“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.”  Seneca

Pornography (inanely called the “victimless crime”) is one of the easiest, most toxic, temptations known to man.

The statistics are alarming. “Webroot” reports that every second, 28,258 users are watching pornography on the internet.  Every day, 37 pornographic videos are created in the United States, and 116,000 queries related to child pornography are received. Last year, the top-ranked porn site had 700 million more visits than Amazon.

Tragically, about 200,000 Americans are classified as “porn addicts,” and 40 million American people regularly visit porn sites. “Psychology Today” states that one-third of porn viewers are women.

For the last few years, our son Adam has fought against sex-trafficking.  He and his team talk openly about how most people engaged in the activity begin by looking at pornography,  some at the age of five, but most around 10.

The younger a man is when he first views pornography, the more likely he is to want power over women. As for young girls, 80% of 15-year-old females reported that they have been exposed to violent, degrading online pornography.

Philippians 4:8 reminds us of why porn is a sin. Pornographers struggle with lust, and those desires conflict with God’s holiness   Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

The antithesis of pornography.

Once that thrill ends, many viewers look for more and turn to prostitution.  He becomes the pimp.  The average pimp has 4-6 girls and can make between $150,000-$200,000 per year.  (Not bad, until they are caught and end up with 20 years in prison.)  Compare that to the prostitute who works 6-8 hours a day, 5-6 days a week and has 3-5 clients a might.  She makes about $35,000 a year but has her room and drugs paid for. (A McDonalds’ worker makes around $29,000, has no risks of getting an STD, being beaten or murdered.)

Think about it.  These girls were once in elementary school, swinging on the playground and practicing their tap dance moves.  Something goes terribly wrong for them to end up in this career, but “johns” (patrons) don’t care.

Last week, my son’s anti-trafficking team spent time on the West coast, working with local police.  They never left one road where dozens of prostitutes work.  Even though the evenings were cold, there the girls stood, in lacy underwear, most under the age of 14, soliciting johns by selling their bodies.  One twelve-year-old girl was recovered, reunited with her mother, and flown to the Midwest to a facility specializing in the treatment of these damaged girls.

So, what does prostitution have to do with pornography?

Pimps quickly learn that porn pays better and prostitutes are prime candidates to work in porn, and prostitutes quickly learn that they are in much less danger in that field.

I spoke to a former pornographer who referred to those engaged in porn as sex traffickers.  He explained that these men are staring at women, performing for the entertainment of men, so they are equally liable for the degradation of females.

Matthew 5:28 28 says that a man looking at woman with lustful intent “has already committed adultery in his heart.”

The good news is there is hope.  God is in the Forgiveness business, so anyone engaged in these behaviors can repent.  No different than any other sin.  But make no mistake.  Porn is a slippery slope, and the cliff at the bottom will not be a safe place to land.