WWJD with Porn? - A Failed Escape - Part 3
In Part 1, I established that the term pornography originated well before Jesus’ time. And that Jesus had numerous encounters with women who had less than a stellar reputation. One such encounter is recorded in Luke 7. There, a woman with a “reputation” crashed the dinner party of a religious leader and, with tears of repentance, washed Jesus’ feet and anointed them with exquisite perfume.
In this article, I will address how the temptation of pornography is often an attempt to escape an unpleasant reality. It is a temptation promising to flood the body with feel good chemicals. This temptation promises to satisfy the longing to be known, accepted and loved.
God created sex as a physical expression of being truly known, accepted, and loved. Thus, it’s not surprising that pornography and “just sex” promises this robust sense of being loved without the risks of being truly known.
Pornography yields about the same satisfaction as that picture of a gourmet carrot cake layered with cream cheese frosting that is printed on the cake mix box. Both are low calorie, low risk, and less fulfilling.
There are certain “moods” when pornography becomes a strong temptation. Feeling lonely, bored, or insignificant are ideal moods for a pornographic escape. The perfect storm may be after a relationship has crashed and burned. But the ultimate trap is when one condemns themselves for being addicted to pornography and yet keeps returning to it, even after conceding that the promised satisfaction has ghosted them. Their shame argues that there will never be an escape, never freedom.
Hopefully, if you are there, you will soon discover that too is a lie. There is freedom. There is forgiveness. And there is restoration.
Let’s go back to my suggestion that pornography is often an attempt to escape an unpleasant reality. I hate to break it to you, but in life, unpleasant realities are the norm, not the exception.
So what did Jesus do when faced by unpleasant circumstances? He chose to suffer through them.
Did you hear me? When Jesus faced unpleasant events in life, He chose to suffer through them.
This is not something I always do well. Personally, I often surrender to comfort foods like dark chocolate. Ironically, I find myself not resisting while I am writing this and thus feel like I am disqualifying myself.
But choosing to endure, to suffer through these discomforts, is not an odd concept. Ask any athlete, dedicated student, or one committed to losing body weight. When the purpose is clear, although the pain may be readily accepted, we mostly whine and grudgingly acknowledge the progress towards the goal. Although we often try to find a shortcut around it, the reality is that to accomplish anything worthwhile, one must persevere through unpleasant events.
So What Would Jesus Do with the temptations to escape the unpleasant events of life?
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. Hebrews 12:1-4 NLT
Some things to note here:
We are not alone in this race. The chapter just before this one speaks of a number of men and women who had endured the race God set before them. Today there are thousands more running the race God had designed for them, facing many of the same obstacles and temptations to escape the pain.
God has set the course of the race we are to run. We cannot blame others for difficulties that are not the result of our own poor choices. We are not “victims”.
Jesus is the leader for those running the race God has set before them and we need to keep our eyes on Him.
He endured - the cross, the shame, hostility from sinful people, weariness, and wanting to quit. He endured because He knew His purpose and reward - “the joy awaiting him”
AND, because He also has run that race before us,
So then, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need. Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT
My friends, Jesus did not attempt to escape the unpleasant aspects of life. Unlike those of us who yield to the temptations and create even more unpleasantness, Jesus never gave in. But don’t dismiss his victories to being some superhero. In some mysterious way, His human desires and struggles are integrated with being the I AM. AND, if you have been born of God, then you too are a human empowered by the Creator. Remember that:
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
My friends, you are not alone in your struggle with the temptation of pornography. Struggling to escape misery and pain is common. Pornography, drugs, and video games are all common temporary escapes. But all turn up empty compared to enduring and winning the love, acceptance, and peace that lasts.
Remember:
Jesus endured the suffering to achieve his purpose. He was tempted as you & I are tempted and resisted the phantom escapes.
Your temptation is no different from the temptation of others. But when you run in a group, you can encourage each other to keep going.
God has provided the resources to resist the temptation and press through the unpleasant feelings – even those you have created by yielding to temptations.
Call to Action:
Will you choose to follow Jesus and accept the encouragement of your teammates? If so, ask Jesus for help and find a group of others whom you may join in running the race God has set before you.
