My wife and I don’t watch television all that much except for our favorite shows like Last Man Standing for me, and The X-files for her. But the one thing we do watch together is New Jersey Devils ice hockey. Being from New Jersey, my father took me to many games along with his best friend, “Uncle” Rick, and I started following them roughly around the time they first came to New Jersey on October 5, 1982. We even got married on the 20th anniversary of the team. Great memories over the years that I will always cherish.
With watching games on television come the commercials, with most of them centered around sports betting. I’ve witnessed several young men get sucked into that lifestyle in my short time in Gam anon. It really bit into these young men’s souls and had a hold of them even more than video games. But a commercial for a certain sports gambling app put in place blockers and safeguards to keep a person getting “addicted” to sports betting.
Could Porn Blockers Be Hurting Men and Women?
This got me thinking — Is technology helping or hurting men and women when blocking certain actions to safeguard from addiction? Does preventing temptation actually limit what we need to learn in order to triumph over our sinful flesh? Keeping people from viewing pornography is fantastic, and I would even love that porn be eliminated on an Internet Service Provider (ISP) level. But, on the other hand, I also think that temptation can get a bad rap and are some positive aspects to it when viewed in a positive light.
“Whaaaaat? Temptation gets a bad rap?” Yes, I agree that sounds horrible, and I’m not suggesting that temptation is good at all. But, are there things that temptation can teach us about ourselves in a step towards being free from “the sin that so easily ensnares us and run with endurance the race before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith?” (Hebrews 12:1)
Personal growth
Overcoming temptation can lead to a stronger sense of self-control and discipline. Each time you resist, you build resilience and confidence in your ability to make choices aligned with your values. With that said, ask yourself this question: “What lessons am I learning when I get a porn blocker to eliminate images I don’t want from coming in my computer, phone, or television set?” Well, nothing really because if you never have the opportunity to experience this frustration, are you really overcoming it because this technology stops it at the source?
Life lessons
Dealing with temptation can teach you valuable life lessons about balance, moderation, and how to manage your impulses. It can also make your victories feel more meaningful when you successfully navigate it without a crutch. The wins are more frequent, and the time between giving into temptation becomes longer. In time, it changes your thinking, your mindset, and before you know it, it’s been months since giving in.
Most of my temptation comes from food. In previous years when I would go to the grocery or convenience store, I almost always bought something for myself. A donut here, a hot chocolate there. It had a hold on me. Casey’s General Store app was the worst because I was scoring more points for junk food from the junk food I was purchasing. Now that I am concentrating on health, fitness, and paying attention to my macro’s, I’m more invested and want to succeed.
Seeing the triggers of temptation coming and taking steps to defeat it is one of the utmost and necessary skills needed today. Oh, what did the Apostle Paul do to avoid temptation without an app to help him?
Understanding and empathy
People who experience temptation are better able to empathize with others facing similar struggles. This can lead to stronger relationships and better support systems, especially when dealing with like temptations and sins. The Bible specifically says this about Jesus Christ.
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV
Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses because even though He was fully God (Hebrews 1:4-14) He was also fully man (Hebrews 2:5-18), yet did not give into temptation. We can come boldly to the throne of His grace in time when we need the Holy Spirit to help us overcome the battle. He is a High Priest that is both omnipotent and compassionate; not unapproachable and cold. We can come constantly in confidence without reservation. Praise God!
You cannot practice self-control
With blocking sexually explicit content at the source, you cannot experience the temptation therefore never learn the self-control to overcome those temptations.
Yes, self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, not gift of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). David Guzik does an accurate job in classifying the difference between the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh:
“Fruit has several important characteristics:
- Fruit isn’t achieved by working, but is birthed in abiding.
- Fruit is fragile.
- Fruit reproduces itself.
- Fruit is attractive.
- Fruit nourishes.”1
The “Fruit of the Spirit” are the qualities that are to be manifested in each believer. Therefore, if you are a believer, these qualities will manifest themselves naturally as we abide in Christ. But, I find that as a person can be a natural-born singer, they would contend that they still need to practice singing—so would a person with the Spirit of God want to practice self-control. Those who have no self-control could use that as a warning light indicating something is not right in their walk with God.
Look at temptations as markers or testing points to see how you are doing and to adjust your self-control tactics to overcome the next time you are tempted with something. If you do fall and give in to the temptation, repent and examine why and what you could do next time those feelings arise.
I Had to Cut Some Things Off at the Source
Now, I am for sure not against cutting things off at the source with things we are tempted to sin. When it came to video game addiction I was consumed with it. I ultimately had to eliminate it completely from my life. I couldn’t hack it. I tried and failed many times. I wound up selling my gaming systems and games, and those that didn’t sell I just destroyed. It was either it or me, and I would not be the man I am today if I had just kept going. I gained way more in the Lord’s blessings than my wins of controlling light on a television screen.
If you need the app to keep you pure, so be it. It’s better than plucking out your right eye or cutting off your right hand, and most definitely better than your whole body to be cast into hell (Matthew 5:27-30).
Even though we have the Spirit of the Living God dwelling within us as believers, we still sin because we are tempted to sin. We are still living in these sinful bodies of flesh. But, let us learn from temptation along with the Holy Spirit’s guidance to one day be free while we are here.
- Guzik, David. “Study Guide for Galatians 5.” Blue Letter Bible. 6/2022. Web. 2 Feb, 2026. https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/galatians/galatians-5.cfm. ↩︎
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