I hear it all the time. “My porn habit doesn’t really hurt anyone.” That’s not exactly true.
1. Porn hurts family and friends.
Porn leads to isolation. Porn users often spend up to 20 hours a week on their habit. This leads to a total withdrawal from family and friends.
2. Porn hurts your spouse.
Research confirms that those who use porn experience the following: (a) less intimacy with their spouse, (b) diminished commitment to the marriage, (c) less satisfaction with marital sex, and (d) increased likelihood of a physical affair.
3. Porn hurts you.
Dr. Ana Bridges has conducted studies that conclude, “Porn users have increased loneliness, poorer mental health outcomes, lower self-esteem, and lower life satisfaction.
”Recovery Step: The Bible warns, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Your porn habit does hurt others – and yourself.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
