I was blessed to be on local Christian radio this week to discuss the upcoming LTAP event in The Woodlands, an evening with dads, moms and youth that facilitates healthy dialogue around pornography. The host, Kim Wier referenced the movie, Fifty Shades of Grey and how it has lured women to the theaters. Men have been passive toward pornography; women are being drawn in; and children are being aggressively pursued. The average age of first exposure to porn is now nine years old! Enough!
On the radio, I referred to the acronym DEAD in describing how this scheme kills relationships. DEAD stands for:
D – Desensitization to simple pleasures – a hug, a kiss, dialogue;
E – Escalation – Images & activities have to progress to achieve desired results;
A – Addiction – Pornography is the ‘new drug’ too many men and women are craving;
D – Dysfunction – Erectile dysfunction and the inability to relate with a real person.
This is the slippery slope that is initiated with exposure to pornography be it intentional or accidental exposure. The devil is all about killing relationship and from the call-in questions during the interview, he has been enabled to do so by too many.
“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” … “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” – Genesis 3:4-5. There is a lot of, “Did God really say …” going on today in our own homes and churches. Did God really say … marriage is to be between one man and one woman (Gen.2:24 & Mal.2:15); Did God really say no immoral, impure or greedy person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God (Eph.5:5); Did God really say a husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her (Eph.5:25). God never said, “You can have pleasure without commitment in relationship.” It is time for men to stand up and cut the head off the serpent to purge the scheme that is pornography for the sake of the next generation.
The son asks, “Why are you going over the speed limit Dad?” How a dad answers that question will resonate through the years ahead. The right answer is, “My bad. I better slow down. Thank you, son.” Dad’s example ensures that his son will obey more than just the traffic laws when he is of age. As dads lead under the influence of the Heavenly Father, sons and daughters will gain respect for the difference between right and wrong, no gray areas.
Prayer guide: My Father, thank You for the relationship You have blessed me with through Your Son. Forgive my passivity in that relationship. I know Your expectation is for me to walk boldly under the influence of You, to love my bride as You love the Church, and through marriage be Light in the hearts of our children. Lord, give me strength to be Your Light where You have me to purge shadows and darkness that creep into my mind, my home, my church and beyond. Amen.
A faithful father stands firm in the Light to rebuke wrong.
