What are your defenses for porn/masturbation?

[wolflet7]

I think some countless users on here can benefit from this topic.  So, how do you defend yourself from satan's pornography/masturbation attacks?

I usually like to hang out with friends or not be alone for 30+ minutes.  My mind and memory can be very detailed, which makes it hard for me sometimes.  Also, I like to listen to Christian music while I am on the computer or if I am losing the fight, God will plant random verses from various Christian songs. 

Those are just a few of mine.  Well, let's hear it from you guys.

[walker starr]

            Disgusting habits -- Indefensible.

[kristinaf]

I think he was agreeing with you, walker starr, but trying to say that he struggles with this issue, like alot of single people (and married people).  To say that it is disgusting is true, I believe that God would call this an abomination and that we are not to look on "vile images" of others engaging in sexual activity.  This engages "lust" in our minds and hearts, and is not a good cycle to get into. 

I have to admit that I used to have a big problem in this area.  I am only being honest.  I became a Christian about two years ago, and had not had a problem in several years with this area, and then BAM! I discovered I could get internet on my cell phone, and it became a problem again.  Albeit shortlived.  I had to get rid of my cell phone with internet access, because it was too easy to sneak into my room and look at filth.  Yep.  so my answer is to FLEE from these sinful activities.  Pluck it out!  Cut it off!  (These are radical suggestions, but suggestions from the Lord...be radical when it comes to sin).  Did I want to get rid of my cell phone?  No.  But I had to.  Because it was allowing sin into my life.  I got a cell phone that is only talk and text, no internet access.  And I have installed on my home computer the program Safe Eyes (google search it... I don't know the website address by heart) anyways..Safe Eyes is a internet filter that will block all pornography and filthy images from your computer.  You can sign up for them to "scramble" your administrator password, and then the only way you can make changes to the internet filter is to personally call them and change the settings.  And if the "urge" to view porn comes up, it is not very likely that you are gonna want to call someone from Safe eyes and change the setting right there, because Satan works in the darkness, and calling someone to change the settings would be exposing your dark deeds.

Anyways, the program works very well, and I would recommend it to anyone with any problem with internet pornography.  That is my suggestion on this issue.  RUN from the problem...EXPOSE it to the light, and lastly one other suggestion..have an accountability partner re. the issue of porn and masturbation...I know that's hard, but it works, if you have someone asking you how you're doing in these areas, then you will less likely to dabble in sin. 

Good luck

[wolflet7]

I do have an accountability partner and thanks for your advice kristinaf.  I was actually wanting this subject to be used for everybody who needs to get rid of their problem. 

[walker starr]

      This is specific for Wolflet and Kristinal .  I was responding to the thread title as if the question was to me.  Sorry about that.
       I did have such a problem when I was 13/14 years old.  I solved it by doing some unchristian behavior.  I would not
       recommend that for anyone now because its called fornication.  I would have married her but it was her choice not to.
I can't encourage any to sin  and I won't.  But that's how I solved my problem.  BTW it was 65 years ago.  Thank you JESUSAmen.

[Firewing]

I used to have a slight problem with porn.  I don't even like it!.  But sometimes, being single.., it creeps in because you don't have that 'special someone' to be with.

In order to combat that problem, what I did was I went into the Windows 'host' file, and put 're-directs' into there, so whenever I would type in an address, only a blank white page shows up.

Even though I know how to reverse everything...what is easier? saying "No..I won't give in" or, spending a couple of minutes to undo the entry in the hosts file?...the answer is simple.  Saying 'No' takes far less time.

[JohnDB]

For me personally it never really has been an issue.

Sure when I was younger I seen some magazines. It has always been available. That in itself isn't the issue.

My father is a good man in a lot of ways. He never ever had it in the house in any shape, form, or fashion. He never looked at it or watched the television shows that showed a lot of scantily clad women on it and drooled.

Just one of those things.

Now as an adult I realize my father has bigger shoes than I can ever hope to fill. He was so much shorter than me too and subsequently smaller feet. But...I find it tough to live up to all of the standards he lived by. This one though gets tough on occasions when that little box you think is one thing that you click on is actually something you don't want to see. Sometimes a shut down of your computer is neccesary to get rid of it.  It is everywhere out there on the internet and tough when there are web sites out there built solely to decieve you.

One of the things though that keeps me free is the knowledge that porn is addictive in that it takes more and more perversion to have the same effect. Wherever you start in porn it is going to progress to a place that is absolutely deviant.

Then there is the other knowledge that pornography is the leading cause of impotence for men. Men can get wrapped up in these fantasies (similarly as women) and then reality does nothing for them. No person can live up to an imagination.

Then there is the other side of the coin...God can outdo even your imagination in ways that you have never even dreamed of...with reality.  The real thing baby is something else...more exciting and life filled and wonderful...and real. No illusions...no imagination...no hyperbole...just reality. Hard to compete with reality...and when you realize that...those phoney pics (they are all air brushed) and phoney images of love (of the videos) are just that...phoney.
Sure people go out there and have casual sex. But a real relationship is tougher and better every day of the week...and doesn't have the side effects casual sex does. The stakes are much higher as well as the rewards.

[janine]

Sometimes people just don't feel they can do the hard work.  But, see, they are perfectly willing to work hard and build a life around whatever else they're passionate about.

I can't see a good defense anywhere for porn itself.  Certainly not as an industry.

But the success of the industry lies in the willingness of its supporters to sit back, slack-brained and slack-jawed, and let the supplier pump the pretty pictures into his/her head.

Never mind that it's not good for you or your marriage or your future marriage or your kids, and never mind that a certain percentage of people will progress far out on the edges -- or far deeper into the pit -- into realms where they may actually become demented or emotionally crippled or die.

Cigarettes don't injure everyone they touch, either, but there is nothing about them that is good -- except the drug effects, and that can be gotten cheaper from a prescription pill.  Anyway, no, they don't seriously injure everyone they touch, but they do hurt many, and do kill some.

So, porn can be like that.

[janine]

As for defenses...

One thing to be honest about is one's own personal limits, one's own personal "triggers".  People say that men are a lot more sight-oriented than women, and I do see that to be so, in a statistical, broad, general sort of way -- but each person, male or female or in-between, has specific areas of life that are, for him or her, dangerous territory.  Territory that lies conveniently right alongside definite sin.

Maybe, for some a "downfall" would be a particular genre of romance novel.  Y'all may have seen the things.  I'm not talking about going by the covers, even, because the silly publishers make the most upright and clean romance novel look like panting porn with those crazy cover illustrations.

I mean, in the story -- some of those writers gain a following for their clarity and cleverness of story, some for their mystery elements, some for their sort of righteous happy ending where the guy and gal who ought to get together, do get together, despite all obstacles.  Some gain a following for the detailed writing about the historical period they write about.

But some of those authors gain a following because they include page after page of steamy sex scenes.  For me, "romance" is one thing... anatomically explicit detailed sex scenes are a totally different thing.

I could see how that could easily entrap a reader.  And not a sexy picture in sight.  It's all in the mind.

So all of us could have totally different "doors" in life where porn can enter.  And all of us need to really examine what we do for entertainment and why we do it.  There's a lot out there that has a pornographic effect on a user, it's more than only just girlie-mag-type pictures.

The main thing to go by is, what effect does "it", whatever it is, have on you?  Is that effect a glorious thing you would share with your spouse?  Your friends?  A church group?

If you have to hide "it". whatever it is, then perhaps you are in an almost addictive, pornography-user sort of pattern, making fertile ground for sin to crop up.

Amazing how many chances for porn-style sin there are, here on the Internet.

Set your search engines so they leave out the worst stuff.  You can do that at least on Google, that I know of. Maintain really good anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, because a lot of malware is related to porn sites.  (Either that, or use non-Microsoft operating systems.  Linux just doesn't get the viruses and worms that Microsoft does.) 

And if you do identify something that is, for you, obviously pornographic, get some help to get away from it.  Tell someone you feel you can trust to pray with you and hold you accountable about what you're doing.

And of course pray, pray, pray.  Make sure you get into the Word regularly.  Increased light chases away growing darkness.

[Tiamiyux]

Porn and masturbation are sins

[Josiah]

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Honestly, I tend to really stay away from discussions about porn....

The main reason is because I have nothing constructive to say and because it make me seem like I'm boasting or trying to convey some "goody, goody" false facade.

Oh, well.....here it goes.

I know some things about me.  Powerfully....

I am HUGELY sexual, and I feel very good about that.  I LIKE that about me.  I really don't want to mess that up.  And I'm HUGELY visual.  Including in my sexuality.  I remember when I was NOT young but still living at home, our parents were gone (for some reason) and my sibs decided to make it a movie night (a family tradition)- rent a movie, get some popcorn and candy - make a night of it.  Anyway, they had heard that "The Green Mile" was an excellent film and they got that.  None of us really knew the details of it.  Anyway, if you've seen the film, there is a scene were the main character literally fries.   I could not not watch.   My sister - suddenly remembering me - grabbed me, held me away from viewing, and my brother turned off the film.  YEARS later, I STILL have that image- like a photograph - on my brain.  It still haunts me. It's still messing me up. I KNOW that about me.  I avoid graphic real violance like that - WITH EVERYTHING I'VE GOT.  In fact, if I even suspect, I just don't "go there."   

When I was a teen and in college, lots of my friends were pretty into this.  For some it was more just nudity but for some it was pretty intense.  I just say away.  I don't visit those sites, I don't click on those things, I just don't want to get messed up.   And I'm FINE without that (my body naturally supplies stuff!). 

Sorry, I know that's no help.  I really gather this can be pretty addictive, so I DO support you guys!   I just have no helpful advise.   Sorry....

[sesantek]

You may just need to read this:

Masturbation is simply sex with self. Now I have called SEX: Semen EXchange between a man and a woman. This is the one approved by the Bible between married couples.

Masturbation is a game of the mind. While you are at it, you are fantasizing about a man or woman who is not your wife or hubby if you are single. The mind is a platform for transformation for christians. Paul advised that we should continually renew it. We renew it with God's word and positive thoughts.

The devil understood the key role our minds play in our christian development so he doesn't want us to use it appropriately - this is the reason why he brings negative information that are contrary to God's word into our minds.

Now the practice of masturbation with our mind thinking of illicit sex with someone we are not married to is one way we help the devil to corrupt our minds.

Now I am aware that singles will occasionally burn with passion (yes I know because I have been there before), paul advised they get married. If you are still young to get married, you can help yourself to stop masturbation by working on your mind storing the right information into it.

There are so many things you can do.

Christianity is real work and fighting off any habit that gets us disturbed after we do it is real work.

Many who have argued for this habit have not been bold to declare publicly that they do it.

All said and done, don't ever condemn yourself because you got involved in it (don't justify it either) but rather go before the Holy Spirit to help you against it.

God bless you.

[IamStefanie]

My best weapon is thinking about how crappy I will feel if I indulge. And knowing God doesnt want me to go there. I have fallen short, but His grace is good. Physically keepimg busy helps tremendously. And when I feel an urge, move away from the area where it starts.