A monthly column aiming to open eyes and free lives from the damaging effects of porn, brought to you by the team from The Naked Truth. The UK charity, now in South Africa, works internationally to change lives and minds through awareness, education and recovery, guided by the mission of Isaiah 40. That we would “level mountains and lift valley’s to reveal Jesus.”
By Ian Henderson
The digital revolution has brought unprecedented connectivity, convenience and creativity to our lives. Yet alongside its benefits, the digital age has introduced challenges we couldn’t have imagined. Chief among them is the pervasive presence of online pornography. Accessible, anonymous and addictive, it impacts individuals, families and churches alike.
Recent research by the Barna Group revealed that 75% of Christian men and 40% of Christian women admit to viewing pornography occasionally. Additionally, 22% of practicing Christians view pornography weekly, and 7% daily. For some, it has become a life-controlling issue requiring specialist support. For over a decade, Naked Truth has offered free online programmes like “CTRL-ALT-DEL” and “Click to Kick”, helping people find practical help and hope. Below is one video story of that hope and healing:
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Does the Bible talk about online porn?
Porn may not be a dependency issue for all Christians, but for all of us, porn has become a discipleship issue. So what can the Bible teach us about pornography? While the early Church didn’t face pornographic websites, they contended with other manifestations of lust and the deeper issues of the human heart: our appetites and egos, self-soothing and shame, attachments and anxieties. As modern disciples, we can turn to the same Scriptures that guided them. Proverbs in particular offers timeless wisdom for navigating temptation. This month, we focus on Proverbs 4, which equips us to guard our hearts, align our steps with God’s path, and experience the fullness of life He intends.
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Proverbs 4: Timeless wisdom for today
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.” — Proverbs 4
The heart: guarding what matters most
In Jewish thought, the heart represents emotions and desires. Guarding it involves two approaches:
- The bodyguard
A bodyguard pays attention to vulnerabilities. For us to deal with porn, it is essential to know the vulnerabilities of our hearts. When we are tired, lonely, stressed, overwhelmed, disconnected, or angry, these are the times we are most likely to self-soothe. For some, this looks like reaching for another glass of alcohol or a bigger bar of chocolate. For others, it’s an image search or a porn site.
Being able to “figure the trigger” is an important first step to guarding your heart. What are the emotions that have led you to regrettable decisions? What emotions do you need to watch carefully? When are you most vulnerable?
- The prison guard
Our culture profits from the monarchy of our hearts, making money from an entitled pursuit to satisfy all desires, wants and aspirations. Yet Scripture reminds us that the heart can be a cruel and corrupt ruler, needing to be impeached and deposed (James 1:14; Mark 7:21).
Jesus calls us to pick up our cross daily — a call to crucify our egos and distorted desires. Guarding our hearts means learning to say “no” to our wants.
One of Jesus’s practices that has helped me guard my heart is fasting. Fasting teaches us to say “no” to smaller things, like skipping lunch. Over time, this strengthens our ability to say “no” to deeper appetites, like pornography.
The mouth: speaking truth to lies
“Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.”
This includes gossip and self-talk, which leads us to sin. Consider Esau’s warped thinking in Genesis 25: “What good is my birthright? I’ll die if I don’t eat that stew!” Similarly, the lies we tell ourselves often don’t hold up to scrutiny. Therapists call this “cognitive distortion”.
Examples include:
- Maximising impact: “I need this; nothing else helps.”
- Minimising implications: “No one’s getting hurt.”
- Shame-driven lies: “I’m messed up and can’t change.”
- Blame-driven lies: “If they loved me more, I wouldn’t turn to porn.”
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Behind every self-defeating act is a lie — one we’ve either told ourselves or believed from the enemy. Recognise and replace these lies with God’s truth. Remind yourself of what God says about your worth and future.
The eyes: fixing your focus
“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.”
Psalm 106 recounts how the Israelites exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, forgetting the God who saved them. Israel was acting like children of Egypt rather than children of Yahweh, turning to what was tangible, controllable, and culturally familiar rather than the mysterious, untamed God and the future He was promising. Similarly, we often settle for immediate gratification instead of fixing our eyes on Jesus and the future He promises.
The book of Hebrews echoes Proverbs: “Fix your eyes on Jesus…who endured the cross…so you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Focusing on Jesus reminds us of who we are and who we are becoming in Him. Pornography offers something tangible and immediate, but it’s a golden calf. Fix your eyes on Jesus — your God and your future.
The feet: choosing the right path
“Mark out a straight path for your feet.”
Just as people lose weight by tracking calories, Proverbs calls us to intentionality in all our choices. We don’t just “end up” somewhere — every path we take leads to a destination. Reflect on what moments and mindsets lead to mistakes or victories.
If using technology after 10 pm leads to poor choices, avoid that path. If certain Instagram accounts fuel lust, block them. Choose accountability and honesty over shame and secrecy. As CS Lewis said: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
A beautiful future
Proverbs 4 offers a roadmap for overcoming pornography: guarding our hearts, renewing our minds, and aligning our steps with God’s will. Your future is beautiful and porn is not part of it.
If you would like to dig deeper into living porn-free, I would welcome you to download our free Ctrl-Alt-Delete App here.
The author
Ian Henderson is the Founder and CEO of Visible Ministries and the Naked Truth Project. Ian is a gifted communicator and regularly speaks at national and international conferences. He lives in Manchester, UK with his family. If you would like to read more about what led Ian to start a Porn Project, you can read his story here.
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