| Copyright 2005-2008 Dr. Jad Khalaf, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved |
| "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." II Timothy 2:15 |
| The Church Staff Member Involved In Pornography BY DR. JAD JAMAL KHALAF Pornography is an addiction, just as alcohol and drug abuse is. This staff member needs help even though he might not think so. I would approach the matter in an appropriate way. I would sit down with the church staff member and ask him is there anything that I could pray with him about. I would pose different subjects to him such as family needs, ministry needs, problems with areas in life, or something else that is bothering him. The staff member would have an opportunity to discuss whatever he would like to discuss. If the subject of pornography did not come up in the discussion, then I would come out and ask him about it. Immediately I would offer help to this individual and encourage him to seek the help. Before hand I would have obtained information that would be of help to the staff member. Christian counseling, special programs designed for addicts of pornography, and many other areas of help would be included in the list. I would then give him the information and tell him that the pastor is going to need to be aware of the situation at hand. Times could, and would probably, be arranged for the staff member to take time off from the church in order to seek the proper help needed. Pornography is a web in which a person can get caught into. Homosexuality is nothing to joke about or play around with. Sex with younger boys is definitely wrong. Issues such as these would be addressed in our meeting. At once the Internet would be disconnected from his office. Helping the staff member realize that he needs help could be quite difficult to do. Scripture would be read of how the Bible talks about not lusting after women, how Job said that he had made a covenant with his eyes that he would not look upon a maid, and how the body is the Temple of God. My heart would go out to this fellow staff member and to his family. I would discuss with him how precious his family is and how he is destroying the relationship in his marriage. At the same time, I would remind this fellow staff member that he is not alone in dealing with this issue. There are hundreds if not thousands of men struggling with addiction to Internet pornography and sinful web sites. I would keep reminding him of the love and grace that God offers to His children and how God forgives those who ask for forgiveness. Scripture would be read to the staff member to reassure him that God is there to help him every step of the way. Jesus said that He would never leave nor forsake His own. When David committed adultery, David had genuine repentance and God forgave him (Ps. 51). |
| Dr. Jad Khalaf |