As a recovering(it is like any other drug..you never truly kick the addiction) porn addict myself…this particular post hits close to home. While nobody in my church has been “outed” I would hope they would not follow the example first shown in the linked post and follow the Galatians verse following later in the post. I know I would look to help somebody in my shoes…I wonder..could your church be counted on to help you in this situation and not just summarily kick you out of the church wholesale? Would church discipline need to occur? Most assuredly. There’s tons of modifying circumstances… just ensure you are Biblicly backed before excommunicating a member.
70% of Christian, church-going men view Internet porn each week. I wonder how many of the men in Mark’s church saw how he was treated with his sin. I wonder how many of them are now determined that they will never, ever tell anyone in their church their secret, although they know very well they need help desperately.
I’ve talked with church leaders who have been ambushed by the situation of a brother within their congregation who fell morally. It is painful—especially when that brother was one of the leaders. There’s insomnia, lack of appetite, depression, and a strong desire to protect the congregation from feeling what they are feeling. I’ve never been in their shoes, and I hope never to be. It is, indeed, torture, but God has a plan for situations like this.
Unfortunately, the congregation does find out, and the truth is usually twisted and turned and mutilated way beyond what really happened.
This is one reason men keep their secrets. I’ve counseled dozens of men who have told me that they would never tell anyone in their church about their problem with porn addiction, or else they would immediately be ousted for good.
So what should a church do when one is caught in sin? I see an answer in Galatians 6:1-2,
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (NKJV)
“Overtaken” literally means to be caught red-handed. Paul is writing to the church in Galatia, and he tells certain ones what they should do, how they should do it, and why they should do it.
via Caught and Expelled for Sexual Sin: Is this What the Church Should Do? | Covenant Eyes.