One more Grace-filled Blessing

One more Grace-filled Blessing

With so much filth bombarding our senses through social media, internet, and printed articles is it any wonder that more people aren’t being sucked in to pornography and degrading lives.  

Some statistics taken from an article by “The Baptist News Global” are astounding, and this is only a partial list:  

40 million Americans are regular visitors to porn sites.

The average visit lasts 6 minutes and 29 seconds.

There are about 42 million porn websites.

94% of children will see porn by age 14.

68% of churchgoing men and 50 % of pastors view porn on a regular basis.

Only 13% of self-identified Christian women say they never watch porn - 87% of Christian women have watched porn.

Let’s add another inducing scenario to the mix; when viewing celebrities at large social events such as the Oscars; it was fashionable to see female stars dressed in elaborate gowns, etc.  But now the gowns seem to cover less of upper bodies exposing more skin than ever before.  It may not be long before it will be acceptable to come out bare chested.  The enticement to arouse the senses of men is becoming more fashionable.  Whatever happened to the Catholic Legion of Decency  founded by the Archbishop of Cincinnati in 1934, dedicated to identifying for Catholic audiences, objectionable content in motion pictures.  At that period of time the fashion for women seen on stage was not yet initiated.  

These are so degrading that it isn’t a surprise how the moral fibre in our society has plummeted to such levels of evil influence.  Like addictions to drugs and alcohol, smoking that most smokers would quit if they could get enough incentive, and gambling;  all enemies of moral incentives. 

If you smoke try to stop.  Smoking, although not an inducing type of addiction can indicate the human weakness to succumb to other addictions.  Do your drink to excess, is your excuse one of it’s only social.  How about drugs, especially opioids, heroin, and cocaine.  The death rate from drugs is overwhelming.  Is sexual addiction the basis for these others?  The freedom to live within the darkness of an out-of-control addiction for a moments pleasure could be the beginning of uncontrollable desires that lead no where except down.  

The grace to stop the attraction to porn is a Grace-filled Blessing that needs the hand of God guiding us away from the free will of excuses.  God can not interfere with free will, but He will send people and the means to replace the taste for addictions’ attractions and fill that emptiness with His Grace.  It isn’t magic or an elixir that one might consume; it’s faith and a turn back to God.  

Can you be church-oriented and God-fearing and still cling to the porn industry’s seduction?

Each day we should be able to share the blessings of a God-filled experience.  It isn’t something that should surprise us if new openings confront our senses any time we start a new venture.  It is never too late to turn back to God.  Porn will destroy our ability to seek God and hold on to His Grace. 

Ralph B. Hathaway, Grace vs.porn