Pornography is not a sometimes food...

I am convinced that pornography is the junk food of sex and sexuality. It provides a quick fix, a cheap rip off of the original, giving a sense of fulfillment and short term pleasure which is followed by a feeling of deep regret and guilt. But it exists along the spectrum of sexuality just like junk food exists in the spectrum of food, even though many wish it didn't because it is so bad for you. We know that wishing does not make it so and the demand exists so strongly for both junk food and pornography that they are sustained, even thriving as a result and sometimes drawing the prohibitionists in to participate in a moment of weakness.

In the face of overwhelming fast food demand, the strength of the healthy food lobbying has allowed for a happy medium in which we see fast food given the title of a 'sometimes' food. Eating it once in a while, whilst not the greatest thing in the world for you, will most likely not be the cause of your death today (although the same cannot be said for the random cow or chicken which makes the meal, but we can live with that).  No one seems to question that even with healthy options, fast food is not good for you.

Pornography is not as simple. There are pockets of society that allow, enable and even encourage regular use, sometimes from a very young age. Although there is still an aspect of taboo which pervades the general population and many keep their habits of consumption a secret. Either way, the use of pornography, especially via the internet appears to have no boundaries anywhere within Western society. But, unlike fast food, many suggest that there is nothing wrong with it and anyone who speaks out against it speaks out not only against porn but also against freedom.

The reality is that the use of pornography diminishes the act of sex, which was designed to be the most intimate experience for a couple in a lifelong relationship, into a cheap transaction by a consumer only concerned with fulfilling selfish desires. The problems with it are many...

Firstly, from a fundamental perspective, it is a basic requirement of God to 'not lust after your neighbour's wife' (Exodus 20:17 The Message) which is every other women on the planet except for your wife. Jesus spoke about this too as He taught the people on a mountainside, 'anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart' (Matthew 5:28 NLT). It is there heart in which sinful behaviour starts.

Secondly, the Apostle Paul talks about 'all other sins a person commits' being outside of the body, 'but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body' (1 Cor 6:18 NIV). There is something that happens to us, some damage that is done when we engage in a form of sexual activity outside of its design which we cannot repair. It is thought that sex is so intimate that we share part of our soul with the person we engage in the act with, be they real or only an image. The more people that we have sex with (real or images), the more pieces of ourselves we have given out and the less we have left to give to someone whom we could share our life with. Add that to the broken relationship with the Creator that comes as a result of sin and you have some serious individual consequences.

Thirdly, not only a broken relationship with God but a broken relationship with the significant other in our life, be it present or future. You cannot be totally intimate with an individual if you are also intimate with others in the same way.

Fourthly, and probably the last thought of, the impact on women that pornography has is detrimental. It starts with women in general as they get reduced to a product for consumption by anyone and everyone who wishes, and ends up with the teenager who gets lured our of her village with a promise of a job and gets forced to work as a prostitute because of increasing demand for the product. There are literally thousands of stories like this.

It is all connected. Supply and demand impacts on a global scale and we are responsible for that impact. We get so caught up in claiming our freedoms and we don't pay attention to who's freedom we are stealing in the process.

I am not calling for pornography to be made illegal, but I am calling for men to make a stand against behaviour that has negative effects on everyone around them, including themselves. If demand slows then so will supply. But until then, not matter how you look at it, pornography is not a sometimes food.