Trafficked: The Hidden Connection Of Pornography | The Age Of Exposure

Here is the devotional:

James 1:14-15 states that each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death.

The average age the first time a person is exposed to pornography is 12 years old. Shocked? I know I was, but then I wasn’t. I was a child of the 80s, and when I think back to movies, music, and culture, it made sense that sex was indeed all over.

What I didn’t realize growing up was the link from the porn industry to sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is officially defined as a “modern-day form of slavery in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act is under the age of 18 years.”

Statistic: In one survey, 63 percent of underage sex trafficking victims said they had been advertised or sold online. (Thorn)

I doubt any of us think of these things when tempted by pornography, but rather simply self-gratification. Some even try to justify their participation in attempting to discredit any study or statistic provided. It boils down to the fact that we don’t want to be told we are sinning.

From Desire to Death

Our scripture verse tells us our desire gives birth to sin and when sin is fully grown it brings forth death.

James gives us a sobering view of desire that leads to sin, and the Bible further tells us the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

Suggestions:

Understand what we are taking part in before we take part in it the next time.
Don’t try to justify it, don’t try to hide it, and don’t try to fix this yourself.
The next time you and I are tempted, say out loud, “I’m about to sin by doing this.”
This may make us pause and rethink the action we are about to take part in.
Uncommen questions:

When was the first time you were exposed to pornography?
Were you aware of the staggering statistics around this industry that is right beneath our noses?
Uncommen challenge:

I challenge both you and me to become more aware of this industry and how it reaches into many areas of our lives.

Scripture reference: James 1:14-15

Here are the scriptures referenced:

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
James 1:14‭-‬15 KJV

Here are Stu’s thoughts:

It’s true that the average of first introduction to porn is twelve years of age. I was twelve. Most of the men and women I talk to say that is the same for them as well.

But there are those who experience it as early as nine years old. And one of those became a sex offender at the age of ten…

The way media is portrayed so often to be sexual in nature it’s no wonder men have the wondering eye syndrome. I’ve caught myself turning my head a few times and it was out of nowhere. It’s like there is some form of sexual radar in my head.

But that is all it is for me now. Just a quick glance. Dang she’s pretty or dang he’s fine. And I keep going about my business. I don’t try to imagine what is underneath the clothes they are wearing. Those days are long gone! But when I was teen…oh boy…

It’s not that I made a covenant with my eyes as Job did. I just know that if I let my thoughts go beyond a certain point I’m in trouble.

Solitude is bad for the porn addict.

Idol hands are the devil’s workshop is true. That’s why I try to stay busy doing something.

I don’t want my thoughts to lead to selfish gratification and wind up being part of the demand for porn. Been there before. I can’t afford to go back.

And it’s not like I would HAVE to tell anyone if I chose not to. It’s the simple fact that IF I went back my struggle would be worse….

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2 Peter 2:20 KJV

Trust me I don’t want worse because mine was bad to begin with. But at the time I did not realize the connection between pornography and sex trafficking. That did not even come into my brain until I was trying to quit porn and doing a lot of research.

I know several women who have escaped and shared that they were filmed while being forced to have sex. And it worries them that those videos are floating around out there for anyone who is willing to seek them out can find them. So disheartening.

So dear sirs and ma’ams make a covenant with your eyes and heart to not look upon anything pornographic in nature! And if you do happen to run across it because a simple misspelled word search could lead you were you don’t want to go..just those thoughts down! Take them captive!!