bob. I don’t follow TWO. I prefer to follow constructive feedback.
I’m glad you recognised the difference between being gay and using porn. Most people seem to think that if your gay your using porn like its going out of style. I for one do watch porn occasionally but its not that often, only if i get really depressed in which case it gives me a kick. I know, i know, your going to say thats wrong and maybe it is, but which is worse, getting a kick from porn or drugs? Its all a matter of perspective in my opinion.
Ta..
I’m glad you recognised the difference between being gay and using porn. Most people seem to think that if your gay your using porn like its going out of style. I for one do watch porn occasionally but its not that often, only if i get really depressed in which case it gives me a kick. I know, i know, your going to say thats wrong and maybe it is, but which is worse, getting a kick from porn or drugs? Its all a matter of perspective in my opinion.
Ta..
Stephen, what you shared reminds of what I heard as a Substance Abuse Counselor at times, “Well I may be an Alcoholic but at least I am not a Drug Addict!” What you’re saying is simply rationalizing on your part and even though right now it appears you can pick up and put down porn anytime you want if one is not careful it could become a sexual addiction. Plus, I am not sure if you are a Christian or not, but if you are why would you want to willfully do something that God sees as sin and will keep you from becoming the person that God wants you to be and be fully available to God for His service. Please know that I say this out of a genuine concern for you and your spiritual well being, Bob
Stephen, what you shared reminds of what I heard as a Substance Abuse Counselor at times, “Well I may be an Alcoholic but at least I am not a Drug Addict!” What you’re saying is simply rationalizing on your part and even though right now it appears you can pick up and put down porn anytime you want if one is not careful it could become a sexual addiction. Plus, I am not sure if you are a Christian or not, but if you are why would you want to willfully do something that God sees as sin and will keep you from becoming the person that God wants you to be and be fully available to God for His service. Please know that I say this out of a genuine concern for you and your spiritual well being, Bob
Hey bob,
Firstly i am a christian. Have been for quite a while. And i really dont think that looking at porn does prevent me from being fully available to God for his service. I’m the lead singer and speaker for a christian rock group. So far this year at our concerts/gigs we’ve had nearly 1000 decisions for Christ. Now sure i know that some of those decisions aren’t genuine but even if only 50% are then thats nearly 500.
How many people have you brought to Christ? I’m not being snidey, just pointing out that just because i have occasionally looked at porn, just because i’m gay doesn’t stop God from working through me. I know that God has different roles for different people at different times. Right now, mine is on the public stage even if im not a rock star… yet
And i dont see why i should dump my boyfriend just to please a right wing group of christians. My bf occasionally does the drums when our drummer cant make it, hes there with me at every event he can make it to, he prays with the group before we go on stage. Of course, im not one of those guys who is out and proud but im glad that my band choose to accept me the way i am. Telling them was the hardest thing i ever did. These were guys that i do everything with.
We actually felt the group was starting to fall apart last year and so we copied Third Day, we had a retreat to a friends ranch in Wyoming. We spent five days trying to get our difficulties sorted out. I think it was the second day when i admitted that i was gay. It transformed the retreat. We realised that the reason we were pulling away from each other was because we hadn’t opened up to each other properly. Each of us had secrets we had been hiding from the others. That week allowed us to pull back together. If the band ever does dissolve, its not going to be because of disunity, it will be becasue the Lord moves us on.
And bob, I didnt say that i willfully watch porn, i know its wrong but it might be the smaller of the two evils. I used drugs for a few years and i consider the consequences of that to be more serious than using porn.
Hope this explains a little bit better my point of view.
Stephen
BTW, thats not my real name
I’m not that naive.
Stephen, first of all thank you for your honesty and transparency in this post to me and especially thank you for acknowledging that viewing porn is indeed a sin in the sight of God. So my sense is that when you do this that you do repent and confess it to God for what it is which once again makes you wholly available and usable to God has it does anytime we sin and repent and confess that sin in our life and that is the point I was moving toward in my post to you which I did not see you talk to in your original post. And I do not believe that simply being homosexual is a sin no more than I believe being a sinner is a sin. But I do believe that God clearly condemns the sexual practices of homosexuality in both the Old and New Testament alike, so I guess my question is if you and your boyfriend are romantically/sexually involved how do you justify that in the sight of God? Plus, even though it’s not my place to tell you that you have to stop this behavior if indeed it is taking place but God’s Word tells me if I see a brother/sister in Christ sinning I am to go to them and lovingly confront them about their sin in hope they will repent of it and turn back to God.
you can hit reply under comments you are replying too. It will help with comment flow.
Thanks Randy, but when I did earlier I had to re-enter all my info but no this time!! And I wholeheartedly agree with you about the positive feedback issue.
Hey bob,
Firstly i am a christian. Have been for quite a while. And i really dont think that looking at porn does prevent me from being fully available to God for his service. I’m the lead singer and speaker for a christian rock group. So far this year at our concerts/gigs we’ve had nearly 1000 decisions for Christ. Now sure i know that some of those decisions aren’t genuine but even if only 50% are then thats nearly 500.
How many people have you brought to Christ? I’m not being snidey, just pointing out that just because i have occasionally looked at porn, just because i’m gay doesn’t stop God from working through me. I know that God has different roles for different people at different times. Right now, mine is on the public stage even if im not a rock star… yet
And i dont see why i should dump my boyfriend just to please a right wing group of christians. My bf occasionally does the drums when our drummer cant make it, hes there with me at every event he can make it to, he prays with the group before we go on stage. Of course, im not one of those guys who is out and proud but im glad that my band choose to accept me the way i am. Telling them was the hardest thing i ever did. These were guys that i do everything with.
We actually felt the group was starting to fall apart last year and so we copied Third Day, we had a retreat to a friends ranch in Wyoming. We spent five days trying to get our difficulties sorted out. I think it was the second day when i admitted that i was gay. It transformed the retreat. We realised that the reason we were pulling away from each other was because we hadn’t opened up to each other properly. Each of us had secrets we had been hiding from the others. That week allowed us to pull back together. If the band ever does dissolve, its not going to be because of disunity, it will be becasue the Lord moves us on.
And bob, I didnt say that i willfully watch porn, i know its wrong but it might be the smaller of the two evils. I used drugs for a few years and i consider the consequences of that to be more serious than using porn.
Hope this explains a little bit better my point of view.
Stephen
BTW, thats not my real name
I’m not that naive.
Stephen, first of all thank you for your honesty and transparency in this post to me and especially thank you for acknowledging that viewing porn is indeed a sin in the sight of God. So my sense is that when you do this that you do repent and confess it to God for what it is which once again makes you wholly available and usable to God has it does anytime we sin and repent and confess that sin in our life and that is the point I was moving toward in my post to you which I did not see you talk to in your original post. And I do not believe that simply being homosexual is a sin no more than I believe being a sinner is a sin. But I do believe that God clearly condemns the sexual practices of homosexuality in both the Old and New Testament alike, so I guess my question is if you and your boyfriend are romantically/sexually involved how do you justify that in the sight of God? Plus, even though it’s not my place to tell you that you have to stop this behavior if indeed it is taking place but God’s Word tells me if I see a brother/sister in Christ sinning I am to go to them and lovingly confront them about their sin in hope they will repent of it and turn back to God.
you can hit reply under comments you are replying too. It will help with comment flow.
Thanks Randy, but when I did earlier I had to re-enter all my info but no this time!! And I wholeheartedly agree with you about the positive feedback issue.