Two state governments in America have now declared pornography a public health crisis, with two more on the way, while the church is lagging behind with only 7% of pastors say that they have a program for those struggling with porn.
Utah, the State with the highest consumption of porn per capita, was the first State to pass a resolution declaring pornography as a public health crisis. They have recently been joined by South Dakota on January 31, with both houses unanimously voting in favor of a similar resolution.
It doesn't stop there! A measure recognizing pornography as leading to individual and societal harms was passed by the Virginia State House with a landslide majority of 82-8, while Tennessee's Senate Health and Wellbeing committee are set to consider a similar resolution this week.
Meanwhile, President Trump also signed a pledge during his campaign last August to defend the innocence and dignity of America's children by enforcing the existing federal laws and advancing public policies designed to, "prevent the sexual exploitation of children online and to make the Internet safer for all."
So why the movement to declare porn a public health crisis? Because it is!
Jeremy Wiles who directed a Film Series that helps men break free from porn had the opportunity to interview several brain experts in the making of the Conquer Series. "I interviewed a neuroscientist who showed me brain SPECT scans of a normal brain, a heroin-addicted brain, and a porn addicted brain. The porn addicted brain had the greatest deterioration in brain activity" says Wiles.
When a mother is breastfeeding her child, her brain releases neurochemicals that bond her to her child. When you watch porn, these same powerful neurochemicals such as dopamine are released, which bind you to those images. This is why Satan attacks our sexuality so much because in attacking human sexuality it actually interferes with human bonding. According to a neuropsychologist, Dr. Tim Jennings from the Conquer Series, "Any type of repetitive behavior will create trails in our brain that are going to fire an automatic sequence." The result is years of bondage.
Churches should be the hospitals in this health crisis, but very few have something to offer when it comes to sexual discipleship.
In a 2016 Barna Group research study commissioned by Josh McDowell Ministry, church leadership indicated that this problem is much bigger than it was 20 years ago, yet only 7% of Pastors said they have a ministry program for those struggling with porn.
Thankfully, there is a solution! Thousands of churches in over 50 countries are beginning to run the Conquer Series, a Cinematic Study to help men conquer porn and walk in freedom.
Dr. Ted Roberts, host of the Conquer Series, who has counseled thousands of men to freedom from pornography, discusses why so many people in the church can't stop viewing porn. Churches often treat this issue as a moral one, but fail to recognize it's mainly a brain problem, "We tell men to try harder, pray harder, love Jesus more." Dr. Roberts adds, "But, what starts off as a moral problem, quickly becomes a brain problem. Telling a man to try harder is only tightening the 'noose' of bondage."
Through the Conquer Series, men learn a Grace-based approach based on proven principles and biblical strategies. It has become "ground zero" for the movement of men who are conquering porn. It presents the battle plan for purity. Over 350,000 men have gone through the 5-week course.
