Tech, Porn and Steven Seagal

"Yes, I love technology, but not as much as you, you see. But I still love technology. Always and forever." - Kip, Napoleon Dynamite 

Technology isn't just useful or sexy, it's downright powerful.          

When we were preparing to launch Mosaic, we trained our launch team on how to effectively use common, everyday tech to spread the word about what we were doing. This was done more out of necessity than strategy, as we had little money to allocate to marketing. But it worked. Using free tools like Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Vimeo and Wordpress, we were able to effectively create awareness and momentum. During one month in particular, we were even able to raise $30,000 in 30 days, almost all of which came from individual donors. In the end, we used common, everyday technology to help us launch with over 250 at our first gathering, while spending very little on "marketing." 

Social media is powerful. Technology is powerful.

But like any medium, in it there is capacity for both great good and for great evil.

Technology can be used to to build and destroy, to create and to criticize, to give and to take. When used for good, technology can be used to empower an entrepreneur in a developing country on the other side of the world, or to facilitate the education of an entire village. When used for evil, however, that same technology can be used to guide a terrorist missile towards its target, or to unleash a virus that can cause millions of dollars in damage. 

On a personal level, common technology can be used to stay connected, to build others up, to increase your productivity, to expand your influence, even to grow your faith. But it can also just as easily destroy it.

As a pastor, I see the personal damage and fallout almost weekly. It typically begins long before we meet and grows very subtly. The story is an all too familiar one. In a moment of weakness, an unrestricted image search is made, a streaming video is happened upon, a racy website is visited. Like many of the times before, there is the initial feeling of excitement, adrenaline even. There is a part of us that knows we shouldn't be looking at porn, and yet, there we are. The feeling of risk only adds to the excitement. And at first, it doesn't seem to do any immediate damage. It feels good. We get away with it. But the damage lies far deeper than that. It is soulful. It is spiritual. And like a virus, it grows. And it is growing. 

Consider this:

• 40 million U.S. adults regularly visit porn sites
• internet pornography sales are almost $5 billion a year
• 260 new porn sites go up daily

EVERY SECOND:

• $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography
• 28,258 internet users view pornography
• 372 internet users type adult search terms in search engines

Turns out that things like smart phones play host to an almost endless number of dumb decisions. And the more people I meet and pastor, the more I am realizing how prevalent this particular struggle is, especially among men. No one ever sets out to become an addict. No one enters into marriage planning to have an affair, or to lose their job or family over an addiction to something like porn. Yet it happens all the time. 

For those who find themselves struggling in this particular area, I want to give you a few words of encouragement. First of all, you need to know that it is not the unforgivable sin. There is perfect love available in Jesus and complete forgiveness on the other side of his cross. You may not feel lovable or forgivable right now, but you are both in God's eyes. Accept it. Like the father in Mark 9, your first prayer to Jesus may be, "Help me in my unbelief!"   

Secondly, know that you are not alone. This is an issue that a lot of people struggle with. Personally, I've been there, done that. And let me tell you, despite what the Enemy will have you believe, with Jesus' help, you can be free of it. Did you hear me? Completely free of it. It doesn't have to control you. It doesn't even have to be a part of your life, but it has to be weeded out with the subtlety of a Steven Seagal film. (You can't dance around this one, you're going to have to round house kick it square in the face and walk away.)

The truth is you can subtly find your way into pornography, but you can't subtly find your way out. Like any addiction, it requires a repentant heart, a willingness to get honest with yourself and others, and some very bold steps. You can be free of it, but you need to decide for yourself whether you're willing to do what's necessary. In my next post I am going to layout some specific action steps and some great resources to help you kick this, but before I do, you need to decide for yourself whether you really want to be done with it. In Jesus' words, the first question you have to answer is, "Do you want to get well?" 

Comments

[Brian T.]

Good article and a great quote from one of my all-time favorite songs.

[Aaron Loy]

Thanks Brian :)