Testimony

Recently, somebody wrote this testimony on a Bible forum. More than anything I have ever read, this testimony has both motivated and inspired me to stay as far away from porn as I possibly can. I want to share it with you here and do so with the permission of the author, though I will keep it anonymous. I pray it inspires you as it has inspired me...

Wow this is a topic that is very personal to me. I have been on the other end of the problem - being the one that is in the pornography and then eventually making myself "available" to men for compensation. I met some very nice men in my past who loved their families dearly but desperately struggled with sexual addiction and pornography. They were one of the reasons I decided to leave, as I didn't want to be the cause of someone else's addiction and spiritual downfall. I felt deeply responsible. How could I not accept my role?

I know that this is difficult for some men, as it seems that men are just wired a little differently. They are very visual and can easily separate the human being from the image. If you can, the next time that you see an image on the internet, try to take a moment and see the woman in the image as a person and not just an image. Try to see her as someone who has parents, siblings, possibly children and people who care about her. Try to imagine someone close to you - your wife, your sister, a woman in your life you care for deeply in that image. Try to imagine them posing and other men seeing them as just objects. It's disturbing when you look at it that way. You wouldn't want it for them. Before I entered the adult industry I found myself being hurt after boyfriend after boyfriend seemed to struggle with pornography. It battered my self esteem. I always thought I must not be pretty enough that they needed something else. I guess eventually I thought, if you can't beat em - join em.

I want for more men to know that a large majority of the women who work in clubs, pose in magazines or are in movies or prostitution do have families and are people. Many of the women I knew were single mothers. It's easy to get lost in the fantasy and think that these women just are very sexual and love what they do and want to make you feel good. It's harder to look past the surface and see the very personal and spiritual price they pay for someone to get a release.

It encourages me that more and more men and beginning to talk about this and that Christians are stepping up to help in recovery. If the Lord can plant the seeds in my heart to help me try to quit I know the same can happen for you. My role was an addiction too as I was compensated very well. I am still struggling with giving up that aspect of it. I think you and I can both tackle our addictions if we take them one day at a time. We are very blessed to have so much support on our side!