Please tell me how to stop pornography?
You are obviously addicted to pornography and my answer will apply to any addiction (to a sinful lifestyle) that a person has. In John 8:32-36 we read: “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know that truth, and THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.’ They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say you will be made free?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if THE SON MAKES YOU FREE, YOU SHALL BE FREE INDEED’.”
The subject in this passage is FREEDOM FROM SIN. The Jews misunderstood Jesus when He said “the truth shall make you free,” thinking He meant they could be set free from being in bondage to men. In verse 34 Jesus corrects their view by saying “whoever commits sin is a SLAVE OF SIN.” The Bible is very clear regarding man’s bondage to sin, for we were not only born in sin (see Psalm 51:5), but we have all committed (which means “practiced”) sin. In Romans 3:9 the Apostle Paul states, “For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are ALL UNDER SIN.” This is another way of saying, “All men are slaves to sin.”
There is only one solution to being enslaved to sin, whether it’s pornography, alcohol, drugs, or a host of other sinful habits. That solution is what we read earlier in John 8:32 & 36, for the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is the only One who can set us free! Those with addictions often attend meetings with others who share their addiction and attempt to “support one another,” but to look to other human beings who are just as weak as you, is an exercise in futility. Psalm 118:8 declares, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” Psalm 146:3 goes a step further, “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, IN WHOM THERE IS NO HELP.” There is only one Man who can truly help you overcome addictions, and that’s the Lord Jesus Christ. He promises those who believe on Him as Savior, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
One of the most powerful passages that deals with our subject is Romans 13:12-14. It says, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, and MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH, TO FULFILL ITS LUSTS.” Here the Christian is being exhorted to “cast off the works of darkness.” The “works of darkness” here refers to all filthy lifestyles. Like “dirty garments” we are to “take them off.” Some of those dirty garments are mentioned in verse 13 and we see that sexual sins (lewdness and lust) are included in that list. Pornography is one of the “lusts” that need to be “cast off.” In verse 14 the apostle provides us with the remedy, for it’s not enough to “take off” the filthy garments of lewdness and lust, we must also “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” This means that Christ must be the passion and focus of our life. We must be so absorbed with Christ that when people see us they will actually be seeing Christ! To have Christ in our thoughts and affections is to be “clothed with Christ.” When He does have first place in our life then His life will be manifested through us.
The apostle added, “make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” This means we are to be careful not to allow anything in our lives that may tempt us to sin. Regarding pornography, do you have easy access to pornography through a television, computer, smart phone, or magazines? If you do, and you can’t control the urge to look, you will need to use filters that prevent you from accessing pornographic material, or perhaps you should get rid of these means altogether. (260.3) (DO)