One of the most frequent questions we get when discipling men and women to find freedom from porn is “How do I continue to walk in freedom after our group?” Often, there is a level of fear surrounding transitioning from a highly committed small group to the next step in their journey.
You may be familiar with the African Proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” When participants are nearing the end of a small group, they become accustomed to the community, structure, and togetherness that has helped them progress this far in their journey.
It feels like they’re transitioning from being together to being alone, but that isn’t the case.
In their small group, a person addicted to porn has made significant strides in their freedom journey, many for the first time in decades, and it is understandable to have some fear about what is next. However, this is an integral part of the journey of being a Christian and on the path to freedom from pornography.
The Spiritual Impact of Pornography on a Believer.
We know freedom is possible in Christ, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36), and this freedom is possible not just for a month or two, but for a lifetime. And after finding freedom from a porn addiction, remaining free doesn’t just happen on its own.
As participants exit their groups, they’ve lived and felt the experience that Paul writes in 2 Corinthians, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
Participants have experienced the comfort of their afflictions and find themselves at a pivotal point in their journey. As they begin to walk in freedom, they realize the way God has comforted them in their affliction is now their opportunity to comfort others.
This won’t happen overnight, but as they exit their group and continue to walk in freedom, they move from the ones being comforted to the ones who provide the comfort. This happens by walking in freedom.
Why Should Christians Walk in Freedom?
Before looking at how we walk in freedom, they must firmly believe in the WHY.
Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Pornography is a sin and a weight that keeps believers from running the race God has for them. When a believer is using pornography, they experience higher amounts of shame, guilt, and self-hatred, they are less likely to serve in their church, less likely to share their faith with their kids, and more likely to doubt their faith.
God has warned us in his word about sexual immorality and we see the impacts it has on a believer’s soul. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” and the apostle Peter goes on to say in 1 Peter 2:11 says, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.”
Pornography is waging war against our souls, marriages, and families. Why are we to walk in freedom? Because the alternative is being a slave to sin and our fleshly desires.
God has called us to a life of holiness so that we can fully serve Him.
In 1 Peter 1:16, “since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”” in Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship”. By living a holy and acceptable life to God, we can run the race He called us to.
Walking in Freedom: From Being Taught to Teaching Others.
As we progress in our sanctification and continue walking in freedom, there’s a significant shift that happens for Christians. The writer of Hebrews subtly points this out in Hebrews 5:12, “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers,” implying the journey of the Christian is from being taught to teaching others.
This isn’t an instantaneous change, and as the writer in Hebrews elaborates, its the journey from milk to food, but it’s certainly a process all Christians must go through as they walk in freedom.
There have been numerous studies that reveal how a deeper understanding of material happens when a person goes from simply hearing it to teaching it. The retention rate of hearing a lecture or reading a book hovers around 5-10 percent, but that retention rate of material skyrockets to 90 percent when a person teaches the material. The genius of disciple-making is that God uses the discipleship process to disciple us at a deeper level, where we ultimately become closer to Him and each other.
The Freedom Fight’s Approach on How to Quit Porn
The answer lies in accountability, addressing the roots of the addiction, and a steadfast commitment to the truths of the gospel. Those seeking to quit porn must involve their community, be emboldened and confident in the grace and truth of Christ, and utilize tools like the BRACE method, which we developed specifically to help people quit porn or take steps to lock up their phones.
The war against the soul is real, and its consequences are profound. But victory is possible with faith, community, and a commitment to the truths of the gospel.
The fight against pornography is more than just a personal struggle; it’s a spiritual warfare.
When finding freedom from porn, it’s necessary to address the roots of the addiction. The Freedom Fight’s Flagship program addresses the six roots of a porn addiction. This requires breaking isolation and pursuing community, oftentimes found in small group accountability. It addresses the addicted brain by renewing the mind using tools like BRACE. It requires learning how to process negative emotions like shame and processing trauma in a healthy way. It helps establish strong boundaries to protect against temptation in a sexualized society.
By addressing the roots of the addiction and depending fully on Christ, thousands of people are finding freedom, some for the first time in over 40 years of struggling.
