The most accessible drug is not what we might believe it to be. We might begin to think of a substance that can only be obtained from someone on the street with the right connections. We might wonder if the most accessible drug is the alcohol that can so easily be purchased at every gas station and grocery store. And while certain substances and alcohol are highly accessible drugs, neither are what this article is about. The most accessible drug is one that is already in the doors of our homes. It is a drug that stays by our side. It is a drug that, with only a few taps of our thumbs, we find the high. The most accessible drug might just be pornography.
The subject of pornography is uncomfortable to discuss, but just because a subject is taboo does not give us permission to avoid it (cf. Acts 20:27, NKJV). We might be tempted to believe that this is a subject that does not affect us in the church or that it would never be a problem in our homes, but we would be sadly mistaken to assume such a thing. According to studies conducted by the Barna Group, over half of all those surveyed who claim Christianity admit to watching pornography.[1] The draw of this drug tempts everyone – men and women, old and young. In fact, those we might categorize as being the most religious among us are not immune to pornography’s addictive draw. Research has found that 2 out of every 3 religious leaders have struggled with pornography, while 1 out of every 5 religious leaders are presently using this drug.[2] While these studies do not speak specifically for us here in Mt. Vernon, they do speak for a large enough sampling of the religious landscape to tell us that we would be naïve to believe that some of us may not struggle with this drug.
Over the next few weeks, we will continue to look at this dangerous vice. Next week, we will see what makes pornography such a dangerous drug.
[1] “Over half of practicing Christians admit they use pornography,” Barna Group, October, 17 2024, https://www.barna.com/trends/over-half-of-practicing-christians-admit-they-use-pornography/.
[2] “The Silent Problem of Pornography Use Among Pastors,” Barna Group, November, 22 2024, https://www.barna.com/research/pastors-pornography-use/.
By: Preston McElyea