Im stunned

[Scarletprayers]

the porn-addicted Christian ... is there such a thingie.

Absolutely. Countless Christian men have become addicted to porn and later set free of it.

I am behind these guys 100%, but then, I am not one of those kind who wait around to be offended by everything I see.

Some of you would take shots at ANYTHING.

Well how nice of you to notice.

[Gerioke]

well with that explanation I can understand and appreciate what they are trying to do but the wording is more than a little wrong if the reaction of others is the same as AyinJade's and the same as my reaction would have been ....

I agree with you. They mean well, but the advertising is misleading and not the practice of Christians.

How is it misleading if it is a Christian site that deals with porn?

I suppose it would be better if the porn addicts were just left to wallow in filth.

[Axxman]

Clearly...there are some people here that are unfamiliar with this ministry. Then there are others who have only visited the website. I am familiar with this ministry so I will shed some light on why I believe in WHAT they are trying to do...but not so much in HOW they do it.

They purchased a booth at the AVN (Adult Video News) award show...Sure, this got them close to their target audience, it also got them around ALOT of mostly naked pornstars...large screen TV's with porn...nude pictures...and tons of other debauchery. Jesus might have witnessed to prostitutes, but he didn't go into her bedroom while she was naked and preach to her. Common sense.

They put out the "Jesus Loves Pornstars" bible, with a "retro 70's Jesus" pornstar look-a-like on the cover. We could go for days about whether or not the title is true....but I think its insulting to depict Jesus in such a manner, let alone deface his word in sucha manner.

They began "Operation Save the Kittens." This sounds innocent enough but in reality it is in reference to one of their slogans that proclaims on T-shirts they sell. The slogan is, "Every time you Masterb***, God kills a kitten." Clever? Yes. Holy? No.

They started "Porn Sunday" again this is a GOOD IDEA. However, last year driving through Dallas I saw a large billboard advertising "Porn Sunday" at a local church...call me crazy but is that really how Christ needs us to advertise our ministry to get people in the door?

There is "Wally the Weiner." Wally is a 15 foot inflatable (insert guess here). I saw a picture of Wally standing proudly outside of a church's front door during a "Porn Sunday" event last year. It was so outrageous and offensive to me that if it were my church I would have quit right there.

I could go on...but I think the point is made

If there are still ANY doubters about the outrageous and disgusting gutters these men are dragging the Church and Gods Holy Name through then feel free to check out Wally's website..seriously...website *edited* by Axxman out of respect.

[Guest phipples]

But let's be honest who will go there. How many who are struggling with porn may see this site and get their curiosity peeked, get to receive the help that is needed.

Now what would others suggest that is eye catching, that would drive someone to actually recieve help, or even visit the site.

I do kinda doubt that the average, Christian (or not) male - who is not into porn at all, will see the bumper sticker and suddenly say to himself, "Hey, it's allowed now! Woohoo!" Though, I suspect that many people who have struggled with this issue may see this in a different shade of gray.

After debating myself over it today (I apparently do have too much time on my hands ), the only answer I have come up with is this: Won't it be wonderful when all this falls away, and we can rejoice over peace? (or: I still don't know )

C.

[Treasure]

My pastor actually mentioned this site in a sermon recently. The sign language team also did a song called "Dirty Little Secret". I noticed on the website that the podcast is called that so I'm not sure if the song is like a theme song or what. At any rate, I appreciate the concept of accountability and helping Christians overcome the addiction to pornography but it was unsettling to me. Maybe I'm just too sheltered. The other site though (about "Wally"), I couldn't look at it anyway because it was blocked by parental controls.

The sad thing to me is that there is a need for such a ministry to begin with.

[ayin jade]

As the person who started this thread, I urge people to be respectful of the Lord and ask that such graphic links not be posted on here. I reported the link as it is highly offensive and completely inappropriate for this board.

[Axxman]

I'll take it that means I made my point?

That link was from a "christian" ministry website (for the record)...that some people seemed to think we should be supporting. It was NOT my intent to offend, but to educate some people here in regards to the topic.

sorry.

[WayneB]

...website *edited* by Axxman out of respect.

Thank you brother.

The church is in a sad state of affairs.

...but we need to be careful not to become what we find fault with.

[Guest phipples]

I'll take it that means I made my point?

That link was from a "christian" ministry website (for the record)...that some people seemed to think we should be supporting. It was NOT my intent to offend, but to educate some people here in regards to the topic.

sorry.

I must have caught the link before it was removed. I did go in and read a lot. Yes, the "wally" screen was most definitely very in-your-face. Would I want my son to see it? No. Do I think it's over the top? Yes. (As with the Bible cover graphics - a long shot from appropriate in my mind.) If I were to work in that office, a lot of what is around would be too much for me, no doubt. But I can also be pretty uptight sometimes.

I watched the news interview with the Pastor, Craig Gross. In response to criticism he said:

"If they have another approach, if they have another idea, come join us. You know, we're here riding solo here - I mean there's nobody else doing this."

"And so to us, sure we're gonna maybe made some mistakes along the way, and I'll be the first to admit it - but we're trying."

I also received some good information from the site - like an entire list of programs I can use to lock up my computer. I read through some of the message boards on the site - men and women praying for and supporting each other. There are quite a few links to pastoral counceling, therapy and other (less controversial?) ministries for people and families struggling with porn.

So while I personally wouldn't have chosen the same graphics for Bibles being handed out, I'm not ready to suggest that the whole lot be condemned to hell, either. It's a sad fact that a ministry like this even need to be discussed at all - this is the world we've been born into. I do respect the intent behind it all, if not all the methods.

C.

[DarkNebulaWelder]

You guys:

I just went onto this site and checked it out, and I can tell you right now, I do think that it's an awesome work that these people are doing, and that you guys really should be not so quick to judge.

Without going into much detail, just let me say that, back when I was in the darkest recesses of my backslidden godless existence, I was briefly involved in this industry. That is all I am going to say about that on this open board, as I am still pretty uncomfortable with and GREATLY ashamed of my past.

Before you go too much farther with your criticism of this organization, let me just say a few words.

I think that the whole philosophy of bringing the gospel to the AVN conventions and awards is a VERY GOOD METHOD for reaching these people...confronting them in the middle of their sin, so to speak. Most all of the girls involved in this industry woudn't even think to step foot in a church....not just because they are so far from the gospel, but because their intense shame and low self-esteem would prohibit them from even feeling that a church would help them.

I think it's wopnderful that they're bringing God's love deirectly to these young girls, right where it is needed.

You must understand, these girls put on a good front....they may act like they are reveling in their sin, but deep down, they are hurting and hate themselves, and in most cases, what they are doing.

Many of these girls are trapped....they don't feel like they are worth anything, and that pornography is the only way they can feel loved.

I think it's GREAT that these people are bringing Jesus' love DIRECTLY to the hurting by setting up ministry in these conventions.

As far as the Bibles are concerned, I saw the picture on the website, and it appears to me that it's just something that the people involved in this industry can relate to. I mean, it's definitely not the kind of Bible that one would bring to church, but if it is helping bring these people to the Lord, Praise be to Him!!!! That's all that really matters, right?

I think it's wonderful that these people are ministering to a sector that many Christians have never even THOUGHT about reaching out to....there is a LOT, and I mean, a LOT, of pain in the porn industry....the people involved have grown cold from years of neglect, abuse, and just feeling very unloved. It takes a lot of internal pain to bring someone to the point where they can engage in this type of activity. It is truly a shrewd, heartless, and cold sector....and one which Jesus needs to penetrate VERY badly.

I know that the typical joe from off the street wouldn't know this, but these "wretched" girls that you see late at night on Cinemax are actually very sweet, and deeply hurt, young girls, who desperately need the gospel of Christ, and lots of Christian love, which it appears that this organization is presenting to them in a way that is palatable.

After all, didn't Paul talk about being all things to all people in order to reach them?!

As long as the Gospel is not marred, and it's true crux is preserved, it doesn't really matter HOW it is presented....just that it IS presented.

And, yes, I think that Jesus, if He were on Earth today, WOULD minister at one of these conventions if He needed to.

Having been briefly involved myself, I really do hurt for these girls.