How We Strip Off and Keep Off the Old Personality - OVERCOMING UNCLEAN PRACTICES

Uncleanness. The original Bible Word translated "uncleanness" is a broad form that includes much more than sexual sins.  It can refer to the harmful practice of smoking or the telling of obscene jokes.  (2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 5:3, 4) It also applies to unclean activities practiced by an individual in private, such as reading sexually stimulating books or viewing pornography, which may lead to the unclean habit of masturbation. -Colossians 3:5.

Those who habitually view pornography nurture "uncontrolled sexual passion," which may result in their becoming addicted to sex. Research indicates that individuals  who admitted to having an irresistible urge to watch pornography show the same signs as addiction as do alcoholics and drug addicts.   No wonder the practice of viewing pornography has harmful results-such as deep feelings of shame, low productivity in the workplace, unhappy family life, divorce, and suicide. On celebrating a year of being free of his addiction to pornography, one man wrote:  "I have restored a sense of personal integrity that was missing.  

For many, staying free from pornograhy is an ongoing  battle. Yet, as shown by what happened to Ribeiro from Brazil, this battle can be won. Ribeiro left hom when he was in his teens and in time began working in a paper-recycling plant, where  he was exposed to pornographic materials.  He relates:  "Slowly, I became addicted. It got so bad that I could not wait for women I was living with to leave the house so that I could watch pornographic videos." Then, one day at work, Ribeiro looked at pile of books that were to be recycled, and he noticed a book with the title The Secret of Family Happiness.  He picked it up from the pile and read it.  What he learned moved him to study the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses, but it took him a long time to break his bad habit. What helped him eventually?  He explains:  "Through prayer, Bible study, and meditation on what I learned, my appreciation of God's qualities increased until my love for Jehovah became stronger than my desire for pornography." Helped by the power of God's Word and his holy spirit, Ribeiro stripped off  his  old personality. got baptized, and now serves as a congregation elder.

Notice that Ribeiro had to do more than simply study the Bible to succeed in his struggle.  He had to take time to allow the Bible's message to touch his heart. By prayer and meditation, his love for God overpowered the craving for pornography.  Developing a strong love for Jehovah and a hatred for what is bad is the best way to stay free from pornography. -Read Psalm 97:10. 

Next time: How We Strip Off and Keep Off the Old Personality - PUT AWAY ANGER, ABUSIVE SPEECH, AND LYING


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