Most U.S. pastors believe that porn a big problem in their churches

[Gail]

How can this be?

Quote:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Most pastors believe pornography has adversely impacted the lives of their church members, but almost half cannot estimate what percentage of their congregation views porn.

That is the finding of a newly released survey by LifeWay Research of 1,000 American Protestant pastors.

When presented with the statement, "Pornography has adversely affected the lives of our church members," 69 percent of pastors surveyed agree. That includes 42 percent who strongly agree and 27 percent who somewhat agree. Nine percent somewhat disagree and 8 percent strongly disagree. Fourteen percent do not know or preferred not to answer.

"Most pastors know pornography's poisonous effects," LifeWay Research President Ed Stetzer said. "They've seen it destroy marriages, wreck lives and warp America's moral compass when it comes to sexuality."

When asked to estimate the percentage of men in their congregations who view pornography on a weekly basis, 43 percent are unable or unwilling to respond. Of those able and willing to estimate, a majority (62 percent) say less than 10 percent, 24 percent say 10-24 percent, 10 percent say 25-49 percent and 4 percent say 50 percent or more.

[Gail]

BP is Baptist Press, BTW.

[miz3]

How can this be?

Quote:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Most pastors believe pornography has adversely impacted the lives of their church members, but almost half cannot estimate what percentage of their congregation views porn.

That is the finding of a newly released survey by LifeWay Research of 1,000 American Protestant pastors.

When presented with the statement, "Pornography has adversely affected the lives of our church members," 69 percent of pastors surveyed agree. That includes 42 percent who strongly agree and 27 percent who somewhat agree. Nine percent somewhat disagree and 8 percent strongly disagree. Fourteen percent do not know or preferred not to answer.

"Most pastors know pornography's poisonous effects," LifeWay Research President Ed Stetzer said. "They've seen it destroy marriages, wreck lives and warp America's moral compass when it comes to sexuality."

When asked to estimate the percentage of men in their congregations who view pornography on a weekly basis, 43 percent are unable or unwilling to respond. Of those able and willing to estimate, a majority (62 percent) say less than 10 percent, 24 percent say 10-24 percent, 10 percent say 25-49 percent and 4 percent say 50 percent or more.

It would be interesting to know how much "porn" affects the SDA Church.

"porn" does not only affect marriages but it affects the pornographer in every aspect of his/her life. It is a very dangerous and insidious addiction.

[Gail]

Thinking about the prospect scares me! When I think of ancient civilizations like Greece, Egypt and/or especially Rome it reminds me of how open immorality was and how common.

[ClubV12]

One startling estimate I heard recently was 7 out of 10 men view porn. Yikes! You can bet it's a serious problem in the Adventist church as it is everywhere.

I'm not sure where you could draw a line between 7 out of 10 viewing porn and of that percentage how many are addicted to it? How many is it having a negative impact on their life? Is ANY amount of porn a serious problem? Porn is just another drug, some people don't get addicted right away but if they keep at it long enough, they will. Others become addicted in a very short time frame. Best to not even experiment with it at all.

Of course as a Christian I have to conclude ANY amount is a serious problem, we don't have to look very far through Sister Whites counsel to see that. Assuming your lack of common sense dictates a "need" to do a study to figure it out in the first place! Some things are just obvious. Regardless of what society may or may not conclude, to a Christian it is extremely harmful on many levels.

[John317]

Yes, many SDA men are addicted to pornography. I was addicted to it for over 30 years, and I sometimes saw SDAs at the xxx-shops.

Whatever affects the society also affects the people in the churches.

Ellen White knew what she was saying when she wrote on the subject of sexuality and self-abuse in the SDA church. I believe it's one of the reasons that Christ hasn't returned.

There's only one answer: genuine conversion to Christ.

[BobRyan]

Rather than digging into the question of whether local pastors are "Holy Spirit enough" to know what happens in this home or that home within their churches when they are not around - why not discuss something useful?

How do the pastors see porn destroying relationships and marriages? What is going on out there?

When we talk about alcohol, drugs, gambling etc destroying homes, relationships, marriages - it is easy to understand how that could happen.

If we rule out the terrible problem of abuse of one person against another (in any form) - what is left?

The porn problem seems like it destroys the Christianity of the individual - the ability to walk with God. But one could argue the same thing for overeating. Not a defense of either one.

One could argue that David's many wives and concubines wash an ancient form of "porn" and that this led to his sin with the wife of Uriah.

in Christ,

Bob

[abelisle]

Check this out:

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queen...c8c70e707f99a9e