Dan,

I tend to agree with you that lust is a heart problem. However, the Word of God also directs, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” While filters can be defeated, they often aid in the process of resisting. Defeating the filter is an additional step that a guy would need to take to satisfy his lust but maybe in the process of doing so he comes to grip with the wickedness in his own heart in wanting to defeat the filter. Perhaps these few seconds of rational thought are all he needs to turn away. I speak from experience.

However, my comment was not about filtering, but accountability software which blocks nothing and allows complete freedom about where one goes online.

What you said about wrestling through the sin, falling and then getting back up again, the process of true godly healing, is exactly what our software is all about. It recognizes this process for sanctification and then introduces the God-given means of relationships in the body of Christ as one of His means of transformation.

For many of our software users, the software is merely a tool that enhances their relationships in the body. One of the important elements of repentance and healing is confession and resubmitting one’s life to the authority of the community of Christ.

The Holy Spirit is the only One who transforms the heart. I agree. However, the Spirit uses several means to put His finger on the sin in our hearts, to bring about conviction and thus lead us to repentance. One of those means is the body of Christ. This is what accountability software is all about: a means of confession and mutual vulnerability in the body.

I wrote some about this in a recent blog post: http://www.covenanteyes.com/bl.....on-part-2/

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The problem with all forms of filters is that they miss the underlying problem: the heart.

Accountability is one thing, but it is also overblown. In many ways, it is a man-centered solution to what is a spiritual problem. No doubt that accountability can help, but it doesn’t fix the ultimate issue.

We can’t filter sin. It doesn’t work. Either we are changed by the Spirit so that sin is less tempting or we go from failure to failure. People who rely on filters will find ways around them. This is especially true of people who seek out pornography. Filters don’t stop that part of people that seeks out sin (and people who think they are surfing anonymously are deluded). Only one means exists to combat that seeking, and it’s not a man-made solution.

Here’s a curious thought: what if wrestling through the sin, falling and then getting back up again, is part of the process of true godly healing, a healing that gets stymied by introducing filters? Which is worse, the person who stumbles from time to time but ultimately comes to grips with the stumblingblock, or the person who filters all sin, but then continues to cherish it inside? (The former knows he is not safe, while the latter convinces himself—wrongly—that he is.) It’s a question many are not willing to ask.

No filter can take the place of a Spirit-transformed heart. That’s what we need.

Add to these the “triple-A” engine of Internet porn: accessibility, affordability, and anonymity. Many researchers agree that these three factors make cybersex a formidable temptation.

Have you ever heard of Covenant Eyes accountability software. I work for the ministry. We’ve created a unique software tool that helps to take away the ‘A’ of Anonymity and replace it with accountability. Our software emails detailed reports of someone’s Internet surfing activity to their accountability partners. This takes away the allure of secrecy and brings our sins “into the light.” It has helped tens of thousands of people all over the world really break free and find authenticity in their accountability relationships.

I see you have wide readership on your blog, so if you are interested in helping us out in the cause of fighting Internet porn temptations, I’d love to send you a link or a banner for our minsitry to put on your blog. Or if you want, I’d love to send you some free brochures. Covenant Eyes could also financially partner with you if you like. We have an affiliate program that enables us to give back to the ministries that promote our software. Let me know if you are interested!

Thanks for the helpful blog posts!

Luke Gilkerson
Internet Community Manager
Covenant Eyes