Get Rid of Porn and Find Lasting Freedom

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I got the expected pushback for saying porn wasn’t addictive. I know a lot of Christian groups and some secular groups say it’s an addiction. But their view is not based on solid science. Hard science shows otherwise. There is a difference between physical addiction and mental habits. Porn falls into the latter category. I suspect we have to agree on this.

So let’s talk about getting free. My story of getting out of porn is part of why I think it’s important that porn is not an addiction.

I started watching porn when I was seven. When puberty started, this became a nightly thing. In the mid-70s, Christians didn’t talk about porn, and my Christian father had porn, so I thought it was okay. At fifteen, I realized God didn’t like me. So I prayed and threw out a bunch of porn, and never slipped. The next time I looked at porn was eight years later, when Lori discovered a porn magazine and was curious. I looked over her shoulder and that was it. No recurrence.

It took me years to realize that I didn’t do this on my own. God answered my prayer and enabled me to resist temptation. But I am not special, and what God has done for me, He will do for others.

One of the fundamental precepts of our faith is that we cannot live a holy life in our own strength; We need God’s help. Often, part of this help means relying on other followers. In the case of porn, this might be a friend, a group, or a ministry that helps people find freedom. In rare cases, it may be a man’s wife.

As you work to get away from porn, I encourage you to think of freedom as no longer choosing to watch porn. This has been my experience and I’ve heard the same from others. Of course, there’s still pull, but it’s no longer what it was when I first stopped. This is a small nudge that’s easy to overlook.

Ultimately, anything that can get you off porn is great. Here are some resources to help you get started:

broken: Long time my favorite resource. They also offer support to the wives of men who struggle with pornography issues.

pure desire: This group discusses unwanted sexual behavior rather than addiction. They may use the word a bit, but their focus seems fine to me.

celebrate recovery: This is an AA style ministry that deals with bad behavior, including pornography. I’ve heard some good news from friends in the CR group. This is a great option if you struggle with alcohol, drugs, or other addictive behaviors, as well as pornography.

Aldrich Ministries: This is an online coaching ministry that Lori and I joined. We don’t deal with this problem, but others do. Sam Scales is helpful when dealing with pornography.

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