In this highlight video from a lecture on the effects of pornography on relationships, Jeff Logue, Ph.D. answers the question of whether someone should marry a person with a porn addiction . Dr. Logue makes the arguement that the answer to this question is no.
This question is an urgent one, given the importance of marriage and the pervasive problem that pornography has in our culture. Many women have been concerned about this problem and many more are sure to follow in their footsteps. I want to respond to this particular question in three ways: with a short answer, a long answer, and posing a more helpful consideration. As I walk through this material, this is for both men and women using porn.
First the short answer. There is a clear and concise response for a woman or a man wondering whether he or she should marry someone after discovering that they struggle with pornography. The answer is NO! He or she should not do it. Marriage is too important and exclusive to enter into a marriage with a man or woman who’s cultivating desires for someone beyond the one who they’re married to. The same is true for those approaching marriage. The need to be in a relationship with a man or woman who is cultivating exclusive desires for you is key. That is the short answer.
Next the long answer. The long answer still responds with, NO . You should not marry a man or woman who has an active problem with pornography. I want to elaborate on this response by explaining why it is wrong to marry such a man or woman.
Proverbs 6:32-33 states: “He who commits adultery lacks sense: he who does it destroys himself. He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away”
This passage does not mention the word pornography specifically; neither does any other verse in the Bible. But in Matthew 5:27, Jesus clearly explains that adultery is desiring a women to whom you are not married to. I will also add, the women who get lost in 50 Shades of Grey , or Magic Mike are just as wrong. When you grasp this fact, you understand that this passage in Proverbs is an incredible condemnation of the man or women you want to marry who has a problem with porn. He or she is a person who lacks sense. They destroy themselves. They will get wounds and dishonor. His disgrace will not be wiped away. How could you consider marrying into a situation like that?
I have talked with many women and men who try to make an argument for pursuing marriage with their boyfriend or girlfriend who has an ongoing struggle with pornography. They often point out the many good things about them and this problem with porn is only one slice of their life. Additionally many of these women express great confidence in the power of Jesus Christ to change their man and set them free from their problem.
As true as those realities are, you’ll say, “I do” to the man or woman who shows up on your wedding day, not to the man or woman you hope they will become afterwards. I am sure your significant other has many wonderful things about them and I know that Jesus can change all of them. However, the greater part of wisdom suggests to wait and allow Jesus to do some of that work before they get married. Some women and men get nervous because they are convinced that this is the person they need to marry. We need to allow the wisdom of Proverbs to cut through all of this confusion.
If you marry a person that Proverbs warns against, then you are allowing yourself to share in the promise of destruction, dishonor and disgrace that is coming to that person.
Here is a promise: the ache of singleness does not compare to the anguish I see in my office every week.
Being married to an adulator is awful. This doesn’t mean you have to marry a perfect person, or that you can’t marry someone who has struggled with it in the past. It does mean that you should only marry a person who is currently winning the battle, and has a track record of change.
In conclusion, I would like to pose what may be a more helpful consideration. It is important for a person to avoid marriage to another person who has a problem with pornography. But making that decision requires that they are aware that there is a problem. The reality is that it would be much better to marry a man or woman who is looking at porn and being honest about it, than to marry someone who is looking at porn and lying about it. That means a truly urgent matter for singles today is discovering if their significant other is struggling with pornography. You need to have a difficult conversation with your boyfriend or girlfriend. When it comes to the specific issues and his involvement with pornography you need to talk to him about it. For those of you who need help starting this discussion, I’d encourage you to read my blog on How to Talk to Someone about a Porn Addiction .
What do you think about this? Let us know in the comment section below.
Want more ThoughtHub content?
Join the 3000+ people who receive our newsletter.
Learn more about porn addiction:
- Dr. Logue’s full lecture on the “Effects of Pornography on Relationships”
- American Psychological Association – Is Pornography Addictive?
- How to Talk to Someone about Porn Addiction
- Focus on the Family – The Stages of Pornography Addiction
*ThoughtHub is provided by SAGU, a private Christian university offering more than 60 Christ-centered academic programs – associates, bachelor’s and master’s and doctorate degrees in liberal arts and bible and church ministries.