NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — A television documentary that shines a light on the problem of pornography addiction among Christians premieres Sunday, Nov. 30, and airs again Dec. 7 on the ION Television Network, formerly PAX TV.
"Somebody's Daughter," a documentary on pornography addiction among Christians, airs Sunday on ION Television Network.
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"Somebody's Daughter: A Journey to Freedom from Pornography" features three men and one married couple active in Christian ministry who describe struggling with and overcoming addiction to pornography.
The program was produced by Music for the Soul, a ministry that promotes healing through music, as a DVD-CD multimedia compilation to promote healing for people struggling with pornography addiction. In addition to the 62-minute television documentary, the DVD-CD package includes 18 music and spoken word tracks and four music videos.
The project takes its title from a song written by Christian recording artist John Mandeville and Steve Siler, founder and director of Music for the Soul, after Mandeville revealed to Siler his struggles with pornography. After attending a meeting for sex addicts, the two men wrote the song to illustrate that women should be viewed not as objects but as somebody's daughter, a starting point for Mandeville's healing.
Siler says he hopes the project will "turn on a bright light" to the destructive power of pornography on individuals and marriages and open awareness and dialogue in churches.
According to recent surveys, nearly 60 percent of Christian men and 37 percent of pastors admit to struggling with pornography. And the problem is not limited to men — 35 percent of women also admit to the addiction.
The producers say "Somebody’s Daughter" is an attempt "to shine the light on how the $13.3 billion pornography industry is plaguing those who profess Christianity, and to promote healing and deliverance from the growing epidemic."
People in the documentary say they used to rationalize their pornography habit by arguing that it didn't hurt anyone, but over time it became something that came between them and God. Separation from God was followed by separation from their spouse, children and other loved ones.
"Pornography erodes the ability to maintain healthy intimacy," Siler says.
Siler says pastors are vulnerable, because men are most susceptible when they are physically and emotionally drained, and spiritual leaders work under high levels of emotional and physical strain.
Compounding the problem, Siler says, is the "shoot our own" response often seen in churches.
"Instead, we need to be giving our leaders the support and help they need to overcome this problem so that they can return to offer guidance to the men in the pews."
"I'm not saying we shouldn't hold them accountable," Siler says. "I'm just saying we shouldn't automatically treat this sin as somehow worse than all others and drive good men out of the church because they have struggled with this issue."
Siler says he knows several ministerial leaders "who have been restored from this problem who are serving the church with tremendous energy, courage and vision."
Siler says churches should partner with Christian counselors to offer members a safe place to get help with pornography addiction and sponsor accountability groups or one-on-one partners to help them on the road to recovery.
"Members should know that forgiveness and healing are possible, and that as long as they acknowledge their sin and commit to the work of recovery, they will have a place in the community," Siler says.
Siler says the church has been slow to respond to viewership of pornography by Christian leaders and laypeople because sex is an uncomfortable topic for the church.
"God made our bodies but there is still a lot of theology out there that says the body is bad," he says. "As a result, it makes a lot of us uncomfortable to talk about it."
"What's strange about this to me is that we profess to believe that God sees what we do in secret already. We might as well talk about what God already knows is happening."
"Somebody's Daughter" also is slated to air on INSP, the Daystar Television Network, Faith TV and "It's Time for Herman & Sharron" show this winter. Check local listings for air times.
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Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.