God made the human body. He is the mastermind behind healthy sexuality and relational intimacy. Marriage, and all of the goodness it contains, is an earthly picture God offered to the world of the covenant love He has for all of humanity.
Pornography distorts God’s plan. It perverts that which God intended for marriage and twists human sexuality into isolated selfishness. The destructive power of lust has been evident throughout all generations, but the rampant availability of pornography today will have catastrophic impact on marriages for generations to come. We guard our kids against exposure to addictive drugs. We should be equally vigilant in our efforts to protect our kids from the perversion of pornography. Where can we start?
- Talk openly about God’s plan – The discomfort many parents feel over talking about sex keeps them paralyzed from engaging in this topic. Nothing could be more counterproductive. The world “talks” about sex with our kids non-stop. They need to hear from Mom and Dad about God’s plan for sexuality –Whatever your hesitation to engage this conversation, let me strongly encourage you to move through the awkwardness and into open dialogue with your kids.
- Safeguard your home – Do you have a computer at home connected to the internet? Then you have a 24 hour, XXX porn shop in your home. Well, at least the “door” to that porn shop is there, and hopefully you have built a strong, protective fence keeping your family from it. All internet web browsers offer controls which limit access to adult-rated websites. However, these are not always sufficient for the curious mind. Consider subscribing to a service like Covenant Eyes. It will monitor every website visited on your computer and send you an email report about sites visited that could contain pornographic material. iPod Touches also allow parents to put a security lock on internet or YouTube access. We have rules in our home allowing any web surfing only in our common living areas, but not in bedrooms with the door closed.
- Teach your kids discernment – Teaching discernment is more important than rule enforcement. With smart phones and web tablets, it has become impossible for a parent to monitor internet activity at all times. Talk with your children about web articles, images, as well as TV & magazine ads which use sex to sell a product. Discuss items described as “sexy” and what that means. Help them discern between attitudes that lead to healthy, intimate relationships, and those that lead toward selfishness.
Sex is a fire designed by God to burn brightly in the furnace of marriage. Pornography is like a spark that ignites that fire in an uncontrolled and destructive way. So don’t be afraid to teach “fire safety” in your home.
Camper Corner
What “fences” are in your life that keep you safe from pornography? Where do kids your age most often struggle to stay away from exposure to pornography?
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