Porn is
everywhere. At least that is what we are told. Even though much of our media
has been influenced by porn I think that the reality is closer to the fact that
it is much easier to access than ever before.
The internet
has brought that world right into our homes, our offices and our Pastor’s
offices. No longer do you need to go to the seedy end of town, late at night,
to get your fix.
But this
isn’t new.
We’ve known
that this is how it works for a long
time.
It’s only
now that internet providers have been sitting up and taking notice, trying to
decide how best to protect our children from porn online.
The debate
recently has focused on how ISP’s (companies like Sky, BT Broadband, Talk Talk
etc.) are going to deal with it. Companies such as Talk Talk have introduced
network filtering where porn would not even make it into the home.
But there
are still questions that need to be answered.
Who decides
which sites are blocked? Will it be full proof i.e. will non porn sites be
blocked too?
Will they
work on everything? What about file sharing networks, facebook, twitter,
message boards?
Will we be
forced to turn on filters?
Isn’t that
dangerous?
Coming from
a position where I work to see people free from porn, where I am passionate
about men and women reclaiming their lives, where I want our children to be
protected, I think filters are so important.
However, I
don’t agree with censorship. If you want to look at porn you should be free to.
As a Christian some may view this as a strange stance. As someone who has
struggled with porn it may seem even stranger. But God isn’t interested simply
in us not sinning. He is interested in us entering a loving relationship with
Him where we are transformed into people who love others and who find something
greater than porn to live for.
If you want
to quit looking at porn you need a
filter. You need to tell someone. To
be open and honest with someone you can trust and will guide you.
But you need
more. You need to work through issues that maybe led you to porn in the first
place. You need God’s help. You need other people to help.
If you want
your kids protected from porn you need a
filter. You need to watch what they
are watching.
But you need
more. You need to show them how men should view women. To protect them. You
need to not be looking at porn yourself. Sounds obvious but…
If people
want to look at porn they will find a way. Millions of people found a way
before the internet and they would still if the internet vanished.
At the end
of the day if you really want to look at porn you will. But the questions Churches
should be asking are “Do we talk about this enough?” “Do we create a safe
environment for Christians to get help?” “Do our leaders have a problem with
porn?”
And just as
important..
“Are we
letting the internet babysit our kids?”
