Although evangelicals have been involved in self-help groups for several years, “sexual recovery ministries,” appear to be striking a strong chord among such believers.
The Los Angeles Times (March 30) reports that a “small but growing number of evangelical and Pentecostal churches across the U.S. are starting sexual recovery ministries” for those addicted to pornography and prostitution. Although most churches are uncomfortable with admitting that their members could be addicted to pornography, “anecdotal reports suggest that growing numbers of church members and pastors are being ensnared by addiction to pornography, in large part because they can easily access it anonymously on their computers,” writes Larry Stammer.
For instance, the evangelical men’s ministry Promise Keepers reports that one out of three men who attended its conferences in 1996 admitted that they struggle with pornography. Several programs have been launched to deal with sexual addiction in evangelical churches over the years and most of them are reporting upswings in interest. They include Pure Desire, RSA (Renewal from Sexual Addictions), and the Minneapolis-based Faithful and True.
These programs are similar to secular sexual addiction self-help groups except for the Christ-centered dimension and the “biblical model” that one can be healed of this problem — a belief that is criticized by psychotherapists who hold that an addict is always recovering but never cured.