Craig Gross is the founder of xxxChurch, a Christian ministry seeking to minister to those caught up in sexual addiction and pornography.  They have been around a while now, and, as far as I can tell, do good work.  When I saw on Twitter that this book was available for $1.99, I decided to check it out.

While Eyes of Integrity does not offer any groundbreaking new insights that differ from other Christian works on the topic, I think it is one of the better resources available.  This is primarily due to Gross’ extensive work in this ministry and the ministry’s numerous encounters with those caught up in sexual addictions or the sex industry.  Particularly moving and helpful were the many stories and comments Gross provides from folks who have posted on their website.  These were painful to hear, but convicting, as they put a human face on a serious and epidemic problem.

Gross’ advice, again, is not new, but that is because the way out, while difficult, is really not a mystery:  deep, sincere repentance before God, true accountability, honesty, transparency, and a return to God’s view of human sexuality and, indeed, of human beings.  In unpacking these elements, Gross does offer numerous practical and helpful ideas.

No, the way out is not a mystery, but it can be an excruciating process for those caught in addiction.  This is where the personal stories that Gross provides are most helpful.  They bring a powerful and often emotional look at real people who have had to work through the realities of porn addiction and the havoc it brings.

Porn is a massive problem in the United States, which Gross illustrates most helpfully.

Today pornography is a 57-billion-dollar, worldwide industry, making more than the combined revenues of all the professional football, baseball, and basketball teams in America. Porn revenue in the United States (12 billion dollars) exceeds the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC (6.2 billion dollars), and, disgustingly enough, child pornography alone generates 3 billion dollars annually. In 2005 national online data polling estimated that one out of every ten websites is pornographic. Twenty percent of men admitted to looking at online porn while at work, while far more admit to using it in the privacy of their homes. (Kindle Locations 151-155)

And again:

According to a Wharton study:

The common wisdom is that pornographic material is the dirty secret of the Internet, accounting for vast amounts of traffic and enormous revenues. Jupiter Media Metrix, a company which tracks Internet usage, found that 30 million different users visited adult sites in March, accounting for 33.8 percent of all people who used the world wide web, according to media development coordinator Kumar Rao.

One study reported that 72 percent of those who dabble in porn are men and 28 percent are women. This study also found that more than 220 million dollars was spent at fee-based sites in 2001, up from 148 million dollars in 1999. By 2005 the number was up to an estimated 320 million dollars. (Kindle Locations 161-167)

This is sobering but gives a helpful insight into the extent of the problem.  Because of the pervasiveness of the problem, it is important that we have effective tools for helping people see the issues so they might exit this devastating world.  To that end, I’d like to recommend Gross’ book.  This would be a tremendous work to give to somebody who is struggling or to have men’s or women’s groups work through and discuss.