The Plague of Pornography

One of the challenges facing America today is the plague of pornography, which the internet has made easily accessible. Sadly, The Christian Chronicle reported on studies by Barna and Pure Desire Ministries showing that there is very little difference between the use of pornography by the general public and Christians.

Christians seem to think that adultery and fornication are the same thing, but that isn’t true. The Greek word for adultery is “moicheuo” and for fornication is “porneuo.” Some Bible passages use both words. For example, in 1 Corinthians 6:9, Paul warns those who will “not inherit the kingdom of God” and lists both adulterers and fornicators.

Adultery is a sexual act between two people who are married to someone else. Fornication is a sin stemming from the heart. In Matthew 15:9 Jesus said, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man…”

Young people who are Christians need to understand that the use of pornography is a sin they must avoid, even though their peers are engaged in it. The use of pornography by youth leaders is one of the reasons why young people leave the Church. I have been criticized for speaking on this, but the plague of pornography is a major problem in the Church today.

— John N. Clayton © 2025

Reference: christianchronicle.org/episodes 109 and 110.