Onward Christian Soldiers: Guard Your Hearts!

By E.J. Cox | TRINICY.org | Volume I Issue II

​“O church, arise and put your armor on;
Hear the call of Christ our captain;
For now, the weak can say that they
​are strong In the strength that God has given.”
- From the song “O Church Arise”
​by Keith Getty
​

My Brothers and Sisters, the Spirit has put it on my heart to address the first, and perhaps most insidious, of the devil’s weapons that has been used against the church.  This is a weapon that many of the church, myself included, have fallen victim to over the years. It is my recommendation that if any reader has young, impressionable children that may read this address, to kindly keep this issue of Onward Christian Soldiers from their eyes until they have reached a proper age to understand the content of this issue. It is my belief that the only way to truly combat any weapon is to be able to talk plainly about said weapon in order to more logically understand and combat its intended devastating effects.  While this will not be a vulgar analysis, I will not overly censor the nature of the topic.   

That weapon which I wish to address is pornography.  This weapon is of supreme danger to the life of a Believer. At the present time, estimates suggest that between 60-80% of men in the church, across denominations, are struggling with some form of pornography addiction.  Pornography, as defined by dictionary.com, is “sexually explicit videos, photographs, writings, or the like, whose purpose is to elicit sexual arousal.”  At one time this material was relatively difficult to find in that it had to be purchased in physical copies from shops that had a social stigma already associated with them. However, the devil has developed this weapon to be much more potent as technology and the internet have made information so quick to procure and so easy to hide.  A person can be on a pornographic website within 10 seconds using their smartphone or computer, consume the content, and, when they are done, clear their search history, effectively removing the “evidence” of their activity. It enables a person to live a double life wherein they may live an outwardly positive life, but inside, they are being eaten up with this cancerous spirit. 

In recent years, pornography has taken a decidedly darker turn.  This new access to online pornography fuels a habit that is comparable to illicit drug use.  The brain pathways that excessive internet pornography use create are like those found in addicts of such drugs as methamphetamine.  These pathways, once formed, dull the mind to explicit images. This makes the porn-addicted mind seek out more violent and hardcore depictions of intercourse. A person who would have previously been greatly disturbed and disgusted by such images then becomes numb to the material. Pornography addiction creates severe and extreme bouts of depression, anxiety, loss of self-worth, and ultimately deep and dark feelings of loneliness. Additionally, this weapon is the greatest consumer of modern-day slavery and sex trafficking, which has resulted in there being more slaves in the U.S. than before the American Civil War. 

Obviously, to us as Christians, we should be concerned about this weapon. Those of you who are students and teachers in high schools or colleges around the world have seen the effects of this weapon on your classmates and students.  The loss of empathy, the illicit sexual relationships as people live out what pornography has programmed into them, in fact the complete inability to have healthy relationships is evidence of this weapon’s power. There is no doubt in my mind that it is one source of the growing LGBT sickness in the West.  It is the propaganda arm of the over-sexualization of our cultures.   

YOU MUST GUARD YOUR HEARTS! GUARD THE HEARTS OF YOUR CHILDREN!

The enemy is working as hard as he can to make sure that your children fall into the aim of this weapon. The average age of an American boy’s first exposure to pornography is roughly 6 years old.  Once this addiction is started it will take every ounce of strength to throw off its chains. The enemy will attack you with ever increasing bouts of depression, anxiety, and doubt. He will do everything he can to drive you back into the addiction.  But the situation is not hopeless my friends! There is good news from the battlefield!

Just two months ago, around the world, we came together to celebrate the birth of our Captain!  He is the one who has come to set the captives free. He is not only the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, but He is the Commander of Commanders and the General of Generals. He is the most intelligent, most seasoned, most proven Leader in history.  And, He is on our side! He has delivered us from the weapons of the enemy. Isaiah wrote these words: “’ No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,’ Says the LORD.” My friends, no matter how dark the night, no matter how fearsome the fire of the enemy, we are on the winning side!  No matter how loudly the devil yells in your ears, no matter how far down he drags you, you are never outside the reach of God.  You only need look up and pray. He will deliver you!
​

Seeking Help

*If you or someone you know is suffering from porn addiction, please find a good Christian Counselor or therapist in your area.  The Lord has equipped these people with wonderful talents and skills to destroy this addiction and heal your mind. You CANNOT do it alone.  I personally recommend Dr. James Dobson’s Counselor database at https://www.focusonthefamily.com/get-help/counseling-services-and-referrals/.  This is a very trusted and rock-solid Christian organization who will get you in touch with a good Christian counselor.​

E.J. COX

E.J. Cox earned his B.A. in Military History with a minor in American Indian Studies at The Ohio State University. His specific areas of study include the American Civil War, World War II, and the evolution of tactics and strategy.  He plans to achieve a Masters in Public Works History. He is also a Living Historian with both the 110th O.V.I Co. K and the 36th ID 143/1 Able Co.