Porn Addiction and the Church

Porn Addiction, the Church, and the Path to Healing

Faithful & True Podcast Transcript (Legacy Series)

Dustin Daniels:

Depending on the statistics you look at, somewhere between 30 and 40 percent of pastors, ministers, and priests have viewed pornography in the past 30 days. At the same time, nearly 70 percent of clergy have no online accountability in place. That tells us something important—we don’t just have a small issue. We have a significant problem, and it’s one that God takes very seriously.

For me, my role is actually pretty simple. I’m here to tell my story and to say to others, “If you want help, we’re here to help you.” Because when you look at John 5, Jesus asks a powerful question: “Do you want to get well?” He asks this of a man who had been stuck for years, unable to move forward. And when the man responds with excuses, Jesus doesn’t engage the excuses—He simply says, “Get up.” That same question is still being asked of us today, especially in the areas of sex addiction and porn addiction. Do you want to get well?

Randy Evert (Co-Host):

Welcome to the Faithful & True Podcast. I’m Randy Evert, your co-host. Today we’re featuring a legacy presentation with the late Dr. Mark Laaser and our special guest, Dustin Daniels—now Dr. Dustin Daniels. This is a conversation many of you have been looking forward to, as we continue exploring issues that deeply impact individuals, marriages, and churches—particularly sex addiction, porn addiction, betrayal trauma, marriage recovery, and the possibility of posttraumatic growth.

Dr. Mark Laaser:

Dustin, one of the things that stands out about your story is how honest you are about your past. You’ve talked about failure in marriage, struggles with addiction, and the ways those experiences shaped you. And yet, what we also see is transformation.

There’s something important here. In both life and faith, we often find that God shapes character through failure, through discouragement, and even through addiction. Many men who struggle with sex addiction or porn addiction carry deep shame and guilt. They believe those struggles disqualify them. But what we see time and time again is that God uses those very experiences to form something new.

Dustin Daniels:

That’s exactly right. When people hear my story, they often say, “Wow, you were really messed up.” And honestly, they’re not wrong. I was. But what I’ve learned over years of recovery is that transformation doesn’t come from trying harder—it comes from obedience. It comes from listening to God and responding when He leads.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that God works over time. We live in a culture that wants instant change. We want to confess something and have everything immediately restored. But that’s not how healing works, especially in marriage recovery after betrayal trauma. When truth comes out, it can feel like an emotional shockwave. The person confessing may feel relief, but their spouse is just beginning the journey of healing. And that process takes time—sometimes years.

Dr. Mark Laaser:

That’s such an important point. Truth-telling is necessary, but it doesn’t instantly repair the damage. In fact, in many cases, it begins the deeper work. For couples navigating betrayal trauma, the path forward includes rebuilding trust slowly and intentionally. It involves consistency, honesty, and patience.

And for the spouses who are listening—especially those who feel overwhelmed or hopeless—we want to say this clearly: there is hope. Even though it may feel impossible right now, healing is possible. Through consistent recovery work, spiritual growth, and support, relationships can be rebuilt. Men who once struggled with porn addiction or sex addiction can become more present, more honest, and more connected than they’ve ever been before.

Dustin Daniels:

Before recovery, I didn’t know how to deal with pain. I ran from it. I ran from relationships, from responsibility, and ultimately from myself. That’s a pattern we see often in addiction—running from discomfort and trying to cope through behavior. But eventually, that running leads to isolation.

There came a point in my life where I found myself completely alone. And in that space, I had to face a difficult question: who am I, really? That’s where the real work began. That’s where healing started—not by avoiding the pain, but by finally turning toward it.

Dr. Mark Laaser:

And that’s where understanding becomes so important. Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with me?” we begin asking, “What happened to me?” We begin to explore the deeper layers—core beliefs, attachment wounds, emotional pain—that often drive addictive behavior. Because sex addiction and porn addiction are not just about behavior. They are about deeper needs, deeper wounds, and deeper longings.

Randy Evert:

This also connects to a much larger issue—the role of the church. Dustin, you’ve been very clear that pornography is not just an individual struggle. It’s something that is deeply affecting the church as a whole.

Dustin Daniels:

Absolutely. We often say that pornography is the silent epidemic in the church. And if the church doesn’t address it, it risks becoming ineffective in the next generation. The reality is that many leaders themselves are struggling with porn addiction or sexual secrecy. And when that’s the case, it becomes incredibly difficult to lead others into freedom.

But what’s even more concerning is that many pastors have never been trained to deal with these issues. They haven’t been equipped to understand sex addiction, betrayal trauma, or compulsive behavior. So when someone comes to them for help, they may not know how to respond.

Dr. Mark Laaser:

That’s something we’ve seen consistently. Many pastors have received little to no training in this area. And so part of the solution is not expecting them to have all the answers, but helping them recognize the problem and connect people to resources.

In many ways, this issue has been described as the “pink elephant in the pew.” It’s present, it’s widespread, but it’s rarely talked about. And yet, silence is what allows shame to grow.

Dustin Daniels:

That’s exactly right. Silence gives shame its power. But when even one person is willing to speak honestly about their struggle, it creates space for others to do the same. Stories have a unique power to bring healing. When someone shares their journey—from brokenness to recovery—it creates connection, it builds hope, and it opens the door for others to step forward.

Dr. Mark Laaser:

And that’s where the church has an incredible opportunity. It can become a place not of secrecy, but of honesty. Not of shame, but of healing. But that requires courage. It requires leaders and individuals who are willing to acknowledge the reality of sexual brokenness and take meaningful steps toward change.

Dustin Daniels:

At the end of the day, the invitation is simple. Jesus still asks the same question: “Do you want to get well?” Not, “Do you have it all figured out?” Not, “Are you ready?” But simply, “Do you want healing?”

Because if the answer is yes, then there is help. There is hope. And there is a path forward.

Closing – Randy Evert:

Thank you for joining us on the Faithful & True Podcast. We invite you to visit faithfulandtrue.com where you’ll find resources to support your journey—whether you are navigating sex addiction, porn addiction, betrayal trauma, or seeking marriage recovery and posttraumatic growth.

As you move forward this week, we hope you carry this truth with you:

Healing begins with honesty, grows through connection, and is sustained by hope.