Purity in a Digital World

By: American Decency Staff

 

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.” (Psalm 101:3a)

I wonder how David would accomplish this task in a digital world that is more than eager to place all manner of vile wickedness, immodesty, pornographic images and verbal descriptions—indiscriminately—before the eyes of young and old alike. How do we walk and surf with integrity offline and on? How do we keep our heart and mind pure, walking in holiness rather than walking close to the “line” and at times “falling over it”? What is the key to keeping both feet in the light rather than letting one foot wander after worldliness and stand in darkness?

If James tells us that our tongue shouldn’t speak blessings and cursing and that a fountain doesn’t send forth both sweet and bitter water (3:8-11), neither should our digital devices be used for both good and evil. We ought not to consume the Bible on our phones in the morning, only to find ourselves using that very same device to consume pornography at night. Posting Bible verses and words of encouragement one minute and then swearing, sexting, or promoting evil the next shouldn’t be our practice. In ALL that we do, we are to glorify our Creator; we are to do ALL in the name of our Savior, Jesus.

Read on as Tim Challies describes the problem of online pornography and then tells us how to protect ourselves and our children from this addictive evil. Watch his short presentation from a recent Ligonier Ministries Conference by clicking here. He’s also written a brief blog on this same topic, which can be read by clicking here.

Mr. Challies presented five facts for our consideration in regards to online pornography. The statistics given for each point were relayed by him. We are not sure where he gathered his information, but it is very similar to other reputable sites which give stats on this topic.

1. Exposure to Internet Pornography Happens Early:  The average age of first time exposure is 12 years old. It’s expected to settle in around 11 years old. Many of these first time exposures are inadvertent; they come through pop-ups or just searching for answers to innocent questions. Sometimes it’s because a father has left these images behind or a friend has brought them up. One thing is for sure, regardless of the age at one sees them or how they were introduced, the child is forever changed. He or she cannot un-see the images that have been placed before their eyes.

By age 18, 90% of boys and 60% of girls have been exposed to “really vile stuff.”

2. Exposure to Internet Pornography Happens Often:  7 out of 10 young adult men and 2 out of every 10 women access pornography almost weekly. These statistics hardly change whether one attends church or not. Curiosity becomes a repetitive pattern; it morphs into an addiction, drawing people in deeper and in increased frequency. Almost 9 out of 10 young adults make pornographic viewing a monthly habit.

3. Exposure to Internet Pornography Happens EVERYWHERE:  More than half of the pornography consumed is done so on mobile devices. 1 of every 5 searches on a mobile device is for pornography. In cars, parks, the beach—ANYWHERE—people can search for and/or consume pornography. Be ever vigilant over your children’s safety and over their devices.

4. Exposure to Internet Pornography CHANGES People:  Half of Christian men and 20% of Christian women admit to being addicted to pornography. Christian or not, pornography rewires our brains; it changes the way we think, behave, and our perception of other people.  Porn shapes us as individuals and shapes us as a society.

“You can watch pornography from the time you’re twelve until the day you get married and you’ll never learn the meaning and the true value of sexuality as God intends it. Every single message in pornography goes directly against God’s plan for sexuality. It’s opposite in every way. As people give themselves over to it, they become ‘pornified,’ you could say. So over time, they start to see everything through the lens of pornography, which is why when I wrote a book on this subject I called it, Sexual Detox. It’s really like people need to detoxify from its effects on them.”

5. Exposure to Pornography Causes Shame: People always try to cover their tracks. 7 of 10 teens admit they’ve done something to hide what they’ve seen online from their parents. Like Adam and Eve, we try to hide our shame, covering our sin.

Mr. Challies goes on to encourage us, stating that this is not a hopeless situation. We need to deal with it. “God’s Word speaks directly into our despair.” We must warn our children of the dangers of these useful devices and teach them to guard their heart and mind for the glory of God.

How do we live well in a world like this, a world filled with filthy images, seemingly where ever we turn?We are encouraged with two mind-protecting activities:

1) (Personal) Commit to developing godly character:  Arm yourself with Christian character, “godly character that despises sexual sin and that loves and embraces sexual purity.” We should look at God’s laws as a guard rail to keep us from running off a cliff as opposed to a fence that prohibits us from playing on the grass. “God’s law isn’t meant to steal our joy; it’s meant to multiply our joy!”

The Bible assures us that when we ignore His boundaries, pain will be our reward. We are only one person, let us live with integrity. We dare not compartmentalize our life. All areas of our life—online and off—are meant to glorify God and to enjoy Him. All areas of our life are to pursue holiness and live in the blessings of God’s good rewards. Strive for godly character at any cost.

2) (Family) Be active in “Digital Discipleship” with your children: “As parents we need to take responsibility for what our children do and how they behave online.” We need our children to develop godly character. Pornography delays or destroys that godly character. Our children need to be trained and taught how to honor God with and through these digital devices. They must be taught, and led by example, to glorify God online as well as off.

As parents (grandparents or any in authority), take an active role in protecting your children in this online world.  Be proactive in guiding them to godly character, and to God’s glory, in this brave, new, digital world. With joy and solemnity, take up the heavy blessing of responsibility to lead, train, and help them avoid pornography, do good to/for others, and to glorify God…even when it appears no one is looking.

To read another good article on this topic from John Piper’s site, Desiring God, click here.

 

---

To support our efforts please click here or mail your gift to American Decency Association (ADA), PO Box 202, Fremont, MI 49412. 

American Decency Association is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

---