Avizandam. In Scots law, this term describes the careful consideration given by the judge before an important decision. Join me each week as we explore various topics from a spiritual perspective and take matters. Avizandum. Pornography is a multi-billion business throughout the world.
It used to be that men who wanted to see porn had to go to a sleazy part of town. put on some kind of disguise and sneak into the club. I remember flying back from JFK to the UK when I was a university student in Scotland. I found myself sitting next to a young man who was studying at an English university. We got into conversation, and it quickly became obvious that he seemed to lack a moral compass.
He was boasting of his sexual Exploits in the United States and asked if I would smuggle through the UK customs a collection of pornographic literature. At that time it was illegal to bring such literature into the UK.
Now, these were the days before the Internet, the iPhone, social media, etc. and of course I refused to comply with his illicit request.
Now there's no need to smuggle such literature into any country. There's no need to sneak off to the red light district of a particular city. In a few seconds, Porn can be seen in private on the iPhone. It can be streamed into our homes. Millions drink from its polluted waters.
Increasingly, numbers of women as well as men view porn and are becoming addicted to it. The statistics reveal that viewing pornography impacts the lives of many who are professing followers of Jesus Christ. No one who is following our Holy Saviour, who is indwelled by the Holy Spirit, and who worships a holy God, would argue that viewing porn is good. The vast majority hide their viewing. when their pornographic habit is revealed, their shame.
Guilt. Denial. and yes, there is sometimes genuine repentance. It's devastating for a wife to discover that her husband, rather than pursuing a loving relationship with her, is spending time viewing porn. and perhaps even seeking to act out some of the fantasies with her.
What's the answer? Many solutions have been suggested. Programs can be put on computers. and iPhones to track the viewing of a particular individual. Accountability groups are sometimes formed.
Books are written to advise men and women to work through these problems. Therapists and counsellors seek to help the porn addict, although we know that some of these therapists and counsellors are addicted to porn themselves. In fact, some of them may argue that watching some porn is good.
Now, lust is not a new problem. is part of the depravity of the human heart. While the characteristic of authentic love is to give and give, lust takes. demands is insistent and seeks self gratification rather than looking to the interests of another. The Apostle Peter in First Peter two, verse eleven, writes, Beloved, I urge you, as sojourners and exiles, to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul.
He is urging his readers to abstain from passions of the flesh which clearly include sexual lust. But he still addresses them as beloved, He's reminding them that they're loved by God. Earlier in the chapter Peter reminds these first century Christians of the great privileges they have in Christ, their living stones being built up as a spiritual house, They are a holy priesthood offering up spiritual sacrifices. They are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's possession. They are Beloved by God.
And as children of God, they should demonstrate in their lives not lust, not selfishness. not passions of the flesh. But love Husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church. in dealing with these passions and lusts, Peter does not say phase yourself out. He doesn't say, look deep within yourself to understand why you feel the need to pursue these lusts.
He urges them. To abstain. Zero. Tolerance.
Now I'm aware. that some people think this is unrealistic and naive advice. But followers of Christ Arin dwelt. By the Holy Spirit. And we must understand that being is the foundation of doing.
What we are in Christ all of the blessings which we enjoy as children of God are the foundation of how we live. If we just focus on the doing rather than our being, which is our identity, we're missing the mark. Christianity is not behaviour modification it's a supernatural transformation from darkness to light. It's a deliverance from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of God's beloved Son. In Christ we are new creations, the old has passed away.
all has become new.
So, Peter is encouraging us not to go back to how we once lived. The more we understand God's love for us, and the more we grow in our love for God, the less our lives will be characterized by lust. and the passions of the flesh, These lusts and passions wage war against our soul, Peter is saying. Satan is out to destroy us, to discourage us, to make us ineffective in our service for God. He wants us to look down rather than to look up to Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.
Although many around us may be drinking from the polluted and perverse waters of pornography, followers of Jesus, continue to drink of the living water which is a well springing up to eternal life. Don't drink. From the broken. and polluted waters of pornography, Drink of this living water. Freely supplied by our loving Heavenly Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ava Zandam. You're listening to the weekly Avizandam podcast from The Verdict featuring Pastor John Monroe. John is Senior Pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Listen to John's daily program, The Verdict, on broadcast radio or major podcast platforms. For more information about the Verdict Ministry, visit us online at calvarychurch.com slash the verdict.
