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Hard Core: Defeating Sexual Temptation with a Superior Satisfaction
So many—men and women included—are being slaughtered in their struggle with sexual sin. Individual lives, marriages, children, influences for good, ministries of gospel preachers, and entire congregations of the Lord’s people are being seriously impacted. It is commendable for us to sing, “Soldiers of Christ arise.” But if we sing those words, then proceed to ignore where the battle is being lost, the devastation will only continue to grow.
If we are going to win this battle, we must strike at the root of the problem. We must sound the call for righteous warfare. We must dedicate ourselves to hardcore holiness and fight sexual temptation with a superior satisfaction.
If we are going to win this battle, we must strike at the root of the problem. We must sound the call for righteous warfare. We must dedicate ourselves to hardcore holiness and fight sexual temptation with a superior satisfaction.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 29, 2019
A great read for overcoming any temptation.
This books confronts the reader to truly face the serious nature of not only sexual sin, but all sin. Then, uses God’s Word to effectively arms the reader to overcome it.
This books confronts the reader to truly face the serious nature of not only sexual sin, but all sin. Then, uses God’s Word to effectively arms the reader to overcome it.
July 28, 2016
Did you know that the adult entertainment industry brings in more money each year than the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball combined? Did you also know that 70% of American men aged 18-34 view Internet pornography at least once a month? And did you know that even though the Bible doesn’t use the word “pornography,” it does deal with the subject? “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). In Hard Core, described as “a straightforward little book about an uncomfortable topic,” Jason Hardin applies scriptural principles to help people who are tempted by today’s sex-saturated culture. The author is a gospel preacher, married with three daughters, the son and grandson of gospel preachers. I have met him, but I know his parents well as I went to college with them and preached regularly with a congregation where his maternal grandparents and many of their family attended. He is also the author of Boot Camp, the first volume in the IMAGE series of books for men.
The fifteen short chapters of Hard Core strike at the root of the problem, unashamedly examine God’s boundaries, call sin sin, sound the call for righteous warfare, and encourage us to be steadfast and immovable as we dedicate ourselves to hard-core holiness and fighting sexual temptation with a superior satisfaction. Since most of the chapters have discussion questions, the book would be great for a men’s Bible class or small group study. Jason reminds us, “When we use God’s gift as God intends, we discover great joy. There is no reason to be ashamed. We enjoy beautiful freedom, mutual honor, and no defilement. In fact, we will have strengthened our defenses against Satan by using God’s gift in the way God envisioned. But when we neglect or abuse God’s gift, immeasurable sorrow follows closely behind. When we know God’s will for our lives and our sexuality, but allow ourselves to succumb to the alluring temptations of this world, we have every reason to be ashamed” (p. 40).
The book continues to argue, “Pornography is a problem, but it is not the problem. Pornography is a sinful symptom of the problem….The problem is treasuring other things, other people, and other pleasures more than we treasure God” (p. 75). Thus Hardin concludes, “Are the blessings that flow from your connection with God more gratifying than the sinful images that can flow through your connection to the Internet?…Until you treasure God as more precious than pornography, you will continue to be in bondage to pornography” (pp. 78-79). Did you know that, according to a 2003 survey by Barna Research Group, even among “church people” 38% of adults believe that it is “morally acceptable” to look at pictures of nudity and explicit sexual behavior and an equal percentage believe that there is nothing wrong with the use of pornography? I wonder if the numbers would be any different among churches of Christ. It appears that the teaching found in Hard Core is sorely needed.
The fifteen short chapters of Hard Core strike at the root of the problem, unashamedly examine God’s boundaries, call sin sin, sound the call for righteous warfare, and encourage us to be steadfast and immovable as we dedicate ourselves to hard-core holiness and fighting sexual temptation with a superior satisfaction. Since most of the chapters have discussion questions, the book would be great for a men’s Bible class or small group study. Jason reminds us, “When we use God’s gift as God intends, we discover great joy. There is no reason to be ashamed. We enjoy beautiful freedom, mutual honor, and no defilement. In fact, we will have strengthened our defenses against Satan by using God’s gift in the way God envisioned. But when we neglect or abuse God’s gift, immeasurable sorrow follows closely behind. When we know God’s will for our lives and our sexuality, but allow ourselves to succumb to the alluring temptations of this world, we have every reason to be ashamed” (p. 40).
The book continues to argue, “Pornography is a problem, but it is not the problem. Pornography is a sinful symptom of the problem….The problem is treasuring other things, other people, and other pleasures more than we treasure God” (p. 75). Thus Hardin concludes, “Are the blessings that flow from your connection with God more gratifying than the sinful images that can flow through your connection to the Internet?…Until you treasure God as more precious than pornography, you will continue to be in bondage to pornography” (pp. 78-79). Did you know that, according to a 2003 survey by Barna Research Group, even among “church people” 38% of adults believe that it is “morally acceptable” to look at pictures of nudity and explicit sexual behavior and an equal percentage believe that there is nothing wrong with the use of pornography? I wonder if the numbers would be any different among churches of Christ. It appears that the teaching found in Hard Core is sorely needed.
March 26, 2012
Jason Hardin presents a biblically saturated case for combating sexual temptation. This book is simple and very quick to read—the chapters are all quite short, but each offer some questions for reflection and potent application at the end.
Book thesis: This book is an attempt to convict, encourage, and strengthen people who know exactly what being caught in sexual sin and having no one to turn to feels like.
The thesis is accomplished throughout the book. At many times I was convicted, other times encouraged, and certainly be the end, strengthened to overcome sexual temptation in all its ugly visages. The book reveals sexual temptation for what it is: alluring enticement to sin. And it places that within the larger context of God’s true purpose for sex. Each chapter gets to the point, which is helpful for anyone caught in sin who doesn’t have time to waste considering theological minutiae. As I stated above, the book is covered in Scripture, which I find to be one of its strongest characteristics—giving truth at every turn and turning the reader back upon Scripture, not on the wisdom of men. But that being said, this book offers an excellent ribbon tying various applicable Scripture passages together. Another strong characteristic of the book is its straight-forward, practical nature. It doesn’t pull punches, but it isn’t overbearing either, making one feel exceedingly guilty in an ungodly fashion. This book honors God and seeks to make him primary in the lives of men and women who struggle with sexual temptation (and to be honest, who doesn’t to some degree).
Read. Grow. Overcome.
Book thesis: This book is an attempt to convict, encourage, and strengthen people who know exactly what being caught in sexual sin and having no one to turn to feels like.
The thesis is accomplished throughout the book. At many times I was convicted, other times encouraged, and certainly be the end, strengthened to overcome sexual temptation in all its ugly visages. The book reveals sexual temptation for what it is: alluring enticement to sin. And it places that within the larger context of God’s true purpose for sex. Each chapter gets to the point, which is helpful for anyone caught in sin who doesn’t have time to waste considering theological minutiae. As I stated above, the book is covered in Scripture, which I find to be one of its strongest characteristics—giving truth at every turn and turning the reader back upon Scripture, not on the wisdom of men. But that being said, this book offers an excellent ribbon tying various applicable Scripture passages together. Another strong characteristic of the book is its straight-forward, practical nature. It doesn’t pull punches, but it isn’t overbearing either, making one feel exceedingly guilty in an ungodly fashion. This book honors God and seeks to make him primary in the lives of men and women who struggle with sexual temptation (and to be honest, who doesn’t to some degree).
Read. Grow. Overcome.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews