As western society continues to explore sexuality, the culture has experienced a significant shift that has changed how we feel about sex and love. The things that scripture warns us to avoid have increasingly become commonplace even in the church.

Most Christians have personally experienced the destruction that Moral failure from our Christian leaders has on a church or ministry. Unfortunately, we don’t often consider how it affects the expansion of the Gospel among the nations.

I want to help you see it from that perspective today because I deal with it daily. Here are five ways our hidden obsession with pornography negatively affects the church’s responsibility to take the Good news to the world.

Decimating single male candidates

Since Paul took Timothy & Titus under his wing in Acts (or Barnabas taking Paul for that matter), part of the missionary experience has involved young single men passionate about the Gospel, going to the nations under the guidance and mentorship of an elder missionary.

Today that is increasingly necessary, as most of the remaining Unreached People Groups are culturally Paternalistic. Meaning that they are male-driven societies, and thus the most effective and culturally appropriate gospel presentation will be transmitted by men to men. Then as those men follow Christ, they pass it on to their families, and the whole culture transforms.

Currently, in our organization, when we get viable single candidates, there are eight females to every one male. Getting single male missionaries has become near impossible in this climate. The reason: most have disqualified themselves because of pornography addiction.

As we follow this information to its natural conclusion, we must grapple with the fact that the expansion of the Gospel (at least among these Paternalistic groups) is significantly reduced because of the sexual sin found within the church today.

Think about that. There are men, women, and even whole cultures that will not hear the Gospel because we could not control our sexual impulses. We must repent of this behavior and commit ourselves fully to His purpose for us as a church.

Lowering character expectations

Our Character is what we do when no one is looking. Today there are so many hours in the day where no one is looking that it reveals the real problem. I am convinced that pornography is not the core issue here, but only a symptom of a much more significant problem.

As our culture has become increasingly private and individualistic, we have developed private personas that are different than the person we present to the rest of the world. With the ever-expansive world of the internet at our fingers, there are so many places to hide and live out your fantasies without consequences. Today most westerners are living double lives, even followers of Jesus Christ.

We know the Light (Jesus Christ). He reveals our sin and depravity, but he also promises to transform us, to rescue us from Darkness. But we loved the Darkness more than the Light because our deeds were evil. (Jn 3:19) If we do not train young believers to have character and live as though everything is in the Light, these secret lives in the Darkness will continue to hinder the Kingdom of God from advancing in this generation, and many souls will be lost.

No accountability or true mentorship

As long as the church avoids these uncomfortable topics, we will never be able to move forward and experience the growth and freedom that comes in Christ. All of us are fallen and sick. We all have tendencies that lead to death and destruction. But secret sins control us.

We are so afraid of being found out, that we adjust our lives to compensate. In doing this, we miss out on the freedom that Christ intended for us, and we may never see the victory that he promised. If you are struggling with porn, don’t hide it. Tell someone and seek help.

Missionaries on the field and pastors in the pulpit are struggling with pornography addiction, that is an uncomfortable fact. Ask yourself, how does their addiction affect the way they proclaim truth?

Let’s get serious about accountability and helping people walk out of this Darkness and back into the Light.

Opens missionaries up to complete moral failure

King David moved from looking, to committing Adultery, and then hiding his actions, and finally he covered his sin with the act of murder. As we give ourselves over to sexual desires with someone who is not your spouse, the perversions grow and evolve.

Sin always causes spiritual death, but it causes destruction, as well. Destruction takes place over a period of time, usually caused by decay. As we desensitize our eyes, minds, and spirits to sexual sin, it takes more and more to entice our minds. Before long, looking at porn isn’t enough. Due to years of looking at women as sexual objects the next step is acting out your fantasies in real life.

I know you think, “There is no way my missionary would do that!” and in most cases, I would wholeheartedly agree. But, the level of stress that most of our missionaries live under is extreme. Under that level of stress and cultural strain, you see things come to the surface that are generally kept under control.

So, what I’m saying is, “Don’t go down this road! It is the beginning of the decay that will destroy you, your family, and your ministry.” The effects of moral failure on a cross-cultural ministry are so devastating and long-lasting that no one wants that on their conscience. Stop before you start.

It defames the name of Jesus and grieves His Spirit

There is a rapidly growing movement among non-believers that is rejecting porn because they recognize it is wrong, it promotes sex trafficking, and it objectifies and abuses women. If non-believing people understand how wrong it is. How much clearer should it be to someone who believes in Jesus?

We are representations of Jesus here on this earth; we should treat women with the same honor that He did. Remember, Jesus was the first religious leader in history to fully accept women. They were a vital part of his ministry while he was on this earth and after. Why? Because he created them and he knew the beauty and nobility found in every single one. They are his children, they bear His image, and He knows them and loves them. He hates to see them abused and defiled. They are precious to Him.

When we in the church ignores this terrible hidden practice within itself, we grieve Him. He came to give us freedom, not bondage. He is love. Let us not choose lust. The world needs Jesus, and it needs the church, but we must live in a way that is worthy of the calling we received, or else we are defiling the testimony of Jesus himself.

If you are struggling with this issue, I implore you to seek help. It is easy to convince yourself that it is a victimless sin, but that simply is not true. Our lustful eyes and greedy desires tarnish the name of Christ.

The advance of His kingdom into the unbelieving nations is greatly affected by the character of the church. If you genuinely believe that Jesus is who he said he is, then you must reflect that with all of your life

No double life!

No Compromise!

Out of the Darkness,

no more hiding!

Into the Light,

Let Jesus give you freedom and

break those chains!

Parents, do your best to guard your children against this temptation. Be zealous for their purity. Talk to them about it. Lead them by your example. Maybe if we strive for holiness in this area with our children, the next generation will press forward and take the Gospel to the nations without this stain on the banner.

I am not saying that all missionaries or pastors struggle with these sins, but I have seen it happen, and I believe it will continue to happen until we get serious about our response. I am including a few links that might be helpful.

Accountability software & filter: Covenant Eyes

Info on Porn Addiction: Fight the New Drug

Online Recovery Program: Fortify Program (free for teens)

#pornaddiction #missions #character #Christian #missionary #GreatCommission