Andy Sochor’s review of Hard Core: Defeating Sexual Temptation with a Superior Satisfaction:
Jason Hardin’s new book, Hard Core: Defeating Sexual Temptation with a Superior Satisfaction, deals with the problem of pornography and its impact upon those who view it. One who questions just how much our society, families, and even churches have been infected by pornography needs only to read chapter four to be impressed with the statistics. The numbers are staggering. This problem cannot be ignored.
Jason does a good job of dealing with this uncomfortable subject. One thing I particularly liked about the book is that he correctly identifies pornography as a symptom of a larger problem. We all understand that pornography is wrong. We know lust is a sin. So why are these sins still committed by those who understand these things? The problem, as Jason identifies it, is that we allow other things to take precedence over our relationship with and allegiance to God. As he puts it, “we prefer other things, other people, and other pleasures more than we prefer God” (p.75). If we honor God as we should, and are busy doing the things that are pleasing to Him, we would not get caught up in this sort of thing.
Another appropriate reminder in the book is that we must “count the cost” of our actions. Jason spends one chapter on a long list of consequences he would have to face in his own life if he were to become involved with pornography. If we count the cost and see what that would be in our own lives, our list, in a lot of ways, would be very similar to his. We need to have our priorities straight so that we can clearly see the irreparable damage that will be done in our lives and the lives of those we love. Whatever “benefits” there may be for this sin (and Satan tries to convince us there are benefits to this), they are nothing compared to the good that comes from following God and His way.
In addition to the material contained in the book, there are also questions at the end of each chapter that help us focus on self-evaluation and developing a clearer understanding as to why pornography is such a problem and what we can do about it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling to overcome an addiction to pornography. I would also recommend it to those who are not for two reasons: one, to be better equipped to help those who are, and two, to be encouraged not to fall into this trap. The Lord’s church has lost too many to the devil through this sin. We cannot afford to lose any more.
Click here for more info on Hard Core: Defeating Sexual Temptation with a Superior Satisfaction.