(UPDATED Thursday afternoon): I just returned from a breakfast in Bellevue.  Food was great; fellowship was great (sat with some good ministry friends) and the subject was pretty risky for this group!

Bellevue Christian hosted this Pastors/Ministry Breakfast and asked the founder (Craig) from XXXChurch to come and share about the ministry.  XXXchurch.com exists to help people who have, will have or deal with people who have a problem with internet pornography.  Which, according to statistics, almost every person reading this post has consumed it (intentionally or unintentionally) in some way or another (this is certainly not a accusation that you are dealing with a problem, however it is a plea for all of us to deal with THE PROBLEM).  

X3 is the accountability software they produced/distribute (free) at www.xxxchurch.com.  It is available in both mac and pc.  I was very impressed with the presentation and thankful that Craig and others are speaking honestly about an area that has really influenced (read: HURT) millions of lives/families.

Interesting story, a few years ago xxxchurch was asked to provide a cd of their software to all the participants at a large national conference.  They handed out 9000 copies of this software to pastors/leaders.  They had installed a tracking mechanism simply to count how many people registered out of the 9000.  83.  Craig said that hundreds of pastors/leaders had thanked them for the software, said things like, “this is sooo needed in our church,” etc. etc.  Hmmm?  Only 83/9000 used it.  

What is the problem? Well, the problem is that a Pastor, Leader, Youth Pastor, etc. might think that having the program means that others will believe they HAVE a problem.  Will pride be the reason a person doesn’t seek accountability?  Quick side note: This issue is not just a “male” issue either.  Experts predict that 40% of pornography is viewed by/purchased by females.

Here’s how it works: You have the software (download for free here) and you then ask two accountability partners to receive the report, via email, of any questionable web sites visited by the registered computer.  The two accountability friends would then be responsible to contact the person who may have surfed in dangerous waters.  So the problem (pride): If a person loads the software onto his/her computer it may be assumed that he/she has a problem rather than just assuming they want to live a pure life.  

Quick Facts (provided by xxxchurch):

·         53% of Christian men consume pornography

·         57% of pastors call pornography the most sexually damaging issue for their congregations

·         69% of pastors started looking at porn out of curiosity

·         World wide porn industry is: $57 billion; feeding the population of Sudan for a year: $15 billion.

·         Porn revenue is larger than all combined revenues of all professional football, baseball and basketball franchises

·         Worldwide visitors to pornographic web sites: 72 million annually

·         90% of 8-16 year olds have viewed porn online (most while doing homework)

·         Experts believe that a porn addiction may be harder to break than a heroin addiction

So… here’s the risk:  Will you do it? I am going to.  My wife and another best friend will soon be asked (by x3 software) to be my accountability, NOT because I have a problem, but because I want to strive for holiness in all aspects of my life.  Anyone else going to risk?

Grace,
Brian