Breaking Free from Lust: Healing, Shame, and Reclaiming a Beautiful Sexuality

Voxology

Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.8 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 27 February 2017

⏱️ 78 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How a biblical vision of sex—rooted in wholeness, beauty, and fundamental human goodness—offers hope for those struggling with pornography in a world of shame, silence, and secondhand smoke.

Mike Erre and Andy unpack a deeply personal, raw, and candid discussion on pornography addiction within modern Christian culture. This is not your typical "don't do it" sermon. Instead, the episode seeks to unmask the complex emotional, neurological, relational, and spiritual realities of living in what Mike calls a "pornified culture." Drawing from emotional honesty and extensive biblical teaching, Mike shares his lifelong struggle, the impact on his family, and the road toward healing, reformation, and freedom.

Key Takeaways: • The Pandemic of Porn and the Power of Shame – Why secrecy gives porn addiction its lasting power and how confession and truth-telling begin the path forward. • Secondhand Smoke of Lust Culture – How porn affects not just users, but society at large—objectification, shame, altered relationships, and decreased desire for healthy love. • A Theology of Sexuality – Reclaiming God's original intent for sexuality as something good, whole, and a reflection of divine intimacy, rooted in Genesis and Song of Songs. • Lust vs. Desire – Clarifying Jesus' teachings in Matthew on lust and coveting and differentiating healthy attraction from objectifying lust. • Neurological and Emotional Truth – Exploring modern brain science research that confirms Paul's teachings in Ephesians on the numbing power of lust and addiction. • Unnumbing from Addiction – Mike's personal tools for healing: confession, accountability practices, spiritual disciplines, joyful parenting, therapy, and choosing to "live up to the freedom you already have." • Sexuality and Spiritual Formation – Recognizing that lust is not simply a moral failing but a formation issue that must be addressed through new habits, new desires, and community.

Guest Highlights: Mike Erre – Teaching pastor and Voxology host shares with searing honesty his ongoing journey of struggle and growth with porn addiction, emphasizing grace over judgment and formation over fear.

Andy Laura – Contributes as a thoughtful millennial voice, reflecting on marriage, generational challenges, and the fallout of purity culture, while offering hope for a deeper, healthier view of sex and relationships.

Resources and References: • Ephesians 4:17–19 – Paul's teaching on the hardening of heart and loss of sensitivity as stages of addiction. • Genesis 1–3, Song of Songs – A foundation for understanding God's "very good" creation of sexuality and human desires. • Dallas Willard & Richard Foster – Insights on spiritual disciplines and the pursuit of formation, not perfection. • Covenant Eyes – covenanteyes.com – Tool for accountability software mentioned by Mike. • Sexual Addicts Anonymous – saa-recovery.org – Support groups based on the 12-step model. • Brain Studies Cited – Research on neuroplasticity, dopamine pathways, and addiction recovery.

Join the journey of reclaiming beauty, wholeness, and real freedom. Share this episode with a friend who might find it helpful. And help others find healing by subscribing, leaving a review, and following Voxology on social.

As always, we invite discussion as we pursue healing together. Send questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and connect on Facebook and Instagram.

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Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

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Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

Listen to our curated music on Voxology Radio (Spotify)

Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikeerre

Music by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, everybody, Mike and Andy here, Braia World Headquarters, Fox World Headquarters, I should say, in Braya, California.
0:17.2	We are so glad that you are tuning in today. A couple of things real quick.
0:22.2	We're recording this on, what is it, February 27th.
0:26.5	Yep.
0:27.0	To be released, February 27th.
0:29.1	So look at that.
0:30.1	Same day turnaround.
0:31.6	There was much sickness in the Erie household last week, much barfing.
0:37.0	And so to record here could have been a difficult challenge in the background.
0:44.5	Right.
0:45.5	I am at heavy risk sitting in this room right now.
0:48.5	I think you're okay.
0:49.5	I think you're okay.
0:50.5	Yeah, we slaughtered lambs at twilight and we think the angel of death has passed
0:58.1	over.
0:59.1	So we're not sure.
1:00.1	Oh, that explains the blood on the top of the door.
1:01.7	Yeah, exactly.
1:02.7	So a couple of things.
1:05.3	First of all, we have a live show coming up March 9th and downtown Full Fullerton a monkey business cafe and uh so we're
1:13.5	super excited about that that show has sold out um in uh in a couple of days so we're thrilled
1:21.1	um that you all want to be a part of it yeah and uh And, uh, and we're, very grateful.
	...

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