Elephants 2025, Part 4: Pornography // Jamie Nunnally

Pornography isn't just present in our culture—it's pervasive. The average age of first exposure is 11 for boys, and around 12–13 for girls. About 67% of men and 41% of women view porn at least occasionally. Even in the church, over half of practicing Christians admit to using it, and 67% of pastors have struggled with it—18% currently. The biggest issue? 82% of Christians say no one is helping them. 

This isn't just a "worldly" issue—it's a tsunami hitting the church. But porn thrives in silence. So, we need to talk about it honestly, embracing the "messy middle"—holding two truths in tension:

1. Porn is an addictive sin that devastates families.
2. Porn is a shortcut that numbs our God-given desires for pleasure and intimacy.

1. Porn is an addictive sin.

Scripture clearly calls out sexual immorality (porneia) as sin (Colossians 3:5). Porn objectifies people and becomes idolatry—worshiping creation over the Creator. It's not just spiritually harmful; it's mentally and emotionally addictive, rewiring the brain and damaging relationships (1 Cor. 6:18).

How it devastates families:

• Hurts your family tree: Trauma and addiction can leave epigenetic footprints passed to future generations (Exodus 34:7).
• Creates unrealistic expectations: Porn fosters dissatisfaction with real-life partners and intimacy (Ecclesiastes 9:9).
• Harms children: Young girls wrestle with distorted self-worth, while boys absorb years of misinformation about sex before marriage.
• Exploits performers: Many in the industry suffer mental health issues and traumatic backgrounds. Watching porn often means consuming someone else's pain.

2. Porn numbs God-given desires.

God created us with desires for pleasure and intimacy, but porn offers counterfeit versions—pleasure without fulfillment, intimacy without connection (Proverbs 27:20). Porn silences but never satisfies. People don't view porn because they're bad, but because they've let it hijack their desires.

Freedom is possible. The battle plan: Repent, Replace, and Relate.

• Repent – Turn from sin and toward God (Acts 3:19).
• Replace – Remove access to porn and renew your mind (Romans 12:2, Matthew 5:29). Married couples should embrace real intimacy (1 Corinthians 7:2-5).
• Relate – Build accountability with others (James 5:16) and deepen your walk with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Don't deny your desires—let Jesus redeem them.

Summary

Porn traffics in pleasure without purpose and intimacy without love. But Jesus offers real freedom—not just forgiveness, but power to overcome. You don't need a counterfeit when you can have the real thing: true love, intimacy, and freedom.

Are you willing to follow Jesus into the messy middle?