Confessing Porn Addiction Part 1
Recently a man asked me this question in response to my post on rejecting porn. In that post I shared the need to admit to the addiction.
Openly admitting a porn addiction may have worked for you but why would you confess something that you have done in secret- especially such a private thing, to anyone but God and a trusted confidante? Especially if it risks causing much more pain to another that knows nothing of your private sins?
To start with, it is Scriptural. John 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Admittedly, Jesus was referring here to knowing and accepting Him by becoming a disciple and how this would set one free. The principle however of being set free by truth extends into many other areas as well. When we face the truth that we are addicted or caught up in a habit of sexual sin we take the first step to deliverance. Getting over the denial that allows us to think we can stop for good anytime sets us free to admit we need help.
Help comes when we confess our sin and seek God’s forgiveness. 1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Far too often this is where people stop. Sincerely seeking forgiveness, and I emphasize sincerely, involves repentance and dedication or rededication whichever applies. Repentance is turning away from the sin and going the opposite direction. It requires shutting the doors and windows to your spiritual home, your heart and nailing them shut! (Which I address in another post.) Dedicating or rededicating your life to God provides the strength necessary. Without following this step the enemy will creep back in.
Whatever demon tempted and/or tormented you with addiction will return with company to regain and strengthen the hold it once had upon you and make it even harder to break free again. It’s oppression in the case of a Christian. For non Christians the demonic creatures possess the person’s desires. Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Some programs exist that offer encouragement to break the habit and remain clean without a commitment to Christ. Even they recognize the need to turn to a power higher than the individual. While they have some success stories participants are constantly reaffirming they are addicts when they introduce themselves. They may be living free in the moment but they also live in the fear of relapse. They don’t experience the complete freedom Jesus gives. It’s much like the difference between being cured of a disease and being symptom free. The cure calls for turning one’s life over to God completely and receiving deliverance from the cravings and haunting guilt of sin.
Recently a man asked me this question in response to my post on rejecting porn. In that post I shared the need to admit to the addiction.
Openly admitting a porn addiction may have worked for you but why would you confess something that you have done in secret- especially such a private thing, to anyone but God and a trusted confidante? Especially if it risks causing much more pain to another that knows nothing of your private sins?
To start with, it is Scriptural. John 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Admittedly, Jesus was referring here to knowing and accepting Him by becoming a disciple and how this would set one free. The principle however of being set free by truth extends into many other areas as well. When we face the truth that we are addicted or caught up in a habit of sexual sin we take the first step to deliverance. Getting over the denial that allows us to think we can stop for good anytime sets us free to admit we need help.
Help comes when we confess our sin and seek God’s forgiveness. 1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Far too often this is where people stop. Sincerely seeking forgiveness, and I emphasize sincerely, involves repentance and dedication or rededication whichever applies. Repentance is turning away from the sin and going the opposite direction. It requires shutting the doors and windows to your spiritual home, your heart and nailing them shut! (Which I address in another post.) Dedicating or rededicating your life to God provides the strength necessary. Without following this step the enemy will creep back in.
Whatever demon tempted and/or tormented you with addiction will return with company to regain and strengthen the hold it once had upon you and make it even harder to break free again. It’s oppression in the case of a Christian. For non Christians the demonic creatures possess the person’s desires. Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Some programs exist that offer encouragement to break the habit and remain clean without a commitment to Christ. Even they recognize the need to turn to a power higher than the individual. While they have some success stories participants are constantly reaffirming they are addicts when they introduce themselves. They may be living free in the moment but they also live in the fear of relapse. They don’t experience the complete freedom Jesus gives. It’s much like the difference between being cured of a disease and being symptom free. The cure calls for turning one’s life over to God completely and receiving deliverance from the cravings and haunting guilt of sin.
Confessing Porn Addiction Part 1
Recently a man asked me this question in response to my post on rejecting porn. In that post I shared the need to admit to the addiction.
Openly admitting a porn addiction may have worked for you but why would you confess something that you have done in secret- especially such a private thing, to anyone but God and a trusted confidante? Especially if it risks causing much more pain to another that knows nothing of your private sins?
To start with, it is Scriptural. John 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Admittedly, Jesus was referring here to knowing and accepting Him by becoming a disciple and how this would set one free. The principle however of being set free by truth extends into many other areas as well. When we face the truth that we are addicted or caught up in a habit of sexual sin we take the first step to deliverance. Getting over the denial that allows us to think we can stop for good anytime sets us free to admit we need help.
Help comes when we confess our sin and seek God’s forgiveness. 1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Far too often this is where people stop. Sincerely seeking forgiveness, and I emphasize sincerely, involves repentance and dedication or rededication whichever applies. Repentance is turning away from the sin and going the opposite direction. It requires shutting the doors and windows to your spiritual home, your heart and nailing them shut! (Which I address in another post.) Dedicating or rededicating your life to God provides the strength necessary. Without following this step the enemy will creep back in.
Whatever demon tempted and/or tormented you with addiction will return with company to regain and strengthen the hold it once had upon you and make it even harder to break free again. It’s oppression in the case of a Christian. For non Christians the demonic creatures possess the person’s desires. Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
Some programs exist that offer encouragement to break the habit and remain clean without a commitment to Christ. Even they recognize the need to turn to a power higher than the individual. While they have some success stories participants are constantly reaffirming they are addicts when they introduce themselves. They may be living free in the moment but they also live in the fear of relapse. They don’t experience the complete freedom Jesus gives. It’s much like the difference between being cured of a disease and being symptom free. The cure calls for turning one’s life over to God completely and receiving deliverance from the cravings and haunting guilt of sin.
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