Source
r/Christians•
HeyKaleb

Is porn addiction demonic?

NSFWDiscussion

So I have been told by a christian sister in the faith that by a individual watching pornography they are susceptible to being demonically influenced and controlled/manipulated by such a spirit even after the action of sin is done, despite the fact that they may be Christian.

Now I know that with this person they have a tendency to want to err on the side of spiritualism for everything and I wanted to know if this was somewhat said prematurely by them or if this might be right on. However, from what I read in some passages (ex: james,Matthew, 1Corinthians) whenever the issue of temptation is spoken of, it has always talked about the individual spurring the desire from within but never really alluding to spiritual forces being the culprit in making us act out sinfully in this arena of sexual lusts.

What are some of your thoughts on this. Can anyone point me to any verses that support what she is saying or otherwise?

Posted Mar 16, 2016, 10:05 AM UTC

96
ruizbujc•

On mobile so I can't give a full response right now, but let me simply say that all sin opens up room for demonic influence. A Christian won't be possessed, but nothing stops demons from whispering things into your ear or trying to deceive you into sin. That's their 24/7 job. That said, the demonic strategy is usually to use the desires already in you to exploit them into creating new sinful and dangerous desires. When we resist sin, they will see that they're wasting their time and go bother someone else (ergo "resist the devil and he will flee from you"), at which point you will only have to deal with your own evil desires and not their influence as well.

I should also note that the enemy's goal isn't to get us to sin a lot. Their goal is to get people to die without Jesus. They're not just these little mischief lovers who laugh when we screw up. They have an actual plan and motive that is far deeper and more sinister than, "Look! I tricked him into looking at porn again, hehehe." They're out to kill you. That's why God had to specifically tell Satan that he had no authority to take Job's life - which is what Satan really wanted.

Sin is the enemy's method, not their goal. Don't forget that.

17
CPS_at_the_door AoG•

You could argue that anything not of God is demonic. I don't think that demonic forces necessarily make a beeline for someone who is watching porn, but it's important to see that being trapped in sin makes one spiritually blind, unable to discern that which is from God and that which is from other spirits.

I also think it's noteworthy that, in the Bible, sexual sin is often associated with idolatry and the worship of false gods.

7
drac07•

Most notably, I think, you've got 1 Peter 5:6-11:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Emphasis mine on what I think are the most pertinent parts. I think u/ruizbujc is spot on. See, I have the opposite problem that your Sister may: I tend to reflexively de-spiritualize things. But there is a constant war of powers going on all around us, and agents of the enemy will whisper just to see what they can get us to do.

So, in short: can porn addiction have demonic involvement? Absolutely. Is it demonic in every single case? I don't know but I suspect not. Sometimes we (as a species) are depraved enough in our own flesh that we need no encouragement to sin.

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psycopuppy•

I can't point to a verse, but I can tell you my experience, and let you be the judge. Looking at porn, thinking about other women, and "touching myself" (because we have to be PC here) is a daily struggle for me. I hit puberty at a young age, and never really did well with the opposite sex, so porn and "me time" were always there to comfort me. It got to the point where it was almost a daily occurrence. I'm married (and newly saved) and now it is a constant struggle to not look at porn or "beat one off." Every day I feel like someone is speaking over my shoulder, urging me to do this thing that I know is not OK. Now, it could just be years of habit forming impulses, or it could be a spiritual monkey on my back. Either way, porn is not OK, and the more you can stay away from it the happier you will be.

4
BibleTokesScience•

Yes it does. When we look at certain Pagan worship (specifically in the time of the earliest church in Ephesus) we'll find their system revolves around the spirit of Jezebel using the carnal nature of man as a device to control his livelihood. Even the women exchange what is natural and beautiful for carnal influence. They are distractions that will invade your life at any given moment.

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ReginaldBaker•

Yes. Spiritual warfare is very real.

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