Overcome Porn: The 40 Day ChallengeSample

Greek mythology tells about the Sirens, mythical seductresses of the sea. They are divine beings with voices that can enchant any sailor. Stories describe their “siren song” as beautiful music that compulsively lures sailors to their destruction on the rocks. 

Sirens are a great analogy for pornography, its addictive nature, and its destructive results. 

Homer’s Odyssey tells of the adventures of Odysseus, who is warned of the danger of the Sirens. Odysseus plugs the ears of his fellow sailors with wax so they will be unaffected by the seductive music. But because he wants the pleasure of hearing the Sirens, he commands his men to bind him half-way up the mast of the ship, standing upright. He tells them further, “If I beg and pray you to set me free, then bind me more tightly still.”

Odysseus is overcome by the song and demands that he be set free, but his men bind him with stronger ropes until they are out of the Sirens’ range. Disaster is averted.

Apollonius of Rhodes also writes about the Sirens in The Voyage of the Argo. Unlike Odysseus, the sailors here have no ropes and no wax for their ears. All is lost until the legendary musician Orpheus pulls out his stringed lyre and begins to play. His music overwhelms the voice of the Sirens, as the sailors’ ears are filled with Orpheus’ tune, and the ship sails by the island without incident.

Reflection

When you come within range of the siren song of lust, what kind of accountability will you rely on? 

On one hand, you might be more like Odysseus: accountability is about finding friends who will bind you with stronger ropes. You want others who will help you set personal boundaries and rules for yourself. You want someone you can call in the middle of the night during a tempting situation. You want to be accountable for your behavior (Gal. 6:1-5, Jd. 1:22-23).

On the other hand, you may want people like Orpheus who can help you get to the heart of your internal motivations. These are friends who hold you accountable to believing God’s promises, which are more delightful than anything pornography can deliver. These people hold you accountable for your heartfelt beliefs (1 Thess. 5:11-18).

In truth, we need accountability for both our behaviors and beliefs.