Pornography: this generation’s biggest problem – the church’s biggest secret
Maressica Sawyer, Social Media Director and Contributing Writer
“Be careful little eyes what you see” is the opening lyric to a children’s song taught in many churches, but despite these early efforts and lessons, porn exposure is beginning at an earlier age than ever.
According to Covenant Eyes, a Christian organization focused on educating people on pornography, nine out of 10 boys and six out of 10 girls are exposed to porn before the age of 18.
Ethan Griggs, a junior youth ministry major at North Greenville University, was first exposed to porn when he was in third grade. That experience piqued an early interest, and a consistent interest by sixth grade. He realized he was addicted to porn when he was in high school.
“Just like other addictive substances, porn floods the brain with dopamine,” according to Fight the New Drug, an organization in Utah fighting against porn to fight for love.
Griggs was very secretive about his addiction and tried to fight it on his own by trying to not get on his computer. He said he thought if he just read the Bible more and prayed more, the temptation would go away.
“I didn’t know how to fight it,” said Griggs.
He didn’t reach out for help until his freshman year at North Greenville, when guys in a small group he was involved with started opening up.
“I was afraid of what people would think,” said Griggs.
Griggs was raised in church and said sermons that mentioned porn were rare, and if there ever was a moment, it was briefly mentioned, vague and heavily implied as a guy issue.
“There are girls that struggle and they get less help,” said Griggs.
He continued on to say that pornography is an issue the church needs to address because keeping quiet only allows sin to take control.
“Where the church is on porn is where the church was in the ‘70s on divorce,” said Mike Landrum, assistant campus minister campus ministries at NGU.
Landrum said no one talks about social sins in church because of the fear of embarrassment. He also said that because the church is against sex education in schools, but doesn’t make up for it in church or at home, students are led to “locker room understandings” of sex.
“Just like any addiction, porn needs to be dealt with appropriately,” said Landrum.
He also said this is a heart issue that isn’t understood. It is seen as an information issue with a list of do’s and don’ts. When someone is addicted, they find ways around the rules, but when the heart changes, the want-to does as well.
Griggs said the church needs to be blunt and transparent while offering accountability and providing encouragement. Instead of fighting for grace, we need to fight from a position of grace.
Griggs quoted James 5:16 which says, “If you have sinned, you should tell each other what you have done. Then you can pray for one another and be healed.”
