A Deeper Look into Pastoral Struggle

Porn is capturing the hearts and minds of the masses.

Because of its pervasiveness and destructiveness, a growing number of Christian leaders are calling porn the greatest threat to the Church.

In light of the historic danger porn poses to Christian growth, Christian marriages, Christian parenting, and Christian service, one would expect spiritual leaders to address the issue and provide solutions.

Instead, most churches are silent on the topic

Why?

The Silent Crisis: When Spiritual Leaders Can’t Quit Porn

A major reason is many pastors themselves are struggling with pornography and that struggle typically started before they’re ever leading a church.

Early Exposure: When Aspiring Pastors Encounter Pornography

Pastor Tommy Nelson, a board member of Dallas Theological Seminary, said of the porn problem among their student’s training to be pastors, “We don’t ask the students anymore if they struggle with pornography; we ask how bad their struggle is.” Because nine out of ten growing Christian college males are looking at porn, this is a safe assumption for any seminary or Bible college.

When many of these students go into ministry, they have a deep addiction to porn. Some have cultivated an appetite for the deviant and extreme. For these, regular porn is a gateway drug to child porn and other illicit sexual activity.

The Church cannot afford to continue to ignore this issue; every church and every denomination has a porn problem. This porn problem is destroying Christian marriages, enslaving the next generation of Christian leaders, and helping to produce pedophile pastors. These things disgrace Christ’s name.

Can we allow pornography to shape the minds of the next generation and not expect there to be consequences? When we think this way, we mock God who said, 

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption… Galatians 6:7-8

Overcoming Shadows: How to Quit Porn as a Spiritual Leader

Over half of pastors say porn addiction is the most damaging issue in their congregation.

Still, only 7% of pastors provide solutions to help their people break free from porn.

Many of the pastors who see porn as a major problem are stuck in it themselves. No matter how dedicated, focused, and committed you are, no one is immune from pornography’s hooks. Two separate surveys showed half of pastors are struggling with pornography, making it all the more challenging to address it in your congregation if it is also your personal addiction.

It can feel paralyzing for a pastor that is caught in a porn addiction. It’s a unique balancing act when their employment is tied to their morality. Imagine you risked losing your job if you ever admitted to watching porn. There is little to no incentive for pastor’s to be honest about their struggle because they fear a punitive response rather than a restorative one.

A Barna Group survey asked, “Should a pastor be fired or asked to resign if they are found to be using porn?” Only 8% of pastors said yes, while over 40% of members said yes.

This low number of pastors suggests that pastors are struggling themselves. Pastor John Piper said of this survey, “Both figures are appallingly low.” He went on to say that a pastor should indeed resign if he has “an ongoing habit of watching pornography.”

His stance represents the punishment culture that characterizes the Church. The unintended consequence is that it encourages hiding instead of repentance. When there is a fear of being fired for porn use, pastors will likely stay in the shadows, trying to get free on their own.

The Path to Transparency: Pastors Taking the Lead to Quit Porn

Leaders need to come out of the shadows, confess, and lead the Church in repentance. It won’t be easy. A pastor might be afraid of what others will think. They might fear losing their jobs. They are likely saddled with their own deep shame too.

Regardless of the culture in a given church, the responsibility falls on the pastor in sin to step out of the shadows and get help, even if his leadership has created a punitive atmosphere. No one gets free on their own.

The first step toward freedom is confession, and that confession must happen in community. God says, “Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed” (James 5:16). To find freedom, those in an addiction must repent.

In the book of James, the author writes, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God … Therefore, it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit therefore to God.” (James 4:4-7)

God longs to give greater grace when people humble themselves and repent. What kind of grace? The grace that drives the devil away and brings the struggler closer to God.

James continues,“Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (James 4:7-10)

Revival Through Repentance: A Church’s Answer to the Porn Epidemic

Drawing near to God begins with cleansing hands and purifying hearts. How can spiritual leaders expect the men and women in the church to repent from pornography if they do not model that repentance first?

Revival starts with repentance, especially the repentance of the leadership.

Empowering Leaders: Tools and Resources to Combat the Porn Challenge

Since pursuing freedom leads to deeper discipleship, churches need to provide a path to get there. The churches I follow with the most effective programs have de-shamed the topic of pornography addiction. Often, staff members participate in the program. Many times, they model authenticity and share their own porn story.

Pastors, more than anyone else, have a profound influence over the direction and tone of the church’s stance on issues like pornography. By demonstrating repentance and authenticity, they pave the way for others to follow suit, fostering a culture of genuine discipleship.

Only when leaders are open about their addictions can we hope to foster an environment where everyone feels safe to share their own addiction. The battle against pornography becomes manageable when tackled through confession as a community. It’s not just about personal purification; it’s about communal restoration.

We do not have to accept the porn epidemic among pastors and leaders as the new normal. We can offer a path to freedom and purpose for those struggling with pornography. It feels daunting, but our 30-Day Challenge is a great place to start and our Ministry Leader’s Toolkit can help equip pastors and churches to address the porn issue head-on.

 

FAQs:

1. Why is pornography considered a significant threat to the Church?
2. Do many pastors admit to struggling with pornography?
3. How can a church create an environment for pastors to address their porn struggles?
4. What steps can spiritual leaders take to quit porn and lead by example?
5. How can churches and ministries effectively address the porn epidemic in their congregations?