“This is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor” (1 Thess. 4:3-4).
An overwhelming majority of people would admit that pornography is bad, but that has not stopped its rapid growth; it is now calculated to be a multibillion-dollar business. Advances in technology along with the lack of firm regulation over the media make it necessary for the Christian to raise barricades against it. Sexually explicit images defile the mind, soul and body. This type of defilement is not new, but its danger is much greater because of the media’s ability to reproduce seductive graphic images and make them readily available. Pornography is very addictive and destructive. Recovery is possible, but the deeper one goes into the addiction and the accompanying sinful pleasures, the harder rehabilitation is, and the less likelihood for recovery. These things also rob marriage, the most intimate of all relationships, of its God-given sanctity and degrade it into sinful pleasure. Lust is confused with love, for pornography is devoid of love and thus leaves out the basis of a good relationship. “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:44Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13:4)).
Why It Is Wrong
A close look into the Word of God gives instruction as to what is at the core of this sin. The Lord Jesus pointed out the root cause when He said concerning adultery, “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt. 5:2828But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Matthew 5:28)). The intent of pornography is to present something for lust, and the lustful look is the first step toward sexual sin. The Book of James gives the process that follows the lustful look: “He is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-1514But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:14‑15)). The way to deal with it is to refuse to look at it. If we always did this, then in this article we would be able to say, “Yes, brother, matter resolved. Tell me more about the Lord Jesus — the perfect man who made it so clear.” But hearts have not always resolved the issue with such simplicity.
Another deception is that while pretending to offer a relationship, pornography really destroys the basis of a good relationship. It is selfish and gives a “high” without a proper relationship. It destroys the formation of a relationship that could lead to a virtuous spouse and a happy marriage relationship. It is thus both deceptive and destructive. True relationships are developed only where there is respect, honor and love for one another.
Pornography opens the door to promiscuous behavior and all kinds of sexual sins. Prisons are full of offenders who got involved with it and were unable to control themselves. Let none think they can look at it and not be affected.
The Necessary Defense
Every Christian must raise a shield against immorality, for the world is full of attractive temptations that feed “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:1616And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. (John 2:16)). The tactic of the enemy has always been to tempt man with these things. We must take the necessary preventative measures to assure that we are not defiled by it and that those in our homes are not exposed to it. The home should keep out the defilements of the world, as Deuteronomy 22:88When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence. (Deuteronomy 22:8) says, “When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.” Family households, be vigilant over the videos, magazines, TV, computer games and the Internet allowed in the home; these forms of the media must be carefully controlled or perhaps not allowed at all. For example, keep the computer in the open where it may be monitored. Remember the strange woman lurks in the dark and says, “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant” (Prov. 9:1717Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. (Proverbs 9:17)). And if we see in ourselves or anyone in our household a weakness or inability to resist these kinds of temptation, more drastic measures of keeping the media out are necessary. “If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire” (Matt. 18:99And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (Matthew 18:9)). We suggest first trying the less drastic measure of getting rid of the media that present the lustful attractions to the eye and flesh.
Early Addiction
Those who have worked with men seeking for recovery from addiction have observed that there are stages of addiction. In early stages it is practiced in secret, and addiction is denied. Yet those who take the second look are already becoming addicted. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Rom. 6:1616Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:16)). It took King David only one day. The umbrella of secrecy will not keep it contained, but is an excuse to allow it to go on. There is no such thing as not getting caught. One may be able to hide it from those around for a time, but never from God. Confession of the sin is the right way to overcome the addiction, and forgiveness is available, for “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:99That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9)). Forgiveness from our family members is also much more readily extended when the sin is confessed in the early stages. If the matter is let go, the situation will only get worse.
Further Addictions
The course of action that David followed after he, from the rooftop, saw Bathsheba bathing is an example of more serious addiction (2 Sam. 11). The Lord gave David warnings of the root of his error throughout the course of events, but he did not heed them. We may ask why did he not see the warnings and react to stop the course of his addiction. The reason is plain and simple; previously he had yielded to pleasing self, and it was now controlling him. Verses 1-2 reveal how he had taken his ease when he should have been with his soldiers. It seems that living to please self is at the bottom of all sexual sins.
The addiction of David became more and more evident as he tried to cover it up by calling Uriah back from the battlefield. But Uriah, the man against whom he had sinned, gave a remarkable witness to the king of the very thing David had failed to do. “Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing” (2 Sam. 11:11). His care was for the ark, Israel and his lord Joab. Being rightly occupied with these things, he was not only far from falling into temptation, but he was able to bear witness to David of real piety. His heart was close to his fellow-soldiers. What a beautiful witness this was to David; it was what David lacked! The Lord will reward Uriah for it in His kingdom of glory. But David fails to get the point, for he is held by the cords of his sins. His mind is bound up in self-pleasing, and he proceeds by using what had been a temptation to him to entice Uriah to return to his house. He gave wine to Uriah so he would go down to sleep with his wife. David’s whole mindset was governed by his addiction and his effort to cover up the results of it, while Uriah was free from this and able to do what was right. He was strong in refusing the temptation, even under the influence of wine.
David, meanwhile, does not confess his sin, but pursues a scheme to rid himself of the one who was a witness to him of where he had failed. He causes Uriah to be put to death, and then he takes Bathsheba as his wife. God did not intervene until this point. What a sad story! It is a warning to ourselves and to our households of how controlling addiction is and how only the intervening government of God can stop the course when addiction becomes severe. It is the mercy of God that intervenes in a governmental way.
The Government of God
The mercy of the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to David after he had taken Bathsheba to wife. And may we not see that the wisdom of God chose to wait until this time to deal with him in governmental judgment? The farther one goes in departing from the way, the more severe the judgment. God knew how far to allow David to go and accordingly brought down His judgment that corresponded to it, for his good. Knowing the wisdom and mercy of God in His governmental judgments should cause us humbly to submit to them when we have failed.
The parable Nathan related to David of the rich man’s taking the poor man’s sheep provokes David to pronounce his own judgment. What justice on God’s part! David said that the man should die and pay back fourfold. Paying fourfold was what the law prescribed when the sheep was stolen and eaten (Ex. 22:11If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. (Exodus 22:1)), but if the animal were found alive, the restitution was to be double (Ex. 22:44If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double. (Exodus 22:4)). David went far in his course of disobedience, and the payback rate was high. God thus deals with us according to what is just.
Two judgments are put on David. The sword would never depart from his house because he killed Uriah, and God would allow David’s wives to be publicly taken from him by his neighbor. There is no such thing as a secret sin with God. Throughout David’s lifetime four of his sons were taken away in death, although David’s life was spared, for the Lord had further use for him. David’s descendant Jesus Christ would be the One who could, by His death, take away the sin of the world. Throughout the rest of David’s life, the discipline seems to have kept him from repeating the sin. He showed a humble attitude, especially when he fled from his son Absalom who rose up against him. No doubt at that time he recognized that it was God’s governmental judgment on him. This goes a long way towards happy restoration.
Restoration
In Psalm 51 David describes the experience of soul he went through after his sin with Bathsheba. It is a description of what it is like to have sin upon you while returning to God — the guilt, the lack of joy, the lack of communion and the desire for restoration. The Lord desires and has made a way for full restoration, but it is only possible by bringing everything out into the light before Him. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:99That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:9)).
It is obvious from this psalm that David considered it worthwhile to go through this in order to be restored. He also wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psa. 23:1-31<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (Psalm 23:1‑3)). In this psalm we see how David attributed his restoration to the Lord.
D. C. Buchanan