Tim exposes the lies and deceptions of porn, inviting us to be free, and showing how this can be achieved.
You long to be free but ...
Pornography has reached epidemic proportions. And in God's eyes porn is ugly. 'Unbearably ugly,' says Tim Chester, 'but for the grace of God.'
In the New Testament Paul warns, 'Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness but rather expose them.' Tim Chester points the reader to something infinitely better, something that captivates without causing shame, remorse or embarrassment: the glory and beauty of Christ. We are made to be satisfied with God alone, and told to avoid the sin that hinders our relationship with him.
Tim exposes the lies and deceptions of porn, inviting us to be fully free, and showing positively and practically how this can be possible in daily life.
We can be captured by a better vision.
Foreword by Lyndon Bowring
Introduction: Let’s talk about porn
1. Looking beyond the frame
2. Freed by the beauty of God
3. Freed by the grace of God
4. The fight of faith
5. Freed for the glory of God
Conclusion: Putting it all together
| Contributors | Tim Chester |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781844744350 |
| Format | Paperback |
| First published | March 2010 |
| Dimensions | 138mm x 215mm x 14mm |
| Weight | 0.20 kg |
| Print size | 10.0pt |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 176 |
| Publisher | IVP |
'Fantastic practical and realistic help... I highly commend this timely book.'
- Carl Beech
'A lifeline for those who feel trapped... A message of grace, strength and hope.'
- Ian Coffey
'Will rescue many a marriage and restore many a man to a place where purity and passion coexist in biblical relationship.'
- Steve Gaukroger
Tim Chester is Christ-centred and practical in his writings, and this is no exception.
I found the book clear, really helpful, and wide-ranging. It is particularly great in doing what the title says--helping us by giving us a glorious vision of God and his generous kindness to us.
I have no hesitation recommending this book.
Tim has tackled a subject which too many of us are prepared to sweep under the carpet. He considers the importance of the Christian's relationship with Christ and how the internet and the pornography industry can form a barrier (often seen as unbreakable) between the believer and the Lord.
The book is thought provoking, challenging and honest (it pulls no punches) and will be a great blessing to those who struggle with this issue or those who are trying to help and support the many who do.
It would be good to hear Tim cover this matter in a conference scenario.
I don't quite know how to review this book.
I am familiar with Tim Chester's writings explaining passages from the Bible in the quarterly Explore magazine. I know that the subjects of sexual immorality and pornography appear in passing those writings and when I discovered that he had written an entire book on the subject, I was intrigued.
I would be a liar if I were to say that I have never owned pornographic material or looked at it on the computer but I would never consider myself to be 'in thrall' to it. From a secular perspective, I would say that excessive porn use would indicate frustrations within one's marital relationship and for single people, it emphasises loneliness i.e. its a bit 'sad'. With this in mind, it would seem healthy to avoid porn as much as possible.
Tim Chester says all this and much more in the book. He tells about the fakery of porn, the corruption of the industry and the insidious hold it has on users. He is uncompromising in stating that porn use is adultery of the heart and is as much an act of betrayal as any actual physical act of adultery. He provides statistics indicating the size of the problem as he sees it and shows that people who are avowedly Christian are likely to be as prone to use pornography as anyone else.
Rather than simply telling people to avoid using porn, Tim Chester asks his readers to embrace a Christian life in full so that the sheer beauty, scale and completeness of God's creation provides a fuller and more glorious experience than porn could ever do. I feel that this book has expanded my religious faith and understanding is many ways completely unrelated to a simple avoidance of pornography and for that, I am extremely grateful.
Tim Chester quotes G K Chesterton, "Every time a man knocks on the door of a brothel, he is is calling on God". It suggests (to me anyway) that in the depths of sin and despair the path to righteousness may begin.
