DEFENDING DIGNITY

Josh McDowell on Strengthening the Church Against Pornography

“You have to start preparing you children for being exposed to pornography at age five,” said Josh McDowell at an event at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation for DC-area faith leaders.

The event was focused on equipping leaders of local churches, and other religiously affiliated organizations, with the tools to address the harms of pornography.

The presentation drew nearly fifty area leaders.

McDowell spoke about the neurological harms of pornography, giving an analogy that the chemicals reacting in the brain when someone watches pornography are akin to tattooing the images on your brain.

Attendees included Rep. Linda Smith from Shared Hope International and Donna Hughes from Enough is Enough. He told a heart-wrenching story of an eight-year-old boy who was accidently exposed to pornography at a neighbor’s house.

His mother found him several days later crying in his room. When she asked him what was wrong, the boy replied that he couldn’t get the pornographic images out of his head.

McDowell emphasized the need for parents to begin preparing their children at early ages because it is impossible for any parent to adequately protect their child from being exposed to the explicit content.

According to research conducted by Barna Group, and commissioned by Josh McDowell Ministry, roughly half of teenagers, and nearly three-quarters of young adults see pornography on at least a monthly basis.

How should churches respond?

In an interview with NCOSE’s “Sexploitation?” podcast, McDowell stated that “Every church should have a recovery group…” His advice to pastors, and individuals, regarding pornography, is “don’t go it alone.”

McDowell referenced the positive efforts put forth by the Catholic church, the LDS church, and other religious communities as well.

THE 2017 DIRTY DOZEN LIST

WHY?

No corporation should profit from or facilitate sexual exploitation.

Unfortunately, many well-established brands, companies, and organizations in America do just that. Since 2013, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation has published an annual Dirty Dozen List to name and shame the bad corporate actors in America that perpetuate sexual exploitation—whether that be through pornography, prostitution, and sex trafficking.

The Dirty Dozen List is an activism tool that has instigated tremendous changes, leading to policy improvements at Google, Hilton Worldwide, Verizon, Walmart, and the Department of Defense (see more below!)

NCOSE will announce the 2017 Dirty Dozen List on February 22 at 1:00 PM ET in a live online press conference streamed right here.

MORE BACKGROUND

At the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, we work for a world where the pornified vision of reality—with its raw, brutal, debasing, hate-filled themes—becomes intolerable to all those who have concern for the well-being of humanity, respect for human dignity, and affirm human rights.

We work for a world where human beings are not bought and sold for sex, whether on seedy street corners or via the modern convenience of the Internet. We work for a world free from sexual exploitation in all its forms.

One way we do this is through the annual “Dirty Dozen List,” which names and shames a range of actors who contribute significantly to the normalization of pornography, prostitution, sex trafficking, and other forms of sexual exploitation.

The groups, agencies, and businesses named to this list are among the nation’s worst for masquerading as mainstream entities with respectable reputations, while facilitating access to, or pandering and profiting directly from pornography and or prostitution.

Others push policy agendas that normalize egregious forms of sexual exploitation. This list ensures that their participation and collusion with the various aspects of the sex trade becomes public knowledge, and equips concerned citizens with information and tools to hold them accountable.

We will continue naming and shaming until these mainstream contributors to the normalization of sexual exploitation no longer stand in allegiance with pornographers, sex traffickers, and sex buyers, and join us in fighting for the right of everyone to live sexexploitation free lives.

FREE CHRISTIAN E-BOOK: YOUR BRAIN ON PORN

Learn the 5 ways porn warps your brain and Biblical ways to renew it.

Sex is highly glorified in our culture. Between risqué ads and promiscuous characters, the average American will see 15,000 sexual references a year on television alone. Many shows will even glorify pornography, whether by featuring porn stars in guest roles or by actually creating shows about the industry.

With these legitimatizing attitudes from TV, it’s very easy to fall into the logical trap that porn is no big deal. After all, everyone watches it, right?

Download this FREE E - book, Your Brain on Porn, to learn the 5 proven ways pornography warps your brain, including how porn:

• decreases sexual satisfaction

• lowers one’s view of women

• desensitizes the viewer to cruelty  

You’ll also learn how the gospel, obedience to God’s Word, and quality fellowship renews your mind and moves you toward freedom from porn and sex addiction.

IS MASTURBATION SINFUL?

1) MASTURBATION IS DEFINITELY MORTAL SIN! FIND OUT WHY!
2) THE REALITY
3) THE ANSWER!

Why Is Masturbation Sin?

Masturbation is a sin because a person consents in their own heart to take sexual gratification from impure thoughts. It is sinful to indulge in the sexual pleasure that is derived from the satisfaction of using one's imagination to FIXATE upon obscene images, or obscene actions, or forbidden sex. Lustfully fixating upon genitals, or sexual acts, is idolatry. This is called: the worship of obscenities. This is the sin of those addicted to pornography. That's often a "guy" thing. Alternatively, taking delight in the lust of another, or consummating a fantasy of forbidden sexual romance, is the sin of adultery in the heart. That's often a "girl" thing. The act of masturbation is an outward act that confirms that one's heart and mind has consented to an inward act of impurity. Only by consenting to an imagined act of impurity can one attain orgasm. To attain sexual release, a person's will consents to LOVE something that is sexually impure.

A sin consists in loving something that God hates, or in hating something that God loves. Because God is pure love, in one sense there is no hatred in God. But there are actions that God regards with a COMPLETE ABSENCE of love. There are many things that men can do that God does not love. In so far as God does not love a human action, according to our way of thinking it can be said that God hates it. These actions are sins. They are often as hateful to men as they are to God! What are some things that God does not love? What are some things that, according to our human way of speaking, we might say that God hates??

Above all, God hates falsehood. God hates any form of lie, rejoicing in cruel lies, or in telling harmful lies about others. He hates any kind of injustice perpetrated upon his children! God hates cruelty, or the defrauding of a worker of his just wages. God hates it when one person entices another person to do something harmful to himself or others: like to worship evil, or to steal, or to lie, or to take drugs. God also hates impure sexual lust because lust is a false pretense of love. It is a gross and disordered counterfeit of what should really be a sentiment of holy love. Lust consists in fixating on the body of another human being as a sexual object - solely for sexual gratification. When a person lusts, he is making no lasting commitment to the other human being. He is regarding the other human being's body as a sexual object to be used for his own gratification - but nothing more! Outside of marriage, a person who lusts is acting as if he would take another person sexually to be his spouse: but he has absolutely no intention of actually doing so. That is why LUST IS A LIE.

When the subject of masturbation arises, it always refers to stimulating one's self for the gratification of sexual lust, or in stimulating one's self sexually while fantasizing about the lust of another person. In impure sexual fantasy, a person uses his own imagination as a pornographic tool to give his body the ability to attain sexual gratification. In reality entertaining lustful fantasy is embracing a falsehood of the heart and mind, in an act of abuse of his own body in order to attain selfish sexual gratification. This is sexual idolatry! God hates falsehood - especially worshipping a false god! This is why God hates impurity in all it's forms.

God hates the worship of ugliness, or obscenity, or bestiality. A person who might sexually gratify himself while looking at bestiality is acting as if bestiality is a good thing - when it is a hateful thing! In the same way: lustfully fixating upon lurid sexual pornography is a behavior that pretends that some obscene sexual image, or a lurid posture, or an obscene action is a good thing, when they are nothing but obscene and hateful images! These images are used as objects of false worship. These obscene images, be they real, photographic, or imaginary, are the objects of the "worship of obscenities" specifically referred to in the Bible. Do not be deceived! Those who willfully, and habitually indulge in these acts of impurity, without repentance, will incur eternal damnation. (Rev. 21:8)

God hates pornography because it is used to degrade human beings: both men and women. The sole purpose of hard-core pornography is to create and inflame degrading sexual lust, or to invoke unholy gratification by the enjoyment taken in the degradation of another person. Indulging in impure lusts, or taking delight in the lust, or degradation of another person constitute the sins of impurity. Masturbation severely damages a person's ability to accomplish the intended purpose of loving marital sexuality.

Holy sexuality is the loving donation between a man and wife of their own bodies to one another. In marriage it may be enjoyed for holy procreation, or to express romantic love, or simply for the delight that the freedom marriage affords the spouses to release the tensions of life. It may even be an act of charity! But it is always a privileged act of special intimacy reserved for spouses alone. Masturbation, by it's very nature clouds and degrades the purpose and privilege of married sexuality. Masturbation is a solitary act of gratifying one's own physical urge. Performed as a solitary act, even in the married state, it degrades the place of honor of the spouse! It often serves to sexually replace the spouse entirely! This is because masturbation trains a person to abuse his own sexual powers outside the intended order of God, in a selfish solitary way.

If a Catholic has committed sins of masturbation, he must confess these sins in the confessional in this way: "I have committed sins of impurity with myself (mention a specific number)." If a non Catholic has committed sins of masturbation, he must humbly kneel down and beg pardon for his sins, and pray to be delivered of such temptations in the future. Preferably, he would seek out a trusted person who understands this sin: and confess this sin or habit: as is appropriate. "Confess your sins one unto another, and you shall be healed." One must NEVER describe his sexual sins in such a way that it might be an occasion of sin to the confessor! One must never mention names, or details: just the generic name of the sin: and nothing more. If there are circumstances which make any sin more especially grievous, then one must mention WHY his sin is more grievous - but must never he be graphic or explicit about the acts themselves.

One must never provide images which would pollute the soul of a confessor. A trained confessor has heard these sins tens of thousands of times. He does not want graphic details: nor is the divulging of details appropriate at all! Rather - the confessor is there for the sinner who must honestly accuse himself before God, by submitting in humility to the witness of the confessor. Here, honesty is critical. Intentionally withholding any grievous sin renders a confession null. It is only the sinner who is healed by his forthright admission of his sin in the presence of a person who only acts as a witness of his remorse. There are many sins which, at first, seem to be most embarrassing to confess. But there is no sin that in it's nature is not common to all men. Every confessor has heard every variant of every sin hundreds, if not thousands, of times before. Absolution, and sacramental forgiveness comes only from Christ. For Catholics this is always assuredly accomplished by sacramental absolution given by the priest, who speaks not for himself, but for Christ - as an assurance to the person that his sins are indeed forgiven by his humble confession, and by the power of this sacrament.

This particular sin is the most frequently mentioned sin by men in the confessional. It IS a very common sin. Usually, it is a mortal sin. If a person is in a state of grace, and is striving to remain pure, it may not be a mortal sin if suddenly, almost spontaneously, one looses control at a moment of weakness. In such instances a person may not have given "full consent of the will." These unplanned venial wounds, however, are often followed by acts that ARE mortal sins. Once the spontaneous physical impulse has passed, a person may continue to masturbate only to satisfy unnecessary carnal lusts that are intentionally entertained! If these acts are done with decided forethought, then the will has certainly fully consented to commit them. As such, they are definitely impure and mortally sinful. Therefore, ordinarily, if Catholic people have committed sins of masturbation, they should NOT receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion until they have gone to Confession.

Holy Communion is a very private thing - and no one should ever feel compelled to receive Holy Communion: no matter what the circumstance. It is most inappropriate to ask another "why did he not receive communion?" Such questions are ignorant, inappropriate and absolutely outside the bounds of any relationship whatsoever. Such matters are between the soul and God alone. Even wondering about such things is absolutely ignorant and inappropriate. A teen who feels he should decline to receive Holy Communion in the company of nosey parents performs an act of heroic virtue! Attending weekly mass is always an obligation. But, receiving Holy Communion is not! In Hispanic communities, usually only about 1/4 of the assembly actually choose to receive Holy Communion. It is more ordinary for Hispanics NOT to receive communion, than it is to do so. Their reasons are their own: and their reasons are absolutely private and of no concern at all to anyone else.

To fully understand why masturbation is sinful, one must appreciate the holiness of one's own body, and believe in the true and sacred purpose of human sexuality. The "spiritual union" known as "a state of grace" consists in God's uniting himself with the body and soul of a human being. The sanctification of a soul by the grace of God is a spiritual divine union: it is as sacred as marriage itself! The hearts and minds of Christian people must not be defiled by gratifying themselves by indulging in impure sexual fantasies, or by abusing their own physical sexual powers. One's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit! One can no more masturbate in private without the defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit, than one could masturbate inside a Church without defiling it! If one believes that his own body is less holy than a physical building, then he does not at all understand the meaning of the holy gospel, or the awesome holiness of Christian grace.

The relationship of Christ with his Church is a supernatural marriage. Christ espouses his Church as a bride. The marriage of a man and a woman is but a reflection of how intimately God espouses a soul through the indwelling of his divine grace: which is the indwelling of his Holy Spirit. All are united to God through Christ, and through Christ all souls are united with each other. This holy union of souls is called: the "Mystical Body of Christ" - or- "The Church". Christ espouses his Church as a bride. Christian marriage is only a reflection of this more perfect, and eternal marriage: that of Christ with his Bride, the Church.

God is jealous of what our hearts and minds consent to indulge in. This is because his love is intimately personal! God longs to be loved with the affection and loyalty of a spouse! God desires and intends to enjoin in a spiritual, even matrimonial union with the soul. The union with God of a soul in a state of grace is a very real participation in God's own divinity! In a state of grace, the soul mystically participates in the divine life of God himself through the Holy Spirit dwelling within him. Like committing adultery within a marriage, acts of masturbation break the souls covenant of fidelity with God. That is why, usually, acts of masturbation are mortal sins.

Masturbating in public is a criminal act! Why is this so? Because It is a disgusting and grotesque display of lust which is morally offensive to all! Masturbation is no less morally offensive to almighty God when it is done in private. On the contrary, the marital act of sexual intimacy is holy, which means: "set apart". It is reserved for privacy precisely because it is holy, intimately personal, and sacred. But, how would YOU feel if you knew that your spouse was masturbating while fantasizing about being with someone else? If you are a Christian you would be offended! You would be jealous! You would be angry! God regards the idolatry of consummating lusts in much the same way. In a state of grace, God has espoused the soul in a precious spiritual divine union. This spiritual union is EXACTLY what a "state of grace" consists in.

The essence of the Christian Gospel is God's loving call to all human beings, to accept His complete forgiveness for past sins, and to enter into a new kind of life, sanctified and empowered by divine grace. This is truly a wonderful new life of spiritual union with God. The supernatural power experienced by souls who are truly come to know God in this way is awesome! This is why so many thousands of martyrs chose to spill their blood for Christ, rather than to renounce him. They were not choosing death - giving up their very lives - for some false, imaginary experience! When a soul is truly sanctified the supernatural power of divine grace: the soul is 'born again'. With every passing day, the soul is drawn ever deeper into union with God. This process of being born again is not something that happens only once: it is an ongoing process of supernatural sanctification through the continuous infusion of divine grace. The soul is renewed daily, as it is continuously perfected as a new creation. This 'metanoia', this rebirth of new life in Christ occurs by an ongoing renewal of the mind and heart, through continually increasing in the grace of God. The grace of God is first planted in the soul like a seed: then the soul continues to grow in the life of grace - in spite of blight, and freeze, and sin. There are many difficulties, and crosses, and sins - which confront the soul in it's spiritual journey.

more > >

CHRISTIANS DEALING WITH SEXUAL TEMPTATION

Hormones are tough to handle. Without being knowledgeable about how hormones actually work, we can state the obvious: that they are a real and powerful part of our human make up. Our sexual hormones, which give us “sex drive”, can make being a Christian very tough at times!

Many of the world’s societies are sex mad. Sexual immorality is everywhere, both visibly and hidden. The prevalence and extent of unchecked sexual activity creates a situation where to be different really makes you stand out from the crowd. Pornography has more and more of a place in many cultures and societies. Also the practice and acceptance of homosexuality is possibly greater now than at any time in history.

Lust and fornication (sex outside marriage) are sinful. In order to resist sexual temptation, the Christian needs to have knowledge of why he or she needs to resist, as well as having the spiritual and emotional strength to make an effective resistance. With God’s help we can resist. If we trust in the truth behind God’s rules about sexual morality, then we have the foundation that we need to make our stand against temptation.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says: “When you are tempted (God) will provide a way out so that you can stand”.

Here are some other scriptures which will help those who are tempted: Psalm 1, Psalm 139:23,24, Matthew 26:41, I Corinthians 10:12-14, Philippians 4:8, James 4:7, II Peter 2:9, II Peter 3:17.

We must trust that God knows what is best for us and that we will ultimately be happiest if we obey Him in this area of sex and sexuality. Indeed, we must comply with God’s will or we will be judged and cut off from Him. The Bible is clear that lust, fornication and adultery are sinful. We can see this in scriptures such as Matthew 5:27,28:

“You have heard that it was said “Do not commit adultery.” But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

This verse is followed by a warning that, “it is better to (sacrifice our personal desires and not sin) than for your whole body to be thrown into hell” (verse 29). If we persist in sin we will pay the crushing price of experiencing separation from God.

Masturbation

The issue of the acceptability of masturbation is one that divides the opinion of Christians. According to some statistics, it seems to be the case that roughly one third of Christians view masturbation as wrong, one third view it as acceptable with certain rules and one third have an unclear opinion. Whilst we remain on the fence, so as to encourage our site goal of unifying Christians, we do want to animate one or two points about masturbation. Those who see no wrong in masturbation would normally describe its practi[c]e as being useful in relieving individuals of pent up sexual desire, which if unexpressed could lead to lust or actual physical sexual sin. They would probably encourage masturbation to be done only in a clinical way - in other words without lustful thoughts about an actual existing human individual in their minds.

What we can state regarding masturbation is that we have found no credible Biblical argument that proves or convincingly argues that masturbation is wrong. Many Christians would further view masturbation within marriage as certainly wrong. However, others would argue that it may be necessary within marriage in certain unusual circumstances (for example during pregnancy), to satisfy sexual desires and to avoid temptation which could lead to adultery.

Temptation to commit Adultery

Adultery is clearly described as being sinful in the Bible, for example in Matthew 5:27-32 and I Corinthians 6:9-11. It is a serious issue, and Christian couples should not be complacent about its threat. When one half of a marriage partnership commits this sin, they are breaking the sacred relationship bond that they have made before God in marriage. Without doubt it can be very tempting for some to break this bond and indulge in such sin. There may be several reasons for this. For example, a relationship may be at a low ebb. Perhaps there is a lack of quality time or communication in the relationship and perhaps a lack of sexual activity, which leaves sexual needs unmet. This can make it very tempting for one or both parties to find satisfaction for those needs through someone other than their partner.

Hopefully it is common sense that if you have a strong and healthy marriage, with satisfying sexual activity, then a barrier against sexual temptation will be built. This barrier is obviously not impenetrable; people can still be tempted. Their greedy hormones may try to push them towards sinful sexual indulgence. The consequences of sinning in this way are enormous. Even if the truth does not come out, and all the consequences of this do not have to be faced (possible divorce, financial damage, damage to other friendships and relationships), God knows the truth about what has happened. Imagine how hard it must be to wrestle with this guilt, all the time knowing that you cannot escape judgement unless you truly repent. To truly repent, you must tell your husband/wife what has happened - admittedly hard when it may mean the end of your marriage.

Go to extremes to avoid adultery - it is plain that its impact often cannot be reversed, even thought there is no doubt that God can forgive us. Whether it means changing your job or taking other extreme measures to avoid a situation of extreme temptation - make sure you put your marriage first. Of course, the sexual dimension of relationships may not be the only, or indeed the main focus or experiencing temptation to be unfaithful. It may be that friendship with a member of the opposite sex is so enjoyable that it starts to form a deeper bond. This is an obvious warning sign to absolutely withdraw from that friendship. We must make these sacrifices in order to please God.

No relationship will meet all of our deeper needs and expectations and where we are tempted to know fulfilment from outside our marriage in such a way, we need to trust that the Lord Himself will meet those remaining needs. He sees our sacrifice as we withdraw from such tempting friendships and He will reward us. He knows our needs and He can help us to meet them in other ways. There are some good web sites in the “Marriage and Relationships” section, which specialise in building up and guarding marriage relationships.

PORNOGRAPHY

Want to help fight against pornography on television. The AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION (a Protestant sponsored website) has a monthly Journal in which they list the commerical sponsors of pornographic television shows. By writing to these sponsors and telling them that you will no longer purchase their products if they keep supporting rotten television shows---you can put pressure on the Networks to remove the trashy shows that are on television today. The web site for the AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION is: http://www.afa.net

Another interfaith group involved in fighting pornography is Morality in Media, Inc., which was established in 1962. They fight obscenity on television and try to promote greater decency on current television shows. Founded by a Catholic priest. Web Site:  http://www.ccel.org/a/aquinas/summa/SS/SS153.html

According to Saint Thomas Aquinas any intentional or deliberate sin of lust is a mortal sin.(Summa Theologica, [IIa IIae], The Second Part of the Second Part, Questions 153, 154; SEE: St. Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologica on the internet at: http://www.ccel.org/a/aquinas/summa/SS/SS153.html

VIEWING PORNOGRAPHY IS A MORTAL SIN. Mortal sin kills the relationship between God and the soul. If a person dies in the state of Mortal Sin they go straight to HELL. This means that a person who views pornography can go to HELL when they die if they don't repent of the sin of viewing PORNOGRAPHY.

See the web page on HELL. Supposing a person views pornography, but then repents and turns from their sin. What will happen is that God will save their soul, but He will send them many punishments on this earth and also in PURGATORY. According to the Saints of the Catholic Church who have had visions of PURGATORY, the pains of PURGATORY far exceed any pain we may experience in the body on this earth. See the web page on PURGATORY.

TYPES OF PORNOGRAPHY

Magazines displaying nude or partially nude bodies of women or men for the purpose of sexual gratification.

Movies, including videotapes, CD's, and Lazer-Discs that display nude or partially nude bodies. This would include "R", "X", "XXX" rated movies. Even some PG and PG-13 rated movies are pornographic because of their suggestive content.

Television shows that have nude or partially nude bodies shown with strong suggestive content are forms of pornography that should be avoided. The televisions shows today are filled with this type of material and many people watch these shows not knowing that they are committing grievous sins for which they will be severely punished in hell or purgatory or here on this earth.

Internet sites that display nude or partially nude bodies for the purpose of sexual gratification.

Beaches, where women dress inappropriately in bikini or other immodest clothing. Men who go to the beach and intentionally eye these women are lusting. This is another type of pornography. Women do not have to be completely dressed in the nude to be guilty of dressing in a pornographic nature. The women who dress this way, intentionally exposing themselves, will be punished by God.

Muslim women, while they go to extremes in covering up their bodies, set an example of decency that other women should follow. Muslim women keep their bodies covered in such a manner that keeps men from committing the sin of lust. Their principle of modesty should be followed, but not to such great extremes as completely covering up the entire body. [God's grace work in mysterious way, even in those people who have not yet excepted Christ into their hearts.]

"I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes, I have to turn my head until my darkness goes", from a song by The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger/ Keith Richards, Paint It Black.

If you look at any of the above you are committing the sin of lust which God will punish here on this earth, in purgatory, and for the unrepentant, in hell. In the Bible, Matthew 5: 27-30, Jesus says:

"You have heard how it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say this to you, if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye should be your downfall, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of yourself than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should be your downfall, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of yourself than to have your whole body go to hell."

Jesus is telling us that if we look at someone lustfully we commit mortal sin. This would also apply to looking at magazines or videos that have women exposing themselves(pornography). And Jesus gives us a warning saying that it is better to tear out your right eye than to look at someone with lustful intent because the penalty of committing this sin is eternal hell.

A VOICE FROM HELL

To all of my living friends on earth:

I am now in hell. Yesterday, I was just like you are now – eating, drinking, laughing, watching TV, enjoying my family, etc. Then, I got in my car to go to work, and a drunk driver hit me broadside, going 70 mph in a 30 mph zone. I never even saw him coming. It all happened so fast. One minute I was alive listening to music on my car radio, and the next minute I was dead, floating over my wrecked car, looking at my lifeless, bloody body. It took me a while to realize that I was dead, and that I was looking at myself from above.

Then, all of a sudden, I was pulled through a really dark tunnel, where really nasty people were making fun of me and tearing at my flesh. I tried to fight them off, but there must have been a thousand of them. The more I fought, the more they laughed at me, and the nastier they got.

As I was sliding down this tunnel against my will, I caught a glimpse of what must have been heaven. It was beautiful beyond belief, with plants that seemed to be alive, with beautiful music that I had never heard on earth, and many different colors that did not exist on earth. I heard a voice inside my head, which I surmise was Jesus, telling me that I had forfeited heaven and being with Him for all eternity. Why? Because He said, while I was still alive, I did not fully commit my life to Him and His teachings. I always knew that Jesus was real, but I never seemed to make that life-changing commitment to follow Him.

I kept hearing Jesus repeat my sins to me – pornography, bad language, dirty jokes, greed, envy, lust, drinking, and gluttony. And there was that abortion I had my girlfriend get back in 1988. Jesus told me that He had sent me unlimited grace every day of my life, but that I had always rejected it in favor of sin. And since my lifestyle rejected His living water, that allowed satan to take over my life, and eventually my death. I told Jesus in my mind that I really didn’t know what He expected of me, but He said that that was no excuse, since He had written it all down for me in the Bible, had given me the sacraments in His church to strengthen me, and had sent His Mom and Her saints and angels down to earth many times to help me. He said that I preferred to play computer games, read the newspaper, and watch football over doing the will of God. He told me that since I truly preferred the temporary things of the earth, rather than everlasting heavenly things, that I got my wish to not go to heaven upon death. And the really sad thing is that He told me that all I had to do was to make one sincere confession to be forgiven for everything.

Now, I am surrounded by millions of snakes and worms, unrelenting fire, loud noises and screams, a horrible stench, and terrible looking demons who torture me day and night. And I cannot move any part of my body on my own. Knowing what I threw away is the most depressing part, along with the fact than I am NEVER getting out of this place. If only I had listened to the Church’s teachings instead of “thinking for myself”. It never entered my mind while I was still alive that I could be wrong about anything, especially about salvation. I always considered it a strong virtue to “think for myself”, and it was always a weak vice to listen to anyone, especially some old-fogey church, telling me what to believe.

Now, I would gladly give up every penny I ever made to be sent back to earth for 5 minutes, but that will never happen. I, along with millions of other humans, were victims of satan’s great deception, which fooled me into believing that I would never die, that self-pride was a good thing, that the sexual pleasures of earth were more important than obeying His commandments, that the real goal of life was the pursuit of wealth and to be surrounded by beautiful possessions, and that there would always be time to repent of my sins before dying. I really wish someone would have told me about Matthew 25:31-46 and what I was held accountable for during life. But no one ever did. And I never seemed to find the time to open the Bible and read what it said. That was as stupid as never reading my college textbooks in preparation for the final exam.

Satan disguised himself as an angel of light many times during my earthly sojourn, and I was totally taken in by him - the beauty, the glamour, the glitz, the power, the sex, the money, the feel-good mentality, being entertained all the time, etc. I also believed everything the secular media ever said, instead of meditating on His Word to find out The Truth for myself. His bait of sexual gratification seemed wonderful at the time, but it had lots of poison in it, which I know about now, when it is too late.

So now that you know my story, what will you do with your life? Like me, you may not have tomorrow to decide. Will you follow me to hell, or will you follow Jesus to heaven? The choice is yours, and only yours, to make, today.

Sirach 15:15-17: If you will, you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice. He has placed before you fire and water: stretch out your hand for whichever you wish. Before a man are life and death, and whichever he chooses will be given to him.

Matthew 7:13-23: "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. "Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.'

Matthew 25:31-46: "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

John 15:4-7: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

12 WAYS TO OVERCOME PORNOGRAPHY

How to Fight the
Internet Pornography
PLAGUE
Millions of our fellow Catholics need help now!
Here's what you can do...

Click here to donate now and receive 5 FREE copies of our new "intervention" guide 12 Ways to Overcome Pornography!

Dear Friend of Catholic Answers,

One of today’s silent but most deadly “spiritual killers” is pornography—especially Internet pornography.

Pornography kills the soul because using it is a mortal sin.

It kills marriages because it’s a form of unfaithfulness…It turns love into lust…And it often leads to extra-marital affairs and divorce.

And it kills the innocence of children who unintentionally stumble upon it when they’re on the Internet.

Today, pornography is the #1 most downloaded and most viewed category of material on the Internet.

According to the Internet Filter Review, the worldwide Internet porn business is a $97 billion-a-year industry—and growing.

It’s no wonder. At last count, there were 4.2 million pornographic Web sites, with 420 million pages of pornographic material. (These numbers grow by the hour—because thousands of new sites come online every week.)

43% of all Internet users view porn sites while they’re online. The estimate is that 72 million people visit porn sites each month.

According to Media Metrix, more than 70% of men ages 18 to 34 visit a pornographic site each month.

2.8 billion pornographic e-mails are sent every year.

Because of the Internet, laws against pornography and obscenity have become virtually impossible to enforce. No longer can local communities effectively control the influx of filth in their midst, as they did in days gone by. Today, it’s spread from computer to computer in the blink of an eye.

In the old days, a man had to risk being seen walking into an adult bookstore. But not anymore. With the Internet, he doesn’t even have to leave his house.

And the number of children being exposed to pornography has skyrocketed due to the Internet.

According to research conducted by the London School of Economics and Political Science, fully 9 out of 10 children from ages 8 and 16 have seen Internet pornography—usually without even intending to.

The Internet Filter Review reports that the average age of a child when he is first exposed to Internet pornography is 11 years old.

Of children 15 to 17 years old, 80% have multiple exposures to hard-core Internet pornography.

90% of 8- to 16-year-olds have viewed pornography online—most while doing homework.

In 1996 while battling the ACLU (a major supporter of Internet porn), the United States Department of Justice stated…

“Never before in the history of telecommunications media in the United States has so much indecent (and obscene) material been so easily accessible by so many minors in so many American homes with so few restrictions” (U.S. Department of Justice, Post Hearing Memorandum of Points and Authorities, Reno v. ACLU, 929 F. Supp. 824 [1996]).

Internet pornography is truly a plague that has infested our land—and it’s infecting our homes, our families, our churches, and our entire community.

Our churches?

Yes. Even our churches.

According to a survey conducted by Christianity Today, 51% of pastors say Internet porn is a temptation they struggle with.

A survey by Promise Keepers revealed that 53% of the men at their rallies had been involved with pornography during the previous week.

And a “Christians and Sex” survey conducted by Leadership Journal in March 2005 discovered that 57% of pastors say that pornography is the most sexually damaging issue in their congregations.

According to the National Catholic Register, Fr. Mark Bautista of British Columbia—who has been a pastor of several major parishes—estimates that up to 30% of the men in any given parish are regular viewers of Internet pornography.

He said he’s noticed a staggering increase in porn use that coincides with the growth of the Internet.

It’s not just among the men of the parish, but the children, too. He routinely hears porn confessions of boys and girls as young as 13.

Christopher West of the Theology of the Body Institute says that at least 80% of Catholic adults have used pornography and that up to 40% of Catholics view porn compulsively.

Our apologist friend Jeff Cavins agrees. In his view, 40% of Catholic men and teenage boys are regular porn users.

No wonder they call the Internet “the Web”!

Internet porn has ensnared untold millions of people.

Tragically, a very high percentage of them are our fellow Catholics.

That’s why I’m writing to you today.

I need your help to distribute a special “intervention” guide that we recently created at Catholic Answers.

I call it an “intervention” guide because it’s designed to help a person break the habit of viewing Internet porn.

The guide 12 Ways to Overcome Pornography gives the reader simple and effective steps which will help him or her break the habit of using Internet porn—and all other porn, for that matter.

The guide is non-confrontational…non-judgmental…and it doesn’t point an accusatory finger at anyone.

That’s because this problem has to be dealt with very delicately—using the most sincere form of Christian charity.

You see, people who have this problem are ashamed of it. And yet, it becomes so engrained in their lives—especially with the ease of access to porn over the Internet—that they find it difficult to break the habit.

Therefore, we created this “intervention” guide to help people when they’re ready to be helped.

We’ve designed it to be disseminated inside parish bulletins. That way no one will feel singled out.

To distribute this guide, we need your help. Please prayerfully consider what you can give at this time, and send us your gift by clicking here now.

We estimate that to undertake this project and get this guide into parishes and into the hands of thousands of our fellow Catholics, we will need to raise at least $65,000, but we simply don’t have that money.

We decided to take on this project in addition to all our other work because of the gravity of the problem…and because of its effect on the spiritual health and the well-being of millions of Catholic families.

Sexual sin has always been the #1 way the devil takes people away from the practice of the Catholic faith.

Our goal at Catholic Answers is to help people stay in the Catholic faith!

But we need your help to make this goal a reality. Click here now to make your donation to this important project.

So your gift at this time—of $35, $50, or perhaps $75 or more—will make sure we can help countless Catholics who are caught in the soul-destroying grip of Internet (and other forms of) pornography.

As Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver put it…

“Pornography poisons the human heart, imagination, and soul. It is pure poison. It should be controlled like any other toxic waste. And don’t be fooled. This isn’t ‘censorship.’ It’s a matter of public health and common sense.”

Will you help our fellow Catholics who suffer from this problem?

Your gift, today, will extend a loving hand that could save countless marriages…and souls.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely in Christ,

Karl Keating

P.S. Again, this is a topic that can’t be discussed easily. You can’t just walk up to someone and say, “Hey, buddy. Do you look at Internet porn?”

Therefore, the guide 12 Ways to Overcome Pornography gives people the opportunity to get help without anyone being singled out as being addicted to pornography.

In return for your gift of $35 or more, we’ll send you five copies of the guide that you can share with others.

Please give what you can so that this “spiritual act of mercy” can help rid our Church of the plague of pornography.

Thank you, and God bless.