Christian Porn Addicts

QUESTION: What is the prevalence of and prognosis for Christian porn addicts?

ANSWER:

Are there many people who struggle as Christian porn addicts? You may even feel like you are the only one at church who struggles with this issue. The truth is, there are many people just like you who are following Christ yet struggling with addiction to pornography. In fact, over 50% of the men in church have viewed porn—many at a compulsive or addictive level. So, know that you are definitely not alone—thousands of male Christian porn addicts across the country are breaking free from porn through the truth and grace of God. There is hope for you too!

Many Christian porn addicts are saying, “But I’ve prayed for so long!” Does this phrase ring a bell? Like many, you may have asked God to help you “a thousand times.” Like most Christian porn addicts, you may even feel doubt, hurt, anger, or depression because God hasn’t “pressed the magic button” that would instantly set you free. The truth is, God does want to help you, but He chooses not to just do it for us. He wants us to partner with Him in working our way out. In fact, the behaviors we choose through involvement with pornography and other forms of sexual addiction, actually block God from helping us in many cases—He loves us and wants us to be free, but we must choose this by following through.

Many counselors, ministers, and pastors are offering help to Christian porn addicts. Of all the different types of help for porn addiction the most important success factor is your fit with the person and their faith. Also consider how well they fit with the specific treatment plan for recovery from porn addiction. When considering options, good questions to ask are: Is the person sound in their own faith? Will they support me in accessing my own faith as a major source of power for recovery? As a Christian, finding a therapist who can make Christ’s love and power the centerpiece of your healing is of the utmost importance!

Whomever you choose, make sure they have the proper, most comprehensive training. There are some key dimensions to recovery that, when addressed altogether, give you the optimum conditions for solid recovery; these dimensions are spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental.

• Make sure the program looks at each aspect of your addiction.
• Make certain that the program is time-tested and backed by research/scientific publication.
• Try and find an individual that has personal experience recovering from porn or sexual addiction and experience working with Christian porn addicts—as long as they have a good education and adequate, specific training, you should be “in good hands.”