If you have a problem with the sins of pornography or masturbation, don’t look only to outward solutions to your sin. Your challenge is not primarily adult websites, immodestly dressed women, magazine racks, or your smartphone. Your challenge isn’t them. It’s you. You are your porn problem.
You discover this truth about yourself from Jesus. The religious leaders of His day thought defilement came from without. Jesus set them straight. He told them:
“What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Mark 7:20-23
Notice the sexual sins: adulteries, fornications (sexual immorality), lewdness. Almost 25% of the sins that Jesus lists are sexual sins. And they have their source, not in outside triggers, but from within. The reason you are drawn to pornography is that you have a wicked heart. Adulteries, fornications and lewdness have their genesis within you, and defile you.
This makes pornography a heart issue. You can tackle the temptation to watch pornography by installing a porn filter, having an accountability partner and throwing your smartphone away (three actions that I heartily recommend). Taking these steps will help you avoid sexual sin. But to get clear of adultery, sexual immorality and lewdness consistently, you need to work on your heart. You must replace your evil desires with holy desires, replace wicked habits with sanctified habits.
To get victory over pornography and masturbation, you must admit that your problem isn’t porn, or lust, or temptation, or something else. It’s you.
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