Be Careful Little Eyes

📖 8 Minute Read

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 ESV)

If you attended VBS or church camp growing up, you may have heard these lines as made popular by the 1944 hymn from Harry Dixon Loes Oh, be careful, little eyes what you see:

Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see,
Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear,
Oh, be careful, little tongue, what you say,
Oh, be careful, little hands, what you do,
Oh, be careful, little feet, where you go,
There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love

It probably isn’t hard to understand why the composer encouraged listeners to be careful what they saw, heard, said, did, or where they went. Although the song was probably intended for children, the reminder which finds its roots in Scripture, is one we must carefully and prayerfully heed. Although our topic is specific and focused in this devotion, we are reminded of the importance of the content we consume as it impacts how we think, what we say, and what we do (see Philippians 4:8).

I’ve felt led for some time to begin a Biblical conversation that I hope evokes careful prayer, confession, repentance, and humility around an ever growing poison in our society: Pornography. It is probable that I may have just lost some of you… this topic can elicit strong emotions ranging from disgust to shame and all points in between. It has been said: Where the Bible speaks, we speak. Where the Bible is silent, we are silent. I think you’ll agree as we conclude, the Bible is most definitely not silent on this destructive sin.

Before we dive into some Scriptures and finish with some next steps or application, I want you to know two main reasons for this post: First, porn is a very real and growing problem, even among men and women in the Church. Second, porn is not harmless, it is destructive spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Let me provide a few stats and scientific observations to help you see what I mean. Research about porn use in the Church indicates:

1. Over half of practicing Christians report consuming pornography in some form.
2. 75% of Christian men and 40% of Christian women report viewing pornography.
3. Pornography use is associated with lower mental health, increased shame, guilt, anxiety, and isolation.
4. Pornography consumption increases the marital infidelity rate by more than 300%.
5. 84% of pornography users say no one is helping them avoid pornography.
6. 67% of pastors report a personal history with pornography, and nearly 1 in 5 say it is a current struggle.
7. Only about 10% of churches offer programs or support for people struggling with pornography.
8. The average first exposure to pornography happens around ages 11–12.
9. 70% of youth pastors report ministering to teenagers dealing with pornography in the last year.
10. 62% of Christians believe someone can regularly consume pornography and still live a sexually healthy life.

It doesn’t take a theologian, a neuroscientist, or an expert to begin to see the alarming reality: Porn is a plague that affects the church in alarming and increasingly deadly ways. In addition to the stats, one may wonder: Besides the clear Biblical prohibition, does porn consumption have any documented adverse impact? Neuroscience research shows these mental and emotional impacts:

• Dopamine Dysregulation: Pornography triggers repeated dopamine surges in the brain’s reward system, similar to other addictive behaviors. Over time, the brain may require greater stimulation to achieve the same level of pleasure.
• Desensitization: Repeated exposure can reduce responsiveness to sexual stimuli and natural rewards, leading users to seek more novel or extreme content.
• Hypofrontality (Reduced Executive Function): Excessive pornography use has been associated with decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for impulse control, decision-making, and self-regulation.
• Compulsive Behavior Patterns: Brain scans show similarities between compulsive pornography use and behavioral addictions, including altered reward processing and craving pathways.
• Impaired Reward Circuitry: Frequent pornography consumption may alter the brain’s reward system, making everyday activities less satisfying.
• Increased Cue Reactivity: Pornography users often develop heightened sensitivity to sexual cues, resulting in stronger cravings and increased difficulty resisting temptation.
• Reduced Gray Matter Volume: Some neuroimaging studies have found associations between heavy pornography use and reduced gray matter volume in regions linked to reward processing.
• Weakened Neural Connections for Self-Control: Research suggests diminished connectivity between the reward system and executive control regions, potentially making self-regulation more difficult.
• Conditioned Sexual Arousal: The brain can become conditioned to digital stimulation, novelty, and specific pornography-related cues, potentially affecting real-life intimacy and sexual function.
• Neuroplastic Changes: Repeated pornography consumption reinforces neural pathways associated with pornography use, making the habit more automatic and deeply ingrained over time.

Now that we’ve established a clear statistical baseline and considered some important mental and emotion impacts, we need to consider what the Scripture clearly reveals. Society at large has increasingly tried to take the holy, God-given gift of sex and make it about anything but the reason it was gifted to humanity. We are beginning to clearly see the impacts on our American society specifically and civilization as a whole generally as culture continues to try and redefine, reject, or ignore God’s clear teaching concerning this topic.

Scripture tells us this: Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. (1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV) Because words matter, we must understand clearly what the Bible defines as sexual immorality. The word translated sexual immorality is the Greek porneia (where we get our word pornography from). Strong’s defines this word like this: unwedded stimulation or fulfillment of sexual desire. If I could simplify it practically, sexual immorality is any time or any way we engage in sexual activity outside of God’s design as revealed in the Scripture. God gifted sex as a spiritual and physical act of intimacy to be enjoyed by a husband and wife in the bonds of marriage.

In other places in the New Testament we are called to fight sin and temptation. Concerning sexual immorality, we are commanded to flee! Although it is true that all sin is sin and the wages of any sin is death, sexual immorality is especially destructive. Those who practice sexual immorality first and foremost misuse and abuse a gift from God. Secondly, they engage in immorality at the cost of someone created in the image of God. Sexual immorality, even pornography use, is adultery and a clear betrayal of the marriage covenant (see Matthew 5:28).

Pornography, and sexual immorality in general, can destroy marriages, families, ministries, and our lives. We cannot view this as something all men do when the Bible clearly tells us it has no place in the lives of the redeemed. Paul admonishes us this way: But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. (Ephesians 5:3 NIV) As born-again believers, we are called to walk in holiness in such a way that there is not even a hint of sexual immorality in our lives.

Because the average age of pornography exposure happens around ages 11-12, there is an entire generation of kids from Christian homes that are increasingly being exposed. The late pastor and author Voddie Baucham once remarked: “Don’t be surprised when you send your children to Cesar for their education and they come home as Romans.” Scripture reminds us of our parental obligation to equip, educate, train, and support our children this way: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4 ESV) We must take an active role in Biblically educating our children concerning sexual immorality and pornography or their friends, classmates, or the world will.

The stats, the science, and most importantly the Scripture are clear: Pornography consumption is not only immoral, sinful, and evil, it is destructive. So… how in the world can we as a Church help the 84% of those struggling with porn get the spiritual help they desperately need? Here are a few things to prayerfully consider as you move forward:

• Pray – If you are the one struggling or the one helping someone who is, cry out for wisdom, grace, strength, and God’s help (see James 1:5)
• Confess – If you are struggling with porn, no matter how infrequent, find a trustworthy brother or sister to confess to and seek accountability and help (see James 5:16)*
• Repent – Repentance means you agree with God that He is right, your actions (or thoughts) contrary to the Scripture are wrong, and you turn from your sin and to Christ (see 1 John 1:9)
• Equip – Equipping ourselves and our families with the God breathed Scriptures ensures teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness is a ongoing area of personal devotion and discipleship (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• Abide – Spend time with Jesus regularly and in His Word. Without God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s help, no one who struggles with pornography will experience lasting victory in this area. In Christ, we can and must walk in sexual integrity (see John 15:4-5 and John 8:31-32)

*Men should always and only have men as accountability partners and women should always and only have women as accountability partners.

As you reflect on what to do next, remember the promise of Scripture: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 ESV) No matter what has happened in your life up to this point, in Christ there is hope! Jesus brings us true freedom (see John 8:36) and because of our new life in Him we can learn to walk in Christ honoring holiness and hope.

If you or someone you know are actively struggling with porn or sexual immorality, you can check out Every Young Man’s Battle or Every Young Woman’s Battle for additional insights to consider on your journey.

References:

Stats on pornography use in the Church (Generated from ChatGPT)

1. Barna Research – Beyond the Porn Phenomenon
   https://www.barna.com/trends/over-half-of-practicing-christians-admit-they-use-pornography/
2. Covenant Eyes Porn Statistics
   https://www.covenanteyes.com/pornstats/
3. Pure Desire Ministries Research Summary
   https://puredesire.org/resources/blog/the-latest-stats-on-pornography-and-why-they-matter/
4. Porn in the Church Research PDF
   https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d921dcfc019be7cd58b00d7/t/5d953f7dfb61de027b08147d/1570062205814/Porn%2Bin%2BThe%2BChurch.pdf
5. Christianity Today – Pornography Use Among Christians Study
   https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/09/pornography-use-christians-study-barna-research-pure-desire-ministries/
6. Barna – The Church’s Role in Addressing Pornography
   https://www.barna.com/research/address-porn-use/
7. Align Life Ministries – Christian Youth Culture Statistics
   https://alignlifeministries.org/christian-youth-culture-statistics/
8. Baptist Press / BRNow – Porn Use Grows Among Christians
   https://www.brnow.org/news/porn-use-grows-among-christians-study-says-urging-church-to-offer-healing/

Scientific insights about pornography use (Generated from ChatGPT)

1. Brain Structure and Functional Connectivity Associated With Pornography Consumption (JAMA Psychiatry, Kühn & Gallinat, 2014)
   https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/1874574
2. PubMed Abstract – Brain Structure and Functional Connectivity Associated With Pornography Consumption
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24871202/
3. Neuroscience of Internet Pornography Addiction: A Review and Update (Love et al., 2015)
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4600144/
4. PubMed Abstract – Neuroscience of Internet Pornography Addiction: A Review and Update
   https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26393658/
5. Online Porn Addiction: What We Know and What We Don’t—A Systematic Review (2019)
   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6352245/
6. Brain Activity in Sex Addiction Mirrors That of Drug Addiction (University of Cambridge)
   https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/brain-activity-in-sex-addiction-mirrors-that-of-drug-addiction
7. Max Planck Institute: Viewers of Pornography Have a Smaller Reward System
   https://www.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/press-releases/pornography-is-a-social-taboo
8. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience: The Impact of Internet Pornography Addiction on Brain Function (2025)
   https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1477914/full
9. Surgical Neurology International: Pornography Addiction—A Neuroscience Perspective
   https://surgicalneurologyint.com/surgicalint-articles/pornography-addiction-a-neuroscience-perspective/
10. National Center on Sexual Exploitation Research Spotlight: The Brain on Porn
    https://endsexualexploitation.org/articles/research-spotlight/the-brain-on-porn/