Shocking Statistics

This is more of a post for the masses rather than a part of our story here... although it ties in topically.

Here are some shocking statistics regarding the pornography industry and those who have been pulled into it.

(Source: Internet Pornography Statistics)

2006

• Worldwide Revenues $97.06 billion
• The pornography industry is larger than the revenues of Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix, and Earthlink combined
• US Revenues of $13.33 billion
• US Porn revenues exceed the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC
• There are over 4.2 million pornographic websites on the Internet (over 12% of total websites worldwide)
• 88 million daily search engine requests are for pornography (25% of total daily searches

General Stats

• Average age of first Internet exposure to pornography is 11 years old
• 80% of 15-17 year olds have had multiple exposures to hard-core pornography
• 90% of 8-16 year olds have viewed pornography online (usually while doing homework online)
• 42% of US men admit to viewing pornography regularly
• 47% of Christian men admit that pornography is a problem in their homes

Looking at all of the above, take into account that only 10% of men admit that pornography addiction is a problem for them. The numbers do not add up.

Matthew 5:27 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart."

1 Cor 6:18 - "Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body."

Col 3:5 - "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry."

The Bible is very clear on the issue of pornography. It is adultery for a married person and it is idolatry to all. This has never been more clear to me than now. Not only does it destroy the integrity of a relationship, but it poisons your life and slowly destroys each aspect of it. It's a fairly slow process and you often, as I did, think that you are in control of it when in reality it controls you.

God, however, is faithful and only His mercy, grace, and power can break you from the bonds of pornography addiction. We are frail, weak, and wretched spiritual beings and only through Christ can we be freed from our carnal nature.

If you are in Christ and are struggling with this sin, open your heart once again to Christ. Confess to your spouse, confess to God, let the healing begin. Christ layed down His life for us so that we could be free from God's wrath and enter the kingdom of heaven. Return to Him.

If you are not in Christ, I plead and pray that you accept His gift of mercy and grace. He died for you. If you were the only human being on the planet, He still would have died for you to save your soul. You don't need special rituals, ceremonies, temple blessings, or any other work to earn God's love. You only need accept the gift of eternal life that He holds out for each of us to take. Humble yourself, get down on your knees, and ask Christ to be the Lord of your life. He is faithful and He will deliver you from whatever evil you are in.

God does not pour out His wrath on the world and has not since Christ paid the ultimate price, but God's wrath will return at the end of days to bring final judgement to all. When it all comes down, where will you be?