One Monday morning, I was out visiting churches promoting a ministry. My pattern was to stop in, hang out, and leave materials behind. I remember pulling into one church’s parking lot and seeing a car parked near the office doors. I walked up, but the doors were locked. I knocked and then noticed another set of doors nearby. I walked up to those doors, and sure enough, they were unlocked. I entered into this wonderful fellowship hall still set up from children’s ministry activities the day before. As I turned, I saw a shocked pastor in his 60s desperately trying to turn off the porn playing on the television. This same TV that was probably used the day before to display Bible stories for children was now being used to fulfill a pastor's dark fantasy.

Unfortunately, what this pastor was doing is not uncommon. I wish it were. Men and women around the world are increasingly growing addicted to pornography, and pastors are not exempt. They, too, are people with fleshly desires who must choose daily to walk by the Spirit and not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal 5:16). Yet, all too often, they fall prey to this sin.

I’ve counseled many pastors over the years. While the struggle again lust is common, these pastors seem to slip into bondage because they keep their sin hidden. They are afraid because they feel they have so much to lose. Should their sin become public, they jeopardize their reputation, marriage, and career. Many of these men have little to no experience outside the pastorate and possess few marketable degrees or skills. They are scared, torn, and addicted. They continue to fight sinful lust through fallen “willpower” in solitude versus relying on Christ’s community and incorporating wise principles.

I often ask these men how long they have been trying to walk in victory and freedom from this sin. For many, the answer involves years, if not decades. I remind them that we cannot continue in the same environment with same tactics and expect a different result. Pride is often the enemy that keeps pastors and church leaders bound in this sin. These pastors have a distorted understanding of the victory God has provided and think they should not need help from others. They think if they just try harder, they will be victorious next time. The lack of transparency, humility, community, and Spirit dependency is all too evident. The truth is that God designed us to live in wisdom and community in fighting the enemy.

In serving these pastors, I help lead them through a 5-step process for experiencing and maintaining victory. For our purposes here, I want to share only step two. I want to address the pastor who knows and believes in the power of the gospel, but feels isolated and trapped. I also want those of us who are walking in victory to think about the fact that we need to begin to talk to our fellow pastors about this addictive sin. Many of them are secretly struggling and are afraid to admit it. We need to create an environment that allows for others to step into the light and begin to repent and heal.

Step two of the process I utilize is “Commit to Freedom.” Commitment is hard because it involves confession and action. An easy way to think about this step is to follow the ABCs.

Please note, what follows is not a guide for leaders to deal with a pastor they have caught in sin. These points are a guide for pastors who are willingly presenting themselves to others out of a personal conviction and a desire to walk in holiness. Also, what follows is incredibly abbreviated for the purposes of this post.

Admit a problem.

We need to confess our sin (James 5:16a), but more than that, we need to admit that we have a perpetual problem with this specific sin. This point acknowledges a struggle and problem. It is a cry for help and a commit to change. This confession isn’t solely so the confessor can feel better because someone else knows. No, it is confession for the sake of change and accountability. It is a repentant confession that refuses to conduct business as usual and wants to cherish Christ more than anything else, even the preservation of a job. This admission must be with someone who can provide accountability and structure. Some leaders near the pastor must be involved.

Begin accountability.

Remember, the goal is change. The goal is to break the cycle and live out the righteousness of Jesus. That being said, we must also remember that God has designed us to walk in spiritual community. The community of God is designed to restrain sin and restore sinners (Gal 6:1–2; Heb 10:24–25; Jms 5:19–20). Establish accountability that cannot be circumvented. For example, get software on church computers that tracks websites with the understanding that if a church computer is ever used to explore and elicit site, specific consequences will be enforced. Establish regular meetings with someone who will ask explicit questions to include flirtation, attitudes, and fantasy. Get a group to fast and pray together for victory at set times.

Cut off access.

Part of being a godly person is not only resisting temptation, but avoiding temptation altogether. It is interesting that Jesus challenges us to pray, whereby, we ask the Father to “lead us not into temptation” (Matt 6:13a). Part of this plea is a desire to avoid temptation altogether. Where there is no opportunity, temptation vanishes. If that’s true, then remove the opportunity. For example, get rid of cable and internet. Get a flip phone. Get rid of the computer. Ministry can be run without all of these things. Will it be hard? Absolutely, but following Jesus is often hard, and these restrictions are part of the consequences of our proneness to a particular sin.

Most ministers with whom I work are quick to fulfill points A (Admit) and B (Begin); however, few are broken enough to begin point three (Cut), and I’ve never, let me repeat, I’ve never worked with a minister who sustained faithfulness in this area without point three. May God give us the strength to walk in his righteousness for his glory until the Day of the Lord is fully revealed!