Christians for Sexual Integrity is a ministry helping people to repent of sexual impurity. According to research published in 2007, sixty percent of all website visits are sexual in nature; 50 percent of all "Christian men" and 20 percent of "Christian women" are addicted to pornography and nine out of 10 children between eight and sixteen have viewed pornography. (In most cases, sites were unintentionally visited through innocent sounding words searches that revealed pornographic result).*
I Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” For those struggling with sexual sin, Satan has gotten us to believe that this verse is not true. That we are somehow unique. For many years of my life, I did not believe it. Habitual sexual sin in its many forms - sex outside of marriage, self-gratification, pornography use, and even lust carries with it a deep sense of shame and spiritually devastating consequences.
What is wrong with me? Why do I turn to such an embarrassing, humiliating, demoralizing sin? These are the questions reverberating through the mind of the sexual struggler. I must be the only person with these issues. A little more than four years ago, I too felt this way. I was living a double life and completely miserable. At any sign of trouble in my life, I would run toward sin. It wasn't until my life was on the brink of total loss before I decided to look seriously for help.
God led me to the Sexual Integrity ministry in the Chicago Church of Christ. When I arrived at my first meeting I found many brothers with whom I could relate. As I listened to them share their lives, struggles and efforts to overcome the sexual sin, I felt completely at home. These guys knew where I had been. I saw men striving to get free from habitual sin and I wanted in.
Over the past four and a half years, I have had the privilege to share my story with many men. I almost always find someone who relates to my struggle. One of the main tenets of the Christians for Sexual Integrity (CSI) Ministry is learning how to build pure, vulnerable, godly relationships. Sexual sin is the result of not being good at building these kinds of relationships. The desire to love and be loved is our greatest need; yet, the work to create true emotional intimacy is a risky endeavor. At its core, building relationships requires us to risk being misunderstood or rejected. This proposition is so difficult that many of us settle for the cheap imitation. Satan's version of love - lust - robs us of all that is absolutely great about godly relationships. In full effect, lust leaves us completely isolated. That was where my lust had taken me - to the brink of absolute loneliness at the prospect of losing my marriage, and perhaps my relationship with God too.
The CSI is a ministry that focuses on helping men, women and their spouses recover from sexual sin. The core principle of the group is learning to build godly relationships with one another. This is accomplished through many activities, such as complete openness, learning about sexual sin and God's plan for purity, and participating in daily relationships with others. When we learn to be vulnerable about what we have done in our darkest moments as well as revealing our sinful thoughts, motivations, and temptations, we begin to experience relationships at a depth that brings healing. For more information about the CSI ministry contact Matt Schwarz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 952-237-8084.
Click here >>> for a related article written from a wife's perspective
*Statistics taken from “The Drug of the New Millenium, the brain science behind Internet pornography use.” Mark B. Kastleman, 2007.
Matt Schwartz
Additional Resources from Disciples Today
Building a A Pure Marriage - Book from DT Media Shop >>>
Additional articles
http://www.dtodayarchive.org/content/view/1547/44/
http://www.dtodayarchive.org/content/view/2697/240/
http://www.dtodayarchive.org/content/view/2315/240/
http://www.dtodayarchive.org/content/view/2314/240/