For this month’s blog entry. I asked my good friend, Matthew Fradd, to write an article.  Matt is a lay apologist with Catholic Answers.  Like me, he travels around the country talking to people about the dangers of pornography.  His website is www.ThePornEffect.com.  Check it out!

If Your WiFi Causes You To Sin…

“If your eye causes you to sin gauge it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell”. Mt 5:29

While there were many beautiful and awe inspiring things that Jesus of Nazareth said, I think it’s fairly safe to assume that you will never see this one grace the white page of a hallmark card.  Can you imagine?!...“Congratulations on your wedding day….here’s a pair of sharp tongs in case you may need them.”

While Jesus did not intend us to take this passage literally (if he did you would be incapable of reading this article.), he did intend us to take it seriously!  Sin = slavery, misery & death (Rom 6:23, Jas 1:14-15).

I very often have men writing to me, telling me how impossible it is to remain porn free.  They describe how impossible it is to avoid falling back into their old habits of struggling with porn and masturbation.

Men will often write to me saying that they are struggling with sexual sin, only to discover upon further questioning that there is actually little struggle at all.  They just give in.  One such conversation went like this:

Me - “Where and when do you usually fall?”
Guy - “Every night while using my laptop for homework.”
Me - “How long has this been going on for?”
Guy - “Well, over a year.”
Me - “Give your computer away to someone who will use it more responsibly than you.”
Guy- “Nah, I need it for homework.”
Me – “Use the computer at the library.”

This young man never contacted me for advice again.  If I had to guess, I’d say that he still falls on a regular basis to using porn and is still complaining about how hard the “struggle” is.

Perhaps you think my advice was too severe or impractical.  Are you ready for some honest but brutal advice?  Be honest… If you aren’t, then I’d suggest you stop reading this article and look elsewhere for advice.  Goodness knows there are plenty of other individuals and groups who are more than willing to offer advice that will require nothing of you, who will reassure you that pornography, masturbation and even adultery, are healthy and normal.
For the rest of you who’ve remained, here’s the advice:

It is better that you go without a personal computer for the rest of your life than that your whole body be thrown into hell after death.

It is better that you have only 3 television channels, or no television at all, than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

Permit me to offer a modern translation of the above scripture passage:
“If your internet causes you to sin disconnect it; it is better that you go the rest of your life without email than to have unrestricted Wi-Fi in hell”.  Mt 5:29
How do you need to change?  How do you have a problem?  Where are you falling?  What steps must be taken in order to root this sin out of your life?

Do not misunderstand me.  I am not talking about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.  You and I cannot overcome any pattern of sin and addiction but by the grace of God.  Ask him for that grace.  Pray the Rosary daily if you can.  Receive often the Blessed Sacrament of the altar.  Go to confession at least once a month.  Seek professional help.  God can and does bring men to a point where they can have all of the Internet access, television channels and the latest phones, and not fall.  But now is probably not that time for you.

Our Heavenly Father loves you, and He is offering you his grace.  What obstacles are still separating you from Him?  What major or drastic decisions do you need to make in order to start manfully combating your lust and living in the freedom of purity?