Wednesday, 18 April 2012

• Christian Groups Strike Back at Porn Industry

  [This is reposted as part of our Best-Of Revelife Week. It was originally posted on December 16, 2009.]

  Los Angeles, the city of angels, has its fair share of demons. As the group Strike LA could tell you, the city suffers from a number of problems, from human trafficking to the porn industry. Last weekend, the group held one of its spiritual “strikes” to pray for God to heal the city of its porn problems.

  This is one of a series of “strikes” held by Strike LA; the events involve participants “fasting and praying for God to intervene and release the city of Los Angeles from the bondage of the 'enemy'.” According to The Christian Post, the strike “culminates in a prayerful march at a specific location that represents a sector that needs God's intervention”. The group's website says that the event held this weekend was located at The Playboy Mansion on a date that commemorates the magazine's first publication.

  Jonathan Ngai, director of Strike LA, explains that pornography is a problem among Christians, stating that “nearly half... of Christians say pornography is a major problem in their home”. Clearly Christians need to be devoted to prayer for those who are suffering with porn addictions and for those who are involved in the porn industry.

  There are other means to go about praying for and striking out against the porn industry that are not so visible. When I was in college, I went to a church that was located two minutes away from a very popular strip club. The church had a women's ministry with the girls who worked at that strip club, and many of them left the business and became Christians because of the ministry. While the ministry wasn't holding signs and asking for attention, it was very effective and had a powerful impact on the porn industry, at least locally.

  Perhaps maybe the Strike LA group could have a more effective impact on the porn industry in Los Angeles by implementing a similar program. While prayer, fasting, and petitioning God to intervene are all necessary to fight the spiritual war against porn, this should not be the extent of our outreach to the industry. Christian activism shouldn't be just about getting attention; it should be involved in the lives of the people we wish to see changed for God.

  A great example of a Christian activist group that is making a difference in the porn industry is XXXChurch. While the name sounds almost sacrilegious, XXXChurch is an organization that is actively seeking out members and addicts of the porn industry and ministering to them. The group goes to porn conventions as often as it goes to churches to talk about the addiction of porn and the help and peace found through a relationship with Christ.

  They go to porn shows and pass out Bibles to support those seeking to leave the industry. They also develop relationships with “porn stars” and even created a fund to provide counseling, insurance, financial aid and mentorship to those who wish to leave porn stardom. Many of those who have taken part in this program discuss their pasts, decisions, and future hopes in a podcast called Dirty Little Secrets, which seeks to give hope to those who are addicted to or involved with porn.

  Christian activism takes on many shapes and sizes. Some groups seek to strike, pray, and fast, while others seek out individuals and minister to them. Neither group is wrong in their motives or actions, but the response they receive will be vastly different.

  What do you think is more effective in terms of Christian activism? Have you been involved in a ministry or organization that sought out the porn industry? Do you believe the porn industry can be saved?

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