2016-08-22 Help I’m addicted to porn!

QUESTION:
It’s taken me a while to get to this point, but I’ve now realized that I’m actually addicted to porn, and it scares me to death!!!
I’ve tried many, many times in the past to stop. I’ve prayed & asked God to help me, and there have been times (even several weeks) that go by, where I don’t look at anything. But sure enough, eventually I fall again.
It’s like I mentally choose to “shut God out” during that time, because I know He doesn’t want me doing that, and I know I shouldn’t be doing that….but I can’t help myself.
Guilt and shame plague my mind. I catch myself thinking, “How can I call myself a Christian?” or, “You’re a hypocrite!”
Am I a bad person? Am I sick? Am I going to hell?
Help!

RESPONSE:
Thanks for your very honest confession. Addiction to pornography functions in the same way as other forms of addiction in that it creates dependencies, messes with the brain’s chemistry, and can be very difficult to break by willpower alone. There are many Christians who experience this kind of addiction to porn but few that admit it and therefore few who actually come to a place of freedom. The fact that you experience such inner turmoil about this issue indicates that God has been at work in you and your new nature in Christ is in conflict with this sinful behaviour. So you are not a bad person, you are not sick, and you are not going to hell (to answer your three questions). What you are is a child of God who has an addiction/sinful habit that God desires to set you free from. The best thing for you to do is to seek help from someone in leadership whom you trust, who will walk with you to a place of freedom. We would love to help so please get in touch with us!