Matthew 5: 27 - 30 NKJV
It's hard to watch the news lately and not see another report of some high profile celebrity or politician being accused of some sort of sexual misconduct. These accusations have run across both party lines as numerous women have now come forward to tell their stories of how they have been treated by men in power. That old phrase that absolute power corrupts absolutely may have never been more true than in todays political climate. So what is it that has suddenly caused these victims to release their years of silence and come forward? Well, I compare it to a person in a group of people who remains silent until someone else opens up. Indeed, once a few people came forward with accusations, the floodgates opened and we were awash in the news of men behaving badly. Of course, this type of behavior is nothing new to many people. We've always suspected that it was there, we just didn't see the proof until now. It remains to be seen just how the behavior of a few men will affect the male and female relationship dynamic in the future. In my opinion, I think we'll be ok in that regard. I can say that because not every person has engaged in the behaviors which these few have engaged in. I won't get into the entire pornography issue, but make no mistake it has had a huge impact on how people view women. At least it did for me. Some people bristle at the suggestion of pornography being a addiction, but I can personally say that it may asw well be. How else would you describe a industry that puts people, our wives and daughters, to only have a purpose for the pleasure of a man? Too deep of a thought for you? Well, that thought is worth millions of dollars a year to the adult entertainment industry. So, keep thinking the way that you do. I'm by no means proud of what I have done in the past, but I've struggled to overcome it. If there is one thing that I am sure of, is that this is not who I truly am. Of course, if you want to accuse Jesus Himself of being a abuser of women, then you are accusing me as well. For it is Christ Himself who lives in me {Galations 2:20}.
So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5: 28 - 33 NKJV
One thought that a dear friend shared with me some time ago in regards to my dabbling into pornography was that these women whom I was desiring were someones wife and daughter. You might as well have thrown a brick on my head when I heard this. See, all too often we fail to personalize the women we see in this media. Yet, at the same time we are ready to jump in to defend our own wives and daughters to the very death should someone view them simply as objects for anothers gratification. Can you say hypocrite? For this is exactly the message we are sending when we do not personalize the very images we are using for our own enjoyment. That in a nutshell is what it comes down to, who's wife or daughter are you using for your own gratification? Tell me that doesn't cut you to the core as it did to me. Now, not everyone will be affected by this reality and will continue to view our wives and daughters as simply objects of their own desires. I can only speak to the changes I have been through with the help of a few trusted friends. Friends who saw something else in me that just didn't jive with what it was I was doing. Can a christian be caught up in such behaviors? Absolutely! Does this define who it is that we are in Christ Jesus? Definately not, it only means that we are reverting back to the spirit of error which once dominated our lives. The good news we have today is that we are dead to that now {Romans 6:6}. What would I say to one of those politicians who has been caught up in his own bad behavior? I would tell him that very same thing that my friend told me as he pointed out my wrong behavior. "Nor do I condemn you."
~Scott~
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