A new national survey of Christian men reveals shocking statistics pertaining to high rates of pornography use and addiction, plus rampant sexual infidelity among married Christian men.
The 2014 survey was commissioned by a nonprofit organization called Proven Men Ministries and conducted by Barna Group among a nationally representative sample of 388 self-identified Christian adult men.
The statistics for Christian men between 18 and 30 years old are particularly striking:
- 77 percent look at pornography at least monthly.
- 36 percent view pornography on a daily basis.
- 32 percent admit being addicted to pornography (and another 12 percent think they may be).
The statistics for middle-aged Christian men (ages 31 to 49) are no less disturbing:
- 77 percent looked at pornography while at work in the past three months.
- 64 percent view pornography at least monthly.
- 18 percent admit being addicted to pornography (and another 8 percent think they may be).
Even married Christian men are falling prey to pornography and extramarital sexual affairs at alarming rates:
- 55 percent look at pornography at least monthly.
- 35 percent had an extramarital sexual affair while married.
“These statistics knock the wind right out of you. They also confirm what we already know; that there definitely is a problem with pornography and affairs among Christian men and that they are starving for the church to step forward with solutions,” according to Joel Hesch, who sponsored the survey and is the founder of the biblically based Proven Men Ministries.
He adds: “The purpose of the survey was not to point fingers, but to get a better grasp on the scope of the problem in light of ready access to pornography in this Internet era.
“It’s abundantly clear that pornography is one of the biggest unaddressed problems in the church,” Hesch continued.
In fact, these alarming statistics are not limited to those who nominally consider themselves Christian.
Those who identify themselves as born-again Christians have similar struggles with pornography and affairs:
- 95 percent admit that they have viewed pornography.
- 54 percent look at pornography at least once a month.
- 44 percent viewed pornography at work in the last 90 days.
- 31 percent had a sexual affair while married.
- 25 percent erase Internet browsing history to conceal pornography use.
- 18 percent admit being addicted to pornography (and another 9 percent think they may be).
What’s the solution?
Proven Men has put together a powerful resource for churches to help Christian men regain their dignity and sexual integrity. After breaking free from his own 20-year sexual addiction, Hesch formed Proven Men Ministries and has devoted the past 15 years to helping men around the world find freedom from pornography or sexual addiction through a biblically based system he created, known as the Proven Path for Sexual Integrity.
The system includes a 12-week course of study, a leadership guide and a book on sexual integrity—all available on Amazon. There are also free resources available at provenmen.org.
“We are now taking the Proven Path directly to churches with the goal of helping 1 million Christian men experience freedom and victory from pornography and sexual addiction,” Hesch explains.
Hesch puts out this call for action to pastors and all Christian men: “If these statistics break your heart like they break mine, then it’s time to join with me and other Proven Men around the nation in taking a stand to reverse the tide and reclaim sexual integrity for yourself and for each man in your church or community. Together we can change the world one man, one family, and one church at a time.”
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