Unfortunately, we hear and believe lies like these every day. Pornography isn’t a big deal. It’s fun and easy! Porn has helped my husband and I enjoy sex more.
But the truth is that pornography takes us down a dangerous road. So before you take your first step or your next step down this road, let’s discuss the problem with pornography.
1. Why do people desire pornography?
Deep down, we all have a desire to break the rules…to rebel…to do something we know is wrong. And porn often appears to be the answer. It’s a simple way to rev our engines without much effort. It’s visually stimulating. But at the end of the day, we desire porn because we are broken people living in a broken world. God wants us to experience incredible intimacy in marriage…yet we often settle for the shallowness of pornography.
2. How can pornography affect me and my marriage?
Porn has an incredible way of appearing harmless. Researcher Patrick Fagan, Ph.D. completed a major study of pornography and called it a “quiet family killer.” His study found that 56% of divorces had one partner with an obsessive interest in porn. They tie it up in a nice little bow—disguising the long-term damage. But let’s get one thing straight: the consequences of pornography far outweigh the benefits. Getting turned on by another man or woman is not what God intended for intimacy. Pornography implies that your spouse is not enough. It convinces us that we need something or someone else to experience sexual fulfillment. So the more we turn to porn, the less we’ll turn to and be satisfied by our spouse.
3. Why should I avoid pornography?
Just a small bit of pornography can’t be all that bad, right? Wrong! Researchers have found that pornography is hugely addictive…and the more we use it, the more we’ll need it to become aroused. That’s why saying no to porn right off the bat is one of the top 15 ways to protect Your marriage. The images that pornography provides are detrimental to your marriage, creating unrealistic expectations that will leave you empty and unfulfilled with your spouse. So choosing to avoid pornography altogether is choosing a healthier, more satisfying marriage and sex life. What role has pornography played in your life?
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