Our local newspaper ran an article last week about a new store that opened in December: Unmentionables. This is a store that sells lingerie. Personally, I like the idea of a husband and wife spicing up their marriage with lingerie. I don't have a problem with this at all. This is also a store that sells pornography out of a "locked room." This is an issue.
At the next Culpeper Ministerial Association meeting, I've been asked to propose how the CMA should address the store's sale of pornography in our community. This is a store that's located in an industrial area behind the Target shopping center off of Montanus Drive. Also located within that same industrial area is New Life West Anointed Ministries (a local church pastored by Eugene Logan) and Fun-N-Beyond (a child entertainment center that provides parties in a moon bounce environment).
Concern is on several levels. The obvious concern is the Biblical view of pornography. Pornography is sin - plain and simple. Case closed. Culpeper is a community rooted in the Christian tradition, and the Body of Christ in this community will continue to strive to preserve its Christian heritage and being a city on a hill.
Another concern is the emotional and sociological effects pornography has on men, women and marriages. There is enough research evidence to demonstrate that pornography adversely effects how individuals view themselves sexually, how they view sexual relationships and how marriages can experience significant problems dealing with issues such as sexual and pornography addiction.
There are a great deal of conflicting articles published about the relationship between pornography and sexually-violent crimes. It's not so much that pornography will cause any person to commit a sexually-violent crime; however, in the overwhelming vast majority of sexually-violent crimes, pornography always played a role. The relationship is obvious.
Lastly, there is scientific evidence demonstrating the secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses on the community itself. There are not only great research studies that have been conducted, but also court cases that have cited the research indicating that there are serious problems associated with sexually oriented businesses. The evidence indicates that property values decrease substantially, crime increases in the immediate area surrounding the businesses and the potential for sexually violent crimes increase dramatically when near areas of places of worship and establishments targeting children. Notice I mentioned that Unmentionables is near both a church and a children's entertainment center.
Please pray for wisdom, direction and convicted hearts as we try and resolve this issue within our community. Please pray for the owners of this business. My goal is not to see their business closed, but that their hearts would be changed to see the serious impact of pornography in people's lives. I pray that they would simply stop selling pornography.
1 comment:
Porn is so damaging, like lust on steroids. For many people the allure of it is its secrecy - we can look at it in secret so easily. This is why confession and accountability is key.
Post a Comment