As I’ve been speaking to men around the country, I’ve noticed a glaring difference in generations of men.
My generation, the 40+ generation, has dealt with pornography addiction by keeping secrets, shunning the spotlight, and not talking to anyone about it. This probably comes from our parents being so secretive and embarrassed when talking about sex. Our parents generation was the one that looked down upon divorcees, tried to ignore homosexuality, and simply believed that you needed to just try harder or pray harder to overcome your struggles.
The younger generation of today has grown up being saturated with sexual things. Homosexuality is openly discussed and even promoted as a part of normal society. Are there any shows on TV today that don’t have at least one person dealing with homosexual behavior or relationships? This generation knows a lot about sex. It’s in everything they see and it’s always in front of them. They see examples everyday about what culture says is “okay” in sexual relationships. When you talk to these “younger folks” they are ready and willing to talk about sexual topics and the challenges they bring. They are not embarrassed to talk about it like my generation. Yet, they still don’t know what to do when things get out of control. There is a lot of “sex talk” in their world, but very little help in nurturing a healthy sexual relationship and life. Where do they turn?
If they turn to today’s culture, or pornography, they will quickly become a victim of a destructive and self-harming lifestyle. Out-of-control is often the phrase I hear to describe how quickly they go from a little experimentation to full-blown addiction.
We must provide examples, guidance and tools for each generation to fight and win the battle against the cultural pressure to simply “join the crowd.” The saddest thing I hear is “everybody is doing it,” or “it doesn’t hurt anyone.” Joining the crowd and not taking a stand leads to destruction. Would anyone want their children to try everything that is offered in today’s world?
Stand strong, fight the fight, and win the battle.
Generational Differences
As I’ve been speaking to men around the country, I’ve noticed a glaring difference in generations of men.
My generation, the 40+ generation, has dealt with pornography addiction by keeping secrets, shunning the spotlight, and not talking to anyone about it. This probably comes from our parents being so secretive and embarrassed when talking about sex. Our parents generation was the one that looked down upon divorcees, tried to ignore homosexuality, and simply believed that you needed to just try harder or pray harder to overcome your struggles.
The younger generation of today has grown up being saturated with sexual things. Homosexuality is openly discussed and even promoted as a part of normal society. Are there any shows on TV today that don’t have at least one person dealing with homosexual behavior or relationships? This generation knows a lot about sex. It’s in everything they see and it’s always in front of them. They see examples everyday about what culture says is “okay” in sexual relationships. When you talk to these “younger folks” they are ready and willing to talk about sexual topics and the challenges they bring. They are not embarrassed to talk about it like my generation. Yet, they still don’t know what to do when things get out of control. There is a lot of “sex talk” in their world, but very little help in nurturing a healthy sexual relationship and life. Where do they turn?
If they turn to today’s culture, or pornography, they will quickly become a victim of a destructive and self-harming lifestyle. Out-of-control is often the phrase I hear to describe how quickly they go from a little experimentation to full-blown addiction.
We must provide examples, guidance and tools for each generation to fight and win the battle against the cultural pressure to simply “join the crowd.” The saddest thing I hear is “everybody is doing it,” or “it doesn’t hurt anyone.” Joining the crowd and not taking a stand leads to destruction. Would anyone want their children to try everything that is offered in today’s world?
Stand strong, fight the fight, and win the battle.