David Powlison

This pamphlet by Pennsylvania psychiatrist and biblical counselor David Powlison is less of a guide to battling pornography than it is a personal testament against the evils of masturbation. Entirely in the format of an interview transcript between Powlison and "Bob", the reader is led through a confessional of Bob's life-long struggle with the sins of impure thought and choking the chicken, and how he overcame these urges by realizing that his selfish drives were unfair to God. There are show more references to Bob's attraction to dirty magazines and films, but never in the volume or usage that would indicate any kind of real addiction to pornographic materials. Odds are it was decided that a work published for distribution among religious circles couldn't really have such an unseemly word like "masturbation" plastered across the cover.

In fact, when Bob does talk about his need for pornography, he often does so in a way that would probably seem humorous to somebody with a real pornography problem. "I was constantly on the prowl for images," confesses Bob, referring to himself as a "sexual predator" for having impure thoughts of women he would see in public, and despite having never "committed fornication or adultery," states that he has "committed some terrible sins."

To even a casual reader, it becomes readily apparent that Bob - if he is a real person and not just a fictitious amalgam created by the author - has some serious issues that transcend spanking the monkey while fantasizing about the cashier at Target. He insists that he "began to struggle with sexuality from puberty onward," which in many ways describes puberty in itself. He although claims to have endangered his soul with his addiction to masturbation and pornography, yet says that "masturbation wasn't that frequent," and that he would sometimes "go six months between indulgences in pornography," which, if Bob is a fictional character, seems like the author's ham-fisted way of implying that even casual or moderate flounder-pounding can be the sign of a soul-crippling deviant lifestyle.

Bob's confessions get even more bizarre. Stressing over the "seductive, predatory mode" he is living his life in, Bob asks himself at one point where all of this yanking the crank might lead. "Would I commit adultery if I had the opportunity? Would I go on to molest children? Would I get aroused homosexually?" Not only does this seem naive and illogical, but it also feels like a lame attempt by the author to somehow link clearing the snorkel with pedophilia and - GASP! - gay sex. And notice how homosexual tendencies top pedophilia on Bob's rising list of immoral consequences? Interesting, to say the least.

Bob later makes allusions to his abstinence from buffing the banana resulting in him being less abusive to his wife, and casual drops the bombshell about "an incident when I was molested by a baby sitter," with no explanation or follow-up by either him or his psychiatrist/counselor interviewer, as if this couldn't possibly be an indication of deeply-rooted psychological issues more serious than the occasional urge to play pocket pinball, or going to church and letting your eyes "sweep over the 'singles row.'" (They segregate unmarried people in church?)

The nail in the coffin for reason or logic comes in the last paragraph, in which Bob recalls a friend once telling him that "Indulging in pornography is like getting a fix of cocaine or some other drug." If Bob's experiences with stroke mags and flogging the log are the same as drug addiction, I don't see any reason not to go out and get "a fix of cocaine" this afternoon. I'm sure Powlison meant this to be a serious diatribe against the sins of Onan, but unless you're as deluded or confused as "Bob" appears to be, the result is a rather humorous example of how hard it can be to turn something as inherently and genetically natural as jerkin' the gherkin into a debilitating corruption of your immortal soul. show less

Powlison splits his book into two parts. Part 1 focuses on how Scripture opens blind eyes and part 2 on reinterpreting life. In part 1, Powlison largely exposits Scripture and spends significant chunk of time in Ephesians, drawing out counseling implications from the gold mine of truths found in this letter. I found part 2 was extremely good and worth the price of the book. It may seem a little dated from 2003, but his interaction with contemporary psychological theories is exceptional. show more Powlison brings a keen eye to these man made philosophies that propose solutions for the problems people face. His critique on the love languages in chapter 14 is exceptional along with nearly every other chapter in section 2. The belief systems he interacts with have only grown in prominence since 2003, with others adding to the eclectic mix since then as well. The present age is a therapeutic playground. Powlison helps lead and guide the reader through the mix of psychological jargon and therapeutic cures with a Scriptural road map. His analysis not only debunks the myths, but he turns to Scripture for a deeper analysis of the human condition. show less

A very personal and I would also say insightful book on suffering from a Christian perspective. A lot of underlinings in this one. Here just two quotes - a short and a long one.

There is inevitably an aloneness in suffering because no one can fully enter another’s experience. Each person knows “the affliction of his own heart” (1 Kings 8:38; cf. Prov. 14:10).

I cannot express how often God’s creation proved sustaining, refreshing, and sanctifying. In all seasons and weathers I went show more outside and walked. I noticed the flight of a goldfinch, snow on the stones in the brook, a field of white dogwoods in bloom, a thunderstorm rising in the west, maple leaves like fire in the fall. I was repeatedly drawn out onto a bigger stage than my troubles. I would pray my need and my gratitude out loud while walking. Theologians who limit the means of grace to overtly redemptive religious practices miss something about the God who speaks without words in the theater of his creation. show less

This is particularly addressed to pastors and counselors, and is especially challenging "the solution to everything is to cast out a demon" attitude, to put it bluntly -- but it's relevant to all Christians.

I liked his quick exposition of the spiritual armour in Ephesians 6. I'd only a few days before made the connection to Isaiah, where Paul pulls most of that imagery from. I would have liked to see more of it.

The last chapter talking about his own battle with cancer, and how he was using show more the weapons of spiritual warfare (the promises of God in Christ via the means of grace) was very powerful.

However there was something that didn't click for me when reading this, I'm not really sure what it is. I appreciate how short it was, but because I maybe wasn't the intended audience he insisted too much on things I already agreed with.

Would recommend, but not as a standout read. show less