If so, how could we stop sinning with lust, we can control what we do, but we can't control our hormones right? Also, what about wet dreams?Great questions! Let me try to answer this in two parts.
1. What Does The Bible Say About Lust and Pornography?
In 1 John 2:16, we are told that the three main categories of sin are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Pornography definitely causes us to lust after flesh, and it is undeniably a lust of the eyes. According to Philippians 4:8, pornography definitely does not qualify as one of the things we are to think about or take action in order to view it. Pornography is addictive (1 Corinthians 6:12; 2 Peter 2:19), and destructive (Proverbs 6:25-28; Ezekiel 20:30; Ephesians 4:19). Lusting after other people in our minds, which is the essence of pornography, is offensive to God (Matthew 5:28). When habitual devotion to pornography characterizes a person’s life, it demonstrates the person is not saved and will not be part of God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9).
The dictionary definition of lust is "1) intense or unrestrained sexual craving, or 2) an overwhelming desire or craving." The Bible speaks of lust in several ways. Exodus 20:14, 17 (NLT), "Do not commit adultery. . . Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns," or Matthew 5:28, "But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Job 31:11-12 (NLT) sums up lust quite nicely: "For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. It is a devastating fire that destroys to hell. It would wipe out everything I own."
By far, the most searched for terms on the internet are all related to pornography. Pornography is rampant in the world today. Perhaps more than anything else, Satan has succeeded in twisting and perverting sex. He has taken what is good and right (loving sex between a husband and wife) and replaced it with lust, pornography, adultery, rape, and homosexuality. Pornography can be the first step on a very slippery slope of ever-increasing wickedness and immorality (Romans 6:19). The addictive nature of pornography is well documented. Just as a drug user must consume greater and more powerful quantities of drugs to achieve the same “high,” pornography drags a person deeper and deeper into hard-core sexual addictions and ungodly desires.
For those involved in pornography there is hope as God can and will give the victory. Are you involved with pornography and desire freedom from it? Here are some steps to help guide you to victory:
- Confess your sin to God (1 John 1:9).
- Ask God to cleanse, renew, and transform your mind (Romans 12:2).
- Ask God to fill your mind with pure thoughts (Philippians 4:8.
- Learn to possess your body in holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4).
- Understand the proper meaning of sex and rely on your spouse alone to meet that need (1 Corinthians 7:1-5).
- Realize that if you walk in the Spirit, you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
- Take practical steps to reduce your exposure to graphic images. Install pornography blockers on your computer, limit television and video usage, and find another Christian who will pray for you and help keep you accountable.
Practically speaking, there are numerous tools to combat an addiction to internet pornography. There is a great program available at http://www.x3pure.com . There are several quality internet filtering programs that will completely block your computer from accessing pornography, such as http://www.bsecure.com. Another fantastic tool is available at http://x3watch.com. X3watch is accountability software. It tracks your internet browsing and sends a report of any objectionable websites you have visited to an accountability partner of your choosing. Your temptation to view internet porn would be greatly reduced if you knew your youth pastor, parent or friend would receive a detailed report about it.
Some of us may blame our hormones for our lustful desires by saying, "It’s not my fault … it’s my hormones!” If we accept the lie that we can't control our emotions or desires, we will also believe we can't control how we act when we are feeling emotionally vulnerable or out of control. Not only are we too quick to believe our feelings and desires, we are also at times far too quick to obey them. The problem is, if we cater to our emotions and desires and let them control our actions in life, we will be more vulnerable to be controlled by our emotions in the major transitions and difficult seasons of life in our adolescence years and beyond.
Certainly what happens in our bodies does affect us emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually. We cannot isolate these various dimensions of who we are - they are inseparably intertwined. But we fall into the trap of the devil when we justify our sinful attitudes, desires and responses based on our physical conditions or hormonal changes. All through the Bible, we are called, encouraged and challenged to exhibit self-control in our daily lives (1 Corinthians 7:4-6; Galatians 5:22-24; 1 Thessalonians 5:5-9; 1 Timothy 3:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:2-4; Titus 1:7-9; Titus 2:1-7; Titus 2:11-13; 1 Peter 1:12-14; 1 Peter 4:6-8; 1 Peter 5:7-9; 2 Peter 1:6).
Didn't God make our bodies? Doesn't He understand how they work? The psalmist praises God for His watchful care and His sovereign plan as it relates to the creation of our physical bodies in Psalm 139:13-16. Long before you and I were born, every molecule of your body and every day of your life, from conception to the grave, was carefully thought through and planned by God. He understands exactly what is taking place in your body through every season and change. This wise, loving Creator is aware of the hormone levels at any stage of our maturity and has provided for every season of life. God does not offer an easy or trouble-free process of growth but has promised to meet all our needs and to give us grace to respond to the challenges and difficulties associated with all stages of life.
Paul’s prayer in I Thessalonians 5:23-24 is helpful as a prayer we can expect God to answer, as we exercise faith and allow Him to do so:
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body [including your emotions, desires and hormones] be kept blameless at the coming of out Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
There are quite a few good books on overcoming porn addiction that I’ve recommended to others: Every Young Man's Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Purity One Victory at a Time by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker, Pure Freedom: Breaking the Addiction to Pornography by Mike Cleveland, and The Game Plan by Joe Dallas.
2. What About “Wet Dreams / Nocturnal Emissions”?
Wet dreams / nocturnal emissions are fairly common in the lives of men. The Bible mentions "emission" in a few places (Leviticus 15:16,18,32; 22:4; Deuteronomy 23:10). Deuteronomy 23:10 specifically refers to a nocturnal emission: "If one of your men is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, he is to go outside the camp and stay there."
Ultimately, we cannot control what we dream about or what happens with our bodies while we are asleep. However, if we are filling our minds with lustful or impure things during the day, it will likely show up in our dreams. A nocturnal emission is a natural bodily function that is made more frequent by sexual over-stimulation. A nocturnal emission is not sinful in and of itself, but it can be the result of sinful thoughts, desires, and input. If you have a wet dream / nocturnal emission, examine your thought life. Examine what sort of images you are exposing yourself to. If you find that you have allowed yourself to be "inflamed" by lust, confess that to the Lord and ask for His help in overcoming it. Follow the words of Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, 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.”
[Answered by Ray Lee, Summer Intern]
