So apparently this week is Pornography Awareness Week. I know this because I stumbled across an article last night by Dr. Marty Klein a sex therapist who believes we should use this week not to warn of the dangers of pornography but to actually celebrate it.
He offered 14 different ways you can observe the week. Here’s a few of his outlandish suggestions. My comments are in parenthesis.
1) If you use porn, talk about it with your partner. (I actually agree. However, something tells me this conversation is not going to end with the two of you cuddling on the couch.)
2) Thank the clerk in your local convenience store for carrying porn magazines or DVDs. (Might as well buy them some flowers and chocolate while you’re at it.)
3) Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper explaining that most people who use porn have no problem with it. (Please, please, please do this. I can’t wait to see how you back this one up. Oh, and make sure you send a head shot and email address with the letter.)
4) Invite your partner to share her/his concerns about porn with you. (Ummmmm, I’m pretty sure they won’t need your invitation. If you follow suggestion 1 I got a feeling you can skip this step)
5) Use some. Guilt-free. (Good luck. While the last thing we need is more people walking around under a cloud of guilt the reality is sexual intimacy was not designed to be exercised in this way and it will almost always lead to guilt, a lack of intimacy and a host of other issues in your life.)
Dr. Klein may want to pretend as if this isn’t a major issue but I have to disagree. I’ve met with countless individuals and couples over the years whose lives and relationships have been severely impacted by pornography.
* 42 percent of surveyed adults indicated that their partner’s use of pornography made them feel insecure.
Marriage Related Research, Mark A. Yarhouse, Psy.D. Christian Counseling Today, 2004 Vol. 12 No. 1.
* 41 percent of surveyed adults admitted they felt less attractive due to their partner’s pornography use.
Marriage Related Research, Mark A. Yarhouse, Psy.D. Christian Counseling Today, 2004 Vol. 12 No. 1.
* 47% percent of families said pornography is a problem in their home.
Focus on the Family Poll, October 1, 2003.
I’m not here to try to pile on the guilt. Lord knows if you’re addicted to pornography you don’t need anymore guilt.
I just want to remind you of the truth which is porn is a powerful cycle of addiction that can and will destroy your ability to enjoy intimacy with your partner in the way God intended.
I want to remind you that you don’t have to continue to allow your mind and soul to be poisoned by this stuff. You can find freedom from the cycle of guilt and shame you’re caught in!
One of the wisest things I’ve ever done is installed Covenant Eyes on my computer and established a system for accountability in this area of my life and I want to encourage you to do the same. If you have computers in your home and or work which don’t have some kind of filter on them I think you’re just asking for trouble.
Your Thoughts?
