Originally published in Christian Post
Apologist and author Josh McDowell launched Just1ClickAway.org, a new website to raise awareness about online pornography which he says is a problem big enough to cause the downfall of the church.
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“The downfall of the church will not come from a lack of apologetic teaching; it will come from disintegration of the families in the church,” says a video posted on the website, which was launched this week, just in time for summer vacation when students’ media consumption significantly increases.
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“The greatest threat to the cause of Christ is pervasive sexuality and pornography,” McDowell, known as an articulate speaker, said in a statement Thursday. “Today we have, by and large, lost control of the controls because an intrusive immorality is just one click away from our children. With just one keystroke on a smartphone, iPad, or laptop, a child can open up some of the worst pornography and sexually graphic content you can imagine. There’s never been such access in history. “
McDowell, who has written or co-authored 120 books since 1960, backs his claims with stunning statistics about the destructive impact of pornography on the Christian family.
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More than 1 billion pornographic websites are one click away, and the average age of first-time viewers of pornography is 9 years old. About 80 percent of 15- to 17-year-olds have been exposed to hardcore porn, and the adult pornography industry reports that 20-30 percent of their traffic comes from children. More shockingly, half of all Christian families report that pornography is a problem, and 30 percent of pastors have viewed pornography in the last 30 days.
The newly produced video on the website shows that pornography aggressively preys on and attacks its victim, virtually in plain view of unsuspecting family members.
It features a boy, who looks below 10 years old and is seated on his bed with a tablet computer in the privacy of his bedroom. “Doing your homework?” asks a young woman, portrayed as a tempter. The boy, seeing her in his imagination, nods to say, “Yes.” “Can I ask you something?” the girl says. “What’s your favorite part about me? Do you wanna see more? I can show you whatever you want.” Just then the mother comes into the room and tells him, “Honey, dinner is almost ready.” Seeing her child’s surprised reaction, she asks, “What’s wrong?” “Nothing,” he replies, pressing his laptop against his chest. “Finish up what you’re doing and come on downstairs,” his mother says.
The video goes on to feature a husband as well as a teenage girl as consumers of pornography and whose family members are also unaware of the dangerous viewing.
The video, which has a warning label for its mature content, later portrays each consumer being tortured by their addiction to pornography.
Offering hope and help, McDowell has made available resources to both spread awareness about the pervasiveness of pornography viewing and offer solutions. The Bare Facts, McDowell’s “biblically based, medically sound and culturally relevant campaign” provides youth and those who influence them with an understanding of love, sexuality and relationships.
As part of a 45-city speaking tour in 15 countries throughout 2012, McDowell is touring Latin America with his Bare Facts campaign. With over 50 years in ministry, he has addressed more than 10 million young people, giving over 24,000 talks in 118 countries. McDowell lives in southern California with his wife Dottie and four children.
