Why must we address pornography as a problem both inside and outside the church? How can pastors address this issue with humility? In this video, Heath Lambert discusses the mutual brokenness experienced by all of those affected by pornography, and how it must be discussed. Lambert targets the arrogance of many Christians that is typical of discussions surrounding sexual immorality and pornography. It is imperative that Christians speak from a place of humility, with the knowledge that we have all fallen short of the glory of God, and pride has no place in our hearts. Sexual sin affects Christians and non-Christians alike. Therefore, we must put pride aside and humbly address the detrimental effects of pornography and sexual sin.
- An Issue in the Church
- An Issue of the Heart
- Speak to Ourselves First
Addressing Pornography with Humility
We need to talk about pornography like it’s an issue in the church because it is an issue in the church. In fact, Christians have to be very, very careful here. The culture doesn’t listen to us on issues of sexual immorality and impurity, not only because their hearts are hard and they don’t want to believe the truth, but also because Christians have had a nasty little habit of talking about sexual issues from a standpoint of arrogance and superiority instead of mutual brokenness.
The reality is every single Christian, every single Christian, has sinned sexually and every single Christian will sin sexually again. Looks different for different people, looks different in men than it does in women, but all of us know what it is to want sexual things that God hates or to dislike sexual things that God loves, all of us know what that is.
The Sins of Pornography
And so we have to talk about this as though it’s a problem in the church because it is, and it’s not just a problem in the church, it’s a problem in my heart. So just because I wrote a book about pornography doesn’t mean I’m allowed to be arrogant. Doesn’t mean I’m allowed to think I’ve arrived. It doesn’t mean I’m allowed to avoid doing the same things.
I commend others because the Bible says that pride goes before destruction and, “Let any man who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” And so this is something that we better be careful to know that when we speak to others, we better have spoken to ourselves and we better have repented at a level of depth in our own hearts.
