Recently, a friend showed me some statistics related to pornography and I was stunned to say the least. Read these statistics and then tell me your response. Click here if you want to read more about these stats.
Pornography Time Statistics
- Every second - $3,075.64 is begin spent on pornography.
- Every second - 28,258 internet users are viewing pornography.
- Every second - 372 internet users are typing adult search terms into search engines.
- Every 39 minutes - a new pornographic video is being created in the United States.
What is your reaction? Stunned? Shocked? Not surprised at all?
Granted the statistics above are not based on Christ-followers or a church group, but they do reflect the culture we live in. We all know the number of people involved and addicted to pornography continues to grow in our society. We now live in a world where typing in a couple of words on the keyboard can bring up all kinds of unwanted images on our computer screen. This is true for Christians and non-Christians alike.
As I've continued reading and reviewing Melissa Trevathan and Sissy Goff's book Modern Parents, Vintage Values I've dug deeper into their chapter titled "Risky Business." It addresses some of the addictions that have become the worst enemies of teenage girls and guys. Although we may become frustrated with the "twilight obsessions" girls have over Edward and Jacob, they usually will dwindle with maturity. Unfortunately, addictions to alcohol, drugs, sex, pornography, eating disorders or cutting usually only become greater strongholds into adulthood.
Melissa and Sissy use one of the best quotes to open their chapter on "Risky Business."
Our addictions are our own worst enemies. They enslave us with chains that are of our own making and yet that, paradoxically, are virtually beyond our control. Addiction also makes idolators of us all, because it forces us to worship these objects of attachment, thereby preventing us from truly, freely loving God and one another. - Gerald May, Addiction and Grace
If we are honest, we are all fighting to avoid idolatry. It may not be an addiction, but something that just continues to take our focus off God and instead we focus upon self. My question for us, as girls' ministers, is how are we helping our girls? How are we moving past the "don't do this" or "you shouldn't watch this" and other directives? What are we doing to search and reach the hearts of our girls? How do we do more than help them avoid the dangers and addictions? How do we help them to become so satisfied and content with God that they no longer have the desire for these other temptations?
The statistics we see out there for addictions to pornography or anything else are not only eye-opening, they are staggering at times. If we are not careful we can quickly become overwhelmned by the task before us to reach and minister to girls. I am reminded of God's word to us in Hebrews 12:1-2 (HCSB), the call to endurance...
Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for th ejoy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.
Praying that your eyes will be so fixed on Jesus today that the statistics and struggles fade into the background this Thanksgiving week.
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