The Atrocity of Porn: It is Our Job to Protect Our Children
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverb 22:6)
The atrocity of porn has destroyed many marriages and many good people. This is not just a problem that affects the worldly people. This is a problem in our society that affects men, women and even our precious children Christian and non-Christian alike. The Internet and even the IPods has increased accessibility to pornography and false intimacy. It is out of control even with the members of the church family and the ministers who have dedicated their lives for the spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pornography continues to corrupt and contaminate the lives of our Christian family.
Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rules of the darkness of this age…Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, TO STAND. (Ephesians 6: 11-14)
There is an epidemic that is facing our teens today more than in any other time in our history. It is our responsibility as women of Christ to inform our children that porn is wrong. We are the first line of defense in this battle of the atrocity of porn. If we do not inform our children, this includes nieces, nephews; any child you care about then the world is going to give them their spin on the matter. In the 1960 boys has seen some kind of pornography between the ages of 11-13. Today boys around the age 5 have seen some kind of pornography. Where have they seen this? Internet or from the media and even in the grocery store children can see the sexual magazine. At least 20,000 American adults visit Internet sex sites at least 11 hours per week. (Larue, 2003).
Computers are used by children for school, entertainment and as the main form of communication. Children have to be monitored in some cases in grade school but most assuredly in middle school don’t allow computers in the children’s rooms. Place the computer in an area, such as the kitchen or family room, this give you the ability to supervise. There are 30% of parents allow their teenagers to use the computer in private areas of the house such as a bedroom or a home office. Parents say they are more vigilant about where their teen(s) go online if the computer is in a public area of the household. (Ketchum, 2005). Know where your children are going on the internet and who they are communicating with. Would you allow your children to go to the most dangerous part of your town? Then remember the computer can allow the seediest and most dangerous part of life to enter their realm.
Address the issue and have an open discussion with the special children in your life. First you have to get past the fear and be open and honest with them. Share your concerns then listen. It is critical to hear them do not condemn. Then give them your moral conviction and (Jones, 1993).
You need to understand and convey to your children is that internet porn is not just harmless fun. People, not just children, viewing porn get confused on what love, intimacy and the meaning of commitment. It is highly addictive and can alter the brain chemical. Even if it is an accidental viewing it is hard to erase what has been seen. Here are some facts that you can share with your children:
• One in 17 children ages 10-17 were threatened or harassed over the Internet in 2000. Report Statistical Highlights. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Crimes Against Children, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2000.
• 70 percent of sexual advances over the Internet happened while youngsters were on a home computer One in Five Kids Has Been Propositioned for Cybersex. Legal Facts. Vol. 2, No. 3, 2000.
• 21 percent of teens say they have looked at something on the Internet that they wouldn’t want their parents to know. A World of Their Own. Newsweek, 8 May 2000.
• A survey of 600 households conducted by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children found that 20% of parents do not know any of their children’s Internet passwords, instant messaging nicknames or email addresses Ads target online victimization of children. USA Today, 20 May 2004.
• Only 5% of parents recognized the acronym POS (parent over shoulder) and only 1% could identify WTGP (want to go private?), both of which are used frequently by teens when instant messaging Ads target online victimization of children. USA Today, 20 May 2004.
• Incidents of child sexual exploitation have risen from 4,573 in 1998 to 112,083 in 2004, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Reports of child exploitation up. USA Today Snapshots, 17 February, 2005.
• 96 percent of kids have gone online; 74% having access at home and 61% use the Internet on a typical day Kids stay connected. USA Today Snapshots. 5 January, 2004.
• Twenty percent of youths received sexual solicitations. Eighty-nine percent of sexual solicitations of youths were made in chat rooms Internet Pornography Statistics. Internet Filter Review, 2004.
• The average age of first Internet exposure to pornography is 11 years old Internet Pornography Statistics. Internet Filter Review, 2004.
• Child pornography generates $3 billion annually Internet Pornography Statistics. Internet Filter Review, 2004.
Then you need to keep the lines of communication open between you and the children. Sitting alongside them gives an opportunity for parents to find out what is happening, where they are going on the internet, and it shows the children you are interested. 65% of all parents and 64% of all teens say that teens do things online that they wouldn’t want their parents to know about. (Lenhart, 2005).
Be aware of peer pressure and the fact that porn is socially acceptable by the worldly. It is not acceptable by those who truly follow Christ. Do not be afraid to tell your children they are special and there are forces out there that would love to steal their innocents. Jesus reprimanded the disciples when they tried to forbid them from coming to Him. (Matthew 19:14). Parents are instructed in Ephesians 6:4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Children are instructed to obey their parents because this is right (Ephesians 6:1).
It is our obligation and responsibility to protect our children, husbands, wives, and all loved ones on the atrocity of porn. We need to speak up and let them know this is against the instruction of the LORD God. We are women of Christ and we must keep our hearts pure and tell those around us that porn is an atrocity to the LORD.
2 Timothy 2:22 tells us; “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;“
References:
Jones, S. & B. (1993). How And When To Tell Your Kids About Sex: A Lifelong Approach To Shaping Your Child’s Sexual Character. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
Ketchum Global Research Network. (2005). Parents’ Internet Monitoring Study. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Cox Communications, 2005.
Larue, Jan. (2003). Victims of Pornography Month Should Not Exist. Christian Counseling Today, 2003 Vol. 11 No. 3.
Lenhart, Amanda. (2005). Family, Friends & Community: Protecting Teens Online, Pew Internet & American Life Project. December 12, 2005.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “The Atrocity of Porn: It is Our Job to Protect Our Children:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2015.<https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1839,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, January) “The Atrocity of Porn: It is Our Job to Protect Our Children:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1839,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “The Atrocity of Porn: It is Our Job to Protect Our Children: .” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1839, (accessed).
