www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Jesus Loves Porn Stars?

http://www.abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2116990&page=2

This group ( Porn Ministry [xxxchurch.com] - don't worry, it is not a porn site) attempts to reach pornography industry professionals (and addicts) with the Gospel.

But is it taking the "target market" concept of the Christian message too far? (Especially by labelling the Bible in that way.... Of course, one could argue that "The Message" is NOT the Bible!) Or is it a form (however extreme) of spiritual accomodation necessary to reach a growing segment of the population? Or is there another way?

I personally love seeing news reports on the nuns that live in Las Vegas and reach out to the prostitutes there. God love 'em! It's like Abram braving Sodom to extract his nephew Lot and his family. Nuns in habits are an eschatalogical icon of the body transfigured in Christ, covered as they are by His resurrectional garment. What a witness!

Pornography addiction is a challenge for the church at large, especially for men who make up its greatest consumers. It makes you wish these guys were exposed (no pun intended) to the world of the Theology of the Body. Handing out bibles is one thing - giving them an interpretive hermeneutic for the whole of Christian redemption is quite another.

Any thoughts?

Gordo

I think the cover of that Bible crosses the line. It's one thing to reach out to others where they are; but this seems to almost descend to (and approve of) their level of sin.

-- John

John,

I agree. I think the assumption is that the "Bible alone" is the source of evangelization. As a result, by "carpet bombing" the porn conventions with Bibles, the thought is -"Hey! We're evangelizing!" But to me, the Bible is first and foremost the revealed, written Word of God. It is "sacramental", not "snackramental"!

I will give them credit for trying to do something for a needy population. Perhaps they should hand out an abridged version of St. Augustine's Confessions?

My sense is that if they wanted to print a book with that title that encourages porn stars (and addicts) to consider a truly alternative lifestyle (namely a Christian one), by all means!

So Jesus does indeed love porn stars, but He loves them too much to let them stay that way.

Gordo

Of course, Jesus Christ loves all and died that all would come to him. We also know that all will not come to him despite his self-sacrificial death on the cross.

These sorts of ministries are problematic because the individuals have not expressed any desire to repent. That repentance is the basis for a relationship with God. To wit: Mary of Egypt, who during her professional career would have put the prostitutes of Las Vegas to shame according to the ancient accounts of her unreserved and public wantoness (she even worked for free), first came to repentance before the Lord really ministered to her.

For the record, you will recall that in the account in Genesis, Abram/Abraham absolutely went nowhere near Sodom and Gommorah.

The Lord, who was visiting with Abraham and Sarah with his two angels, sent these two angels (messengers) who were also human men (tas andres - masculine) to talk sense to righteous Lot and his family prior to God's torching of the place.

The point is that we are not to relate to these individuals in the abovementioned industry as "brothers in the faith" who have somehow strayed on a doctrinal point or issue of Church discipline, but as the very spiritually sick perpetrators and victims that they are. They are in need of rescue, not "fellowship" in the normal Christian sense of the word.

I write with fourteen years of work in urban social service, including three years at Covenant House with the homeless teens, most of whom revealed histories of sexual abuse/prostitution (is there really a difference?). It is a very long recovery and it only happens if one consciously chooses it.

In parallel, it would not surprise me in the least were a sign given that Las Vegas were about to be torched and that all decent folk should get out of town.

In Christ,
Andrew

Not to discount these people's sincerity, but it seems to me that they are simply trying to make some Tax-free money. Two "former pornstars" were interviewed on FOX News (go figure!) by Neil Cavuto during sweeps last February, they seemed a little ditzy and still unchanged in their ways (they may have stopped doing porn, but their clothing was less than appropriate for a 'ministry'). They also said that so far all they have done is go to porn conventions and strip clubs but no one has yet been "saved" by their methods. So what are they asking donations for? They want to go to porn events on other people's money?

That website is not an amateur effort either, that site looks very very professional and EXPENSIVE. Where is that money coming from?

I have heard that pornography is the worst addiction imaginable. Once someone starts watching it, they can't stop because it always pops up in their mind. These boys and men are really victims in a way of our promiscuous society....as are so many others.

Zenovia

Agreed, Zenovia. They are victims of mega-industry ("Big Porn") that rakes in the billions. Porn is bigger than ever, thanks now to delivery vehicles such as the internet and cable/satelite TV. (With two teenage boys, it is one of the reasons I subscribe to neither...we don't even have a TV that works! Just a neutered screen where we can watch our family DVD's...commercial free!)

In one sense I see Andrew and Mar Thoma's points. But bear in mind that these guys are NOT just reaching out to members of the porn industry...often they are trying to minister to and appeal to Christian men and women! Just look at their website...

The problem is that the cure for pornography is much more difficult without the spiritual means given to Christ's Church (Mysteries of Repentance and Eucharist, iconography and Divine Liturgy, the writings of the Church Fathers, etc etc). That is not to say that it is impossible! Sacred Scripture is key, but the bible is an ecclesial/liturgical book and so it is taken out of context, out of the historical witness of the Church.

I disagree with Andrew's approach somewhat. If taken to an extreme, then we should just abandon these souls to eternal damnation - until they decide to repent. I have heard stories about suicides and drug abuse in this industry. These people live in shame. that is one of the reasons why I admire those Las Vegas nuns so much - they are there to help restore these women - the strippers and the prostitutes - to a higher state. They were once someone's daughter, sister, cousin, brother, son, etc etc.

I was in Roppongi which is a part of Tokyo a few weeks back and was approached by a prostitute, no doubt "owned" by the Nigerians "underworld" which is omni-present in Tokyo. (I think that is where our diamond mine e-mails find their origin!) This poor woman came up to me as I exited a bar after a farewell party for a colleague. I made the mistake of walking alone back to my hotel, and she targetted me immediately - a youngish American man alone on the streets of Tokyo. She looked like the most innocent thirty-something you could ever meet. A nice white cotton shirt, jeans, tennis shoes...her eyes looked very tired. She came to me and said "Are you lonely? Do you want companionship?" I could see her Nigerian handler less than a half a block away. I told her no - and went to leave. She followed me and got in front of me again. "Are you lonely? You want companionship?" I looked at her again, and felt myself getting emotional - here was a Japanese woman, probably from one of the agrarian sections of Japan, stuck on the streets with a Nigerian leash around her neck. Under the pressure of the moment, I said - "No, please, thank you. God bless you." and walked off. I'll never forget her face.

As I walked home, I thought about St. Maximilian Kolbe's love for Japan, and his devotion to the Miraculous Medal. I think I may carry a MM in my pocket - probably in a smallish plastic bag with a 500 Yen coin and an explanation of the MM, as well as the adddress of the Franciscan Chapel in Roppongi. I still get emotional when I think about this poor woman.

I can recall the story of Francis Schaeffer, the founder of L'Abri http://www.labri.org/ who was out on the streets of Europe wih a few of his collaborators doing evangelization. The story goes that while on the street with his companions, he was approached by a prostitute. "How much?" he asked. His companions were shocked. Here was one of the great modern "fathers" of evangelicalism, apparently interested in a prostitute for the night! She quoted him a price. "No - higher. how much?" She looked stunned and she quoted him a higher price. "No - higher. How much are you worth?" She seemed amazed thinking she had a big spender on her hands here, so she asked him, "How much do you think I am worth?" Francis Schaeffer smiled and said, "You are worth so much that God in His love sent His only Son to earth to become a man and die on the cross for your sins and mine. You are of inifinte value to God." And he then preceded to evangelize her and she was converted.

I love that story.

Gordo

Hi all,
I got to see these men, and their wives, speak at a youth rally several years ago. It was great to hear about what they were trying to do.
I don't remember all the details of their talks or their testimonies but they were passionate about reaching the individuals trapped in the porn industry. They have seen a need and are responding as best they know how. They have heard God saying "I came to seek and save the lost" and "just as the Father sent me, I am sending you." They feel that they have been called to fill a gap and reach out to people that they can, in some way, identify with.
They are trying to get even a sliver of light into the lives of those trapped in sin. That's how they came across to me. I could be wrong.

Also, I probably shouldn't say anything about this but I think I have to, the Word of God is just that, the Word of God. That is how you reach people. The starting point is to get a Bible(one that is orthodox in translation, which I don't know if theirs is)into people's hands. You can't just leave them with it, but the Word of God works on people's hearts whether or not they are immediately catechized. God will protect them;His light will reach their hearts; He will bring people into their lives to show them the way they should go, if they are truly seeking God. He will not abandon them to darkness if they are seeking Him. I think that getting a Bible into their hands is a vital first step. I learned to love the Bible as the incorruptable, living, True word of God as a result of my upbringing(protestant for those who don't know). That has not changed in the last year. I have seen the simple act of giving someone a bible start a 180 degree turn for people.
The point I'm trying to make here is that,yes there must be theologically orthodox teaching and interpretation, that what the Church is for, but without an oppurtunity to read the Bible there is no way that people will come to understand. God gave us His word for a reason. I don't know that I agree with all that XXX Church believes but I do think that they are doing admirable work.
In the love of Christ,
Sarah

Zenovia, what makes you think that these addicts are all boys and men as you say? I have known quite a few women that were just as addicted. Like every other addiction it is there to try and fill a void that society can't. That IS the reason Christ is sooo important. He fills the void.

Here's a Catholic Ministry for those afflicted with pornography addiction:

http://www.pornnomore.com/index.html