envelop spinner search close plus arrow-right arrow-left facebook twitter

Selling Sex Destroys Lives

by Tom Wolff on March 02, 2021

“Sex sells.” You know this. But when we package “sex” and it becomes a consumable commodity, instead of an intimate expression in marriage, it destroys our soul, our families, and our culture. Our culture has been desensitized over many years now, through movies, television, and magazine ads. "Sexy" sells everything from cars to toothpaste. Clothing has become more and more provocative, and a day at the beach leaves little to the imagination.

Did we really think there would be no price to pay for unhitching sex from marital boundaries and then marketing to the sexual drive? Certainly, the church has not been immune to the effects of our sex saturated culture. We have all seen and heard of the fall of powerful and influential church leaders right up to and including the recent news about Ravi Zacharias. Did that latest revelation shock and stun you or are you so used to this kind of news that there was only disappointment at the fall of yet another? Do you sometimes wonder if there are any Christian leaders who can truly live a life of sexual purity? There are, but it’s a battlefield!

I believe the greatest and most insidious invasion of the Church has been the proliferation of pornography use by men, women, and teens. This usage has become so pervasive that the current statistics indicate that as many as 70% of men in churches are addicted to pornography! Even more startling is the estimate that in women under 35, the percentage is probably the same. It would almost go without saying that the teen population’s usage is at least that high. Sadly, the percentage for pastors hovers in the 50% range.

If these statistics are anywhere near accurate, the only thing that would be even more amazing would be the vast numbers of churches who have never even addressed this issue from the pulpit. If there was an invasive cancer running rampant through my church, I would want to run aggressive chemotherapy until I was certain our church adequately dealt with the situation.

Enter Pure Desire Ministries International, which is “a biblically-based and clinically-informed ministry committed to true revival in the church through the healing of the present-day epidemic of sexual brokenness” (quoted from Puredesire.org). As a Counselor, both at Petra Church and in private practice, I am familiar with Pure Desire Ministries and the incredible resources they offer to help facilitate men and women on their journey with Jesus out of sexual brokenness.

In their pursuit of healing, Petra Church stands out among all other churches of which I am aware, not only for their congregation but for the surrounding community. When I first met Founding Pastor Lester, he told me that, “We believe God has given Petra a mantle for healing.” The longer I have been here the more obvious it is that this church takes the mission of Jesus very seriously. His mission should be our mission.

Dealing with brokenness is messy but it was the reason Jesus came to earth. In the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Luke we see Jesus tempted in the desert for 40 days. He defeated Satan by the Word of God. Upon Jesus’ return from the wilderness, he began his public ministry by declaring his mission in the synagogue.

The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV)

For too long the world has felt that the message of the Church is one of condemnation and judgement. We were way too hard on non-believers for not acting like believers and too hard on believers who required too much attention to get better. Many times, instead of journeying with the broken we have admonished them to read their Bible more, memorize more Scripture and pray more. All of those are good habits, but quite often, people are so broken they are simply too wiped out to even do those things effectively.

The issue of sexual brokenness has so permeated the church that we can no longer throw stones. We must join in the mission of Jesus and begin to actually do the ministry of Jesus – that was his departing instruction to us. We need to put our stones down and invite the broken world around us to join us in our own journey of healing in Jesus and in the ministry of the Spirit.

Imagine the Church being honest enough to lead with our own brokenness and authenticity. I think the world would want to be a part of a church like that. In fact, I know they would. Remember, wherever Jesus showed up, tons of sinners and broken people would gather just to listen. Why then, if we are to represent Jesus, aren’t the broken and sinful attracted to The Church? Is it possible our message has shifted to something other than the Jesus of the Bible?

I am grateful to be a part of the healing ministry at Petra Church and am blessed to see our church attracting the broken–and they are coming. I am thankful for the ministry of Pure Desire and others who are committed to setting the captives free. These ministries are powerful and effective.

If you are reading this and are struggling with some issue in your life that has you stuck or confused, please know that Petra Church exists to help you on your journey. Please don’t suffer any longer. Nothing is too hopeless for The Healer, and life is too short to live in hopelessness. Take your first step today by speaking to any pastor or call the church office.

 

return to Blog


CHURCH OFFICE | 717-354-5394

MONDAY - THURSDAY | 8 AM - 4:30 PM

SUNDAY SERVICES | 9 & 11 AM

© 2024 Petra Church   |   565 Airport Rd, New Holland, PA US 17557