There are not many destructive vices beyond the crippling grip of pornography. Broines captures the irony of the baffling relationship between humans and porn, “They hate what it does to them, but love what it provides: a short-lived moment of escape, a false sense of worth, an unsatisfying feeling of love” (Broines). How true – the escape is real, the worth is not, and the love could never truly satisfy (as how can love be reciprocal between flesh and image [cf. Hollinger 157]?).

It is essential to grasp that porn is never okay; it is destructive before and after marriage and every moment in between. Jesus laid the foundation and left no room for discussion, “I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (English Standard Version, Matt. 5.28; cf. Hollinger 160). Just a look and the hook took the crook, says the Good Book.

For the sake of brevity, I will only mention a few ways that porn can be destructive pre and post-marriage (as this list goes on and on).

First – As Christ reveals, every level of pornography is adultery. Whether a man or woman (yes woman [cf. 141-142; Winter]) is indulging in the atrocity, they are committing adultery. Adultery is sin, sin is destructive.

Second – Porn provides a false sense of reality (cf. Hollinger 157). Sex is meant to be physically experienced between one husband and one wife as they enter into one of the greatest blessings the Lord has given mankind – the deepest sense of intimacy beyond the indwelling presence of God, intimacy that creates life (cf. 146-150; McIlhaney and Bush 25). Furthermore, destruction ensues as watching it pales in comparison to experiencing it (the right way – within the covenant of marriage) and it provides a sick and thwarted view of what should be expected. Again, porn provides a distorted (and ruinous) sense of reality.

Third – One does not need to get past Mcllhaney and Bush’s opening line to grasp its destructiveness, “Some individuals have been disappointed to find as they move from one sexual partner to another, that not only are they not finding ultimate pleasure but they are feeling worse about themselves and their many sexual partners” (25). McIlhaney and Bush may be talking about physical encounters, but this assertion should not be isolated to such, as anyone who has plunged into the dark and lonely world of pornography – and attempted to find pleasure therein – ultimately ends their encounter feeling much worse about themselves and their virtual partner(s); that is until the devil convinces them (yet again) that the answer to their loneliness is a facade of intimacy with a nonresponsive (moving) image of a man or woman on a screen.

Last – I find it fascinating to take in McIlhaney and Bush’s synopsis on synapses (see and consider 28). In short – the mental connections that are formed through ill-centered sexual encounters perpetuate destructiveness every time someone embraces pornography (cf. 28). It is not until one breaks the connection and embraces another (i.e., a healthy view of sexual intimacy) that God can begin to renew one’s heart and mind and set them on a path toward constructive, pleasant, and healthy sexual intimacy (cf. Rom. 12.1; 1 Cor. 6.18; Heb. 12.1-2; 2 Tim. 2.22).

All food for thought!

Works Cited
Broines, David. “How Not to Fight Pornography.” Desiring God, 2 June 2018, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-not-to-fight-pornography.

Hollinger, Dennis P. The Meaning of Sex: Christian Ethics and the Moral Life. Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2009.

The Holy Bible. English Standard Version. Crossway, 2001

McIlhaney, Joe S. and Freda McKissic Bush. “Meet the Brain,” Hooked: New Science on How Casual Sex is Affecting our Children.  Northfield, 2008, pp. 25-46.

Winter, Katy. “It’s not just men who watch porn: Over half of women regularly watch sexy movies (and a daring 40% admit to making their own).” Daily Mail, 15 November 2013, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2507752/Over-half-women-regularly-watch-porn-daring-40-admit-making-own.html