Have you ever wondered why sexual sin is against your own body?
1 Corinthians 6:18 warns of negative physical consequences to sexual sin:
"Flee from sexual immorality. Every sin that a man commits is outside the body. But he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body."
Now, science confirms exactly how this works.
Whether it be premarital sex, adultery or viewing pornography, sexual sin alters our brain function and, when indulged in repeatedly, can lead to a seared conscience—an actual brain phenomenon that numbs us to guilt and conviction of our wrongdoing.
Four Times Stronger than Morphine
When porn is viewed, several things happen to the brain involving powerful hormones—two of which are oxytocin and vasopressin.
Often called "the love hormone," oxytocin is released when we hug or kiss a loved one. It regulates social interaction and sexual reproduction, playing a role in empathy, generosity and human bonding.
Vasopressin is a hormone found in most mammals which is also used as a medication; it numbs the pain.
When we watch pornography and "act out," the sexual sin releases a powerful concoction, creating a perplexing issue for the human body.
Fundamentally, the bonding hormones of oxytocin and vasopressin form a rewiring of the brain with the wrong material, which lures the individual deeper into a prison of their own making.
An intoxicating combination of hormones—intended to bring loved ones closer together and promote mental healing—are instead operating out of sinful activity, completely confusing the mind.
Dr. Doug Weiss, Executive Director of Heart to Heart Counseling Center and expert contributor to the Conquer Series, a cinematic DVD series that helps men break free from pornography, elaborates:
"When [you] have a sexual experience, your brain makes these opiates which [are] four times stronger than morphine. Boom! It hits your brain; your brain lights up like a Christmas tree. This is the highest chemical reward your brain gets for anything. That's why a lot of guys get in trouble, even in ministry. They don't know their brain is defective."
When the brain has been changed in this way, sexual sin takes a profound toll.
The individual knows watching porn is a shameful act and one to be kept a secret.
Yet each time they view porn, they find themselves trusting it more, pairing with the porn stars or the activity with a deep mental bond, and feeling healed by the sexual sin. They are trapped in a destructive cycle.
Searing Your Conscience
There is a part of your brain that is responsible for convicting you of wrongdoing.
It's that little voice inside of you. We call it our conscience.
If you continue to participate in wrong behavior, however, eventually you become desensitized to this convicting presence. That part of your brain simply stops responding.
In effect, your conscience is seared, just as the Bible says in 1 Timothy 4:2: "speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their consciences seared with a hot iron."
That's not all. When this area of your brain stays active chronically, you will eventually impair your ability to feel pleasure as well.
Dr. Tim Jennings, expert contributor to the Conquer Series, explains:
"People who damage their pleasure centers in this way will often be disinterested in healthy relationships, will often become apathetic, and they will seek out either more high-risk behaviors or drugs or other types of things to stimulate the pleasure centers so they can feel this."
If you recognize yourself here, there is hope.
Hope of Victory over Pornography is Here
From a five-year Pure Desire Ministries national survey of churches entitled "Porn Use in the Evangelical Church," we know that 68 percent of male attendees and 30 percent of the females view porn on a regular basis.
So one must understand that this journey is a tough one.
While there are many in bondage to pornography, an increasing number of men are finding freedom through the Conquer Series. For example, the host of the series, Dr. Ted Roberts, former Marine fighter pilot and pastor, has a 90-percent success rate in helping men break free from porn and sexual addiction.
Dr. Weiss, Dr. Jennings and Dr. Roberts are just several of the many experts featured in the Conquer Series DVD set who provide amazing insight, biblical principles and practical steps that set men free from sexual sin.
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