Porn Sunday Week 2 Series

Porn Sunday #2

© 2008 Eric Bain

Last weekend we started a two week series looking at the topic of pornography - which really has more to do with sexuality - than just pornography… nonetheless, today, we’re going to finish that series.

I thought I’d start out today by telling you a couple stories – true stories… from my own life.

The first took place, I don’t know, maybe 4-5 years ago. A young seminary student came to me and asked if I would be his Pastoral Mentor. It turns out, he was required to have a Pastoral Mentor in order to graduate from Seminary. Nonetheless, I said, “No problem… I’d love to be your mentor. What are we going to talk about? What do you want to work on?”

His response was… “Porn! I want to work on my struggle with sexual temptation!”

Instantly, I thought... “Oh, crud… what have I got myself into?”

He said, “Don’t worry… I’ve got a book. We can just do a book study.”

Well, you can imagine my relief. The book that he had is this (hold up Everyman’s Battle).

EXPLAIN: My response to reading the book…

• I hated it!

o At first, I hated this book because I felt like it was written by some way too conservative… and Christian!

o But as I read more and more of the pages – I began to hate it because – in it… I could see a reflection of myself.

 And the reflection that was there… was a reflection of some of the ugliest parts of who I am as a human being. I hated this book for that.

 Yet at the same time… I sort of began to like it.

 And I began to like it because… in a very honest way… it gave me some practical advice on how I might win the win the war against Sexual Temptation.

 Today, I recommend this book all the time.

I bring this up this morning to simply point out…

• That we all have issues when it comes to sexuality – including me… your pastor.

• And sometimes when we begin to face those issues, we get uncomfortable… which makes us frustrated… maybe even a little angry – a little hatred is even expressed… but that certainly doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do the hard work of addressing our inner ugliness.

(Point out the Resource Page!)

Let me tell you another story… again a true story – about the first significant fight that Cortnie and I ever had as a married couple.

To set the stage for this story let me read to you a little bit from Every Man’s Battle

o Read the first 4 paragraphs of Chapter 11, Bouncing Your Eyes

ILLUSTRATION: Our fight at Bally’s when I tried not to watch Janet Jackson

o I was “bouncing my eyes.”

o I thought I was doing a good thing

o Cortnie got mad about the very fact that I had to “try”

POINT: We all have these sexual issues… but because they’re sexual… they play out in relationship, which makes them all the more difficult… complex… and sensitive.

• I understand that…

• And I just want to acknowledge that – right up front.

• Because what that means, is that in order for us to move forward… in order for any true healing to take place… We’re going to need a tremendous amount of grace.

 Grace from God –

• In order to forgive us of our sins

• And give us the strength to do something about them.

But we’re also going to nee…

 Grace from others –

• In order to give us some safe environments in which to work on this stuff.

 And grace for ourselves –

• So that we don’t feel defeated… if we continually fall down.

 And finally, we’re going to need grace for others –

• Recognizing… hey, we’re all in the same boat.

• We all have sexual issues…

• So let’s not be so reactive… It’s almost like we all need to take a sedative… and be calm ;-)

- LET’S PRAY –

Last week we covered two main points:

1. Pornography is a sin.

 We talked about how the Bible is very clear on that.

 And until we get honest about our sins… we’re not going to have any healing.

2. Why?… Why is the draw to pornography so powerful?

 Turns out, it has to do with the way we were created.

 You see, we’re sexual beings… created to only find completeness in another person.

 The only problem is… as a consequence of an event known as The Fall… our ability to find that completeness has been twisted… distorted… corrupted.