Guys, this is where we start getting down to some of the nitty-gritty issues of being a man.
I mentioned at the beginning of this blog that there is a book that was popular a few years back that talked about men's issues. I also mentioned that it didn't go deep enough for me. This is where we start going deeper.
I found out a short time back that a man I know lost his wife. It was over online porn. He was addicted to it.
Since the advent of the Internet, this scenario is being played out in greater and greater abundance. It is a problem that is not going away.
This is not being written to condemn any man for getting hooked on this because it can be a powerful addiction. The reason it can be so powerful is because of the way men are wired.
Men are wired in such a way that seeing something seductive or sensual can produce the hormone, testosterone, in their systems. Women are not wired this way and don't understand what a man experiences when testosterone starts surging through their veins and arteries.
Women produce testosterone, but not nearly as much as men. Men produce up to TEN TIMES the amount of testosterone that a woman produces.
God gave this to men in order to keep the race going. Seeing and reacting to beauty and, yes, even sensuality, is what keeps the human race alive and well on planet earth.
Here is the rub... it was intended to create and keep marriages alive and together. But it was never intended for men to use wantonly. It is a way to shake men out of their business-as-usual mode and go, "Wowser!" when they spot a potential mate. It opens the door for them to pursue and attempt to further that relationship.
However, it was never intended for men to revel in wanton lust. Once again, testosterone will kick in when viewing something men deem to be sensual. And if a man is not wary, they will find themselves addicted to a hormone that was originally intended to bring a couple together and continue to stoke that fire throughout their lives.
It was through the original fall of man that this got corrupted - that men would allow themselves to search for and seek out sensuality via inappropriate means.
Jesus' words give us a clear view on why a man should seek to control himself in this area...
"But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28 - NIV).
Being visually attracted to a woman is one thing. Reveling in it is another. I heard a wise man once say, "It's not wrong to have your buttons pushed. It's what you do with the signal that matters."
Let's get honest here, guys. In what way or ways do you struggle with visual lust? Are you married or unmarried? How do you deal with the problem of keeping yourself free from being corrupted by visual lust?
As always, I invite your comments below.
I mentioned at the beginning of this blog that there is a book that was popular a few years back that talked about men's issues. I also mentioned that it didn't go deep enough for me. This is where we start going deeper.
I found out a short time back that a man I know lost his wife. It was over online porn. He was addicted to it.
Since the advent of the Internet, this scenario is being played out in greater and greater abundance. It is a problem that is not going away.
This is not being written to condemn any man for getting hooked on this because it can be a powerful addiction. The reason it can be so powerful is because of the way men are wired.
Men are wired in such a way that seeing something seductive or sensual can produce the hormone, testosterone, in their systems. Women are not wired this way and don't understand what a man experiences when testosterone starts surging through their veins and arteries.
Women produce testosterone, but not nearly as much as men. Men produce up to TEN TIMES the amount of testosterone that a woman produces.
God gave this to men in order to keep the race going. Seeing and reacting to beauty and, yes, even sensuality, is what keeps the human race alive and well on planet earth.
Here is the rub... it was intended to create and keep marriages alive and together. But it was never intended for men to use wantonly. It is a way to shake men out of their business-as-usual mode and go, "Wowser!" when they spot a potential mate. It opens the door for them to pursue and attempt to further that relationship.
However, it was never intended for men to revel in wanton lust. Once again, testosterone will kick in when viewing something men deem to be sensual. And if a man is not wary, they will find themselves addicted to a hormone that was originally intended to bring a couple together and continue to stoke that fire throughout their lives.
It was through the original fall of man that this got corrupted - that men would allow themselves to search for and seek out sensuality via inappropriate means.
Jesus' words give us a clear view on why a man should seek to control himself in this area...
"But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28 - NIV).
Being visually attracted to a woman is one thing. Reveling in it is another. I heard a wise man once say, "It's not wrong to have your buttons pushed. It's what you do with the signal that matters."
Let's get honest here, guys. In what way or ways do you struggle with visual lust? Are you married or unmarried? How do you deal with the problem of keeping yourself free from being corrupted by visual lust?
As always, I invite your comments below.
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