I've been a big fan of this movement from the first time I've seen it. In fact I'd bet good money I'm getting one of their shirts for my birthday. It wasn't until this last weekend that I saw it in a different light.
My dear friend and I had gotten into the conversation about this group and he said, "I feel like for every step forward that they take, they take two steps back." I was pretty surprised. Awareness to such a destructive habit had only been good in my mind. He explained that he felt like it was detrimental to be telling people that struggle with pornography that "love was killed".
Don't misunderstand, we both agreed there needs to be open discussion on the effects pornography can and do have. What he was saying (as far as I understood) was that making people feel like the future serial killers and helpless, brainless, loveless, idiots wasn't the answer.
This same week that I had this thought provoking conversation I was reading in Mosiah 22-27. There is a group of people that are in Lamanite bondage and they are in the process of escaping. It really is a nail biter. As I read it felt as if the Lord giving me clarity and insight to the conversations of the week. Here's what I got:
(vs.9) "Remember the iniquity of king Noah and his priests (for application: people that participate in pornographic activities); and I myself was caught in a snare, and did many things which were abominable in the sight of the Lord, which caused me sore repentance.." I'm not writing to advocate for lesser consequences or avoiding frank talks about pornography. Like the sins described in this verse it is abominable and ought to cause sore repentance. BUT there is more to it!
(vs.10) Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth."
(vs 12) And now I unto you, ye have been oppressed by (pornography) and have been in bondage to (it)...therefore ye were bound with the bands of iniquity."
Now here is where the insights really started flowing:
(vs 13) "And now as you have been delivered by the power of God out of these bonds, yea even out of the hands of (pornography) and also the bands of iniquity, even so I desire that ye should stand fast in this liberty wherewith YE HAVE BEEN MADE FREE and that ye trust no (sin) to be king over you.
and although the context doesn't quite match the phrase (vs 17), "except it were by him from God." ended this reading with such a bright light.
What I'm proposing is that maybe phrase "Porn kills love" isn't so bad and so destructive if you immediately follow it up with "Jesus Christ restores love". Sin is sin, and consequences are inevitable. We know that pornography is incredibly bad, no shying away from that. However, Jesus Christ has overcome the world and is your support. He'll fix the "craters" it might have blown in your mind (referring to a quote by Elder Holland-when he says that that is the effect of pornography). He makes you feel loved and teaches how to have pure love in your heart.
He takes our imperfections, big or small, and makes us into something amazing. ALL of us. His love for us is NEVER killed. I love you too. Now to take the steps forward to trusting Him and letting him deliver us from bondage--allowing His love to be the love we need first and foremost.
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