This past Saturday our Men’s Breakfast dealt with an issue that often goes under-discussed–purity in a sex saturated society.

Our goal was to put the topic on the table for discussion.  To remove some of the secrecy and allow men to develop positive accountability to walk faithfully and in purity before the Lord.  Our theme verse was

2 Timothy 2:22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (ESV)

We emphasized three parts
Flee–run away from temptation (don’t try to fight with it, flee from it)
Pursue–run to the Lord in righteousness, faith, love and peace
With–run with others who are also calling on the Lord from a pure heart

The internet has made pornography and sensual material available in a way that makes us think we can access it anonymously without cost or consequences.  But immorality is not a victimless act.

It is also true that, like many other sins, escaping the clutches of sexual addiction (even when rationalizing away the addiction) requires the help of others.  Accountability with honest men is critically important.  We want to create safe, but not comfortable environments.  Environments where it is expected that individuals will share struggles without condemnation–but also with the promise that we will walk together, we won’t abandon someone to their struggle.

I hope that this first discussion on a broad scale will allow us as a church and men individually to continue to address the issue.  We had many young men, some with their fathers–so my prayer is that Dads will lead well.

Here are some of the resources we recommended 

Reading

Every Man’s Battle by Steve Arterburn and Fred Stoeker
The Purity Principle by Randy Alcorn
Measure of the Man by Gene Getz
Rebuilding Your Broken World by Gordon MacDonald, also Ordering Your Private World
God up Close by Doug McIntosh

Movie

Fireproof    (and the book The Love Dare)

Website

http://www.everymansbattle.com/
http://www.calvarychurch.org/177312.ihtml

Events

Men at the Cross, September 11-12, 2009

External accountability

Accountability groups (Calvary’s Faithful and True group, plus other small groups)
K9 web filtering
OpenDNS.org
X3watch.com

Resources for accountability groups

http://www.maninthemirror.org/biblestudy/register.htm
http://www.menatthecross.org