The Battle Against Lust, it's the topic this week and the topic of many weeks before.

And one of the most dominant themes in the history of our podcast, as you can see in the new APJ book.

There's a time to defeat lust at the root with the cross and that's the theme that we're going

to pick up next time but first there's a time to confront patterns of lust in others.

That's today, and this heartbreaking email from a surprised wife.

Hello, Pastor John, my husband and I are both believers,

married for decades with a great marriage in solid relationship.

Or so I thought.

He never gave me any reason for doubt.

He's an elder in our local church.

We've raised four children together, all happily happily married and serving the Lord in

different capacities. But I recently discovered on his phone that he reads

erotica. Fictional stories filled with explicit sexual content. It's not

visual images or video, not porn in the traditional sense, but

lurid descriptions and written prose. It was very disturbing to me. He's a well-respected

businessman of integrity, so discovering this dark secret is disturbing and discouraging.

How sinful is this genre? Should I confront him with it?

I love him dearly, and he has been a very dedicated and loving husband. with it is

I love him dearly and he has been a very dedicated and loving husband and I don't want to jeopardize

my relationship with him.

It is seriously sinful and you should definitely confront your husband with this.

And if he thinks it is insignificant and does not compromise his role as a church leader, then you should encourage him to share this with his fellow leaders,

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