Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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These days it is so easy to access pornographic material (on the internet especially, HBO, etc.), and almost all teenagers in our church view this extremely sinful and dirty material.  Many of the boys admit that they know that they are doing something wrong when they view such horrible material, yet they find themselves unable to prevent themselves from doing so. Other boys, sadly, find that what they are doing isn't really wrong at all, and that what they are doing is actually quite normal! What can the youth do to find a way out of this sin? I was wondering if you knew of any websites that would lead to some helpful information regarding this matter, and that would describe this sin in detail and why it is wrong and how it can be prevented.

Pornography is a sin of impurity and unfortunately it is now very accessible in the homes. Some teens think that as long as they are not physically doing the act there is nothing wrong. But we should explain to the youth that the eye sins as much as the whole body. Our Lord taught us "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell" (Mt 5:28-29).

Sex is a gift of God to allow the husband and wife to express to each other in the most intimate way their love for each other. God never intended it to be out of wedlock or with more than one person "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate" (Mt 19:6).

Pornography distorts the image of pure and private marital sex. It is an enslaving addiction that must be resisted like any other sin.

We must first realize and be convinced that this is a sin. When we let our eyes watch impurity and not only see it but also enjoy it we are sinning and we defile our whole body. The Holy Bible says, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are" (1 Cor 3:16-17). If we believe that the Holy Spirit is really in us, would we invite him to see these things!

We must take a stand against it and decide truly to stop falling into its trap by avoiding the source whether it is the Internet or TV or videotapes. We must discipline our senses to hate this sin and turn away from it as soon as we are exposed to it.

Most importantly we have to pray about it all the time that our Lord keep us holy, as He is Holy.
 
Websites you might check out
http://www.biblecenter.com/sermons/resistingpornography.htm.
http://www.beliefnet.com/frameset_offsite.asp?pageLoc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eno%2Dporn%2Ecom%2F&query=&script=/index/index_20510.html.
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