Closing the Window: Steps to Living Porn Free [Paperback]

Tim Chester (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 2010

Pornography is everywhere. Far too many Christians regularly use and are addicted to it, warping their perception of sexuality and relationships, destroying marriages and ministries. But Christians who struggle with porn also long for change. When we realize the unfulfilling emptiness of porn, we come to yearn for freedom from it. But what do we do? Tim Chester says that we can be captured by a better vision--a liberating confidence that God offers more than pornography does. Moving beyond pat answers or mere willpower, Chester offers spiritual, practical and corporate resources for living porn free. He exposes the false promises of porn and redirects us to the true promises of God. With assurance of God's grace and cleansing power, we can change our desires and escape the traps and temptations of pornography. However great the challenge, God's grace is even greater. And we can come to a place where we no longer feel the need to use porn. Close the window on porn. And open the door to freedom, integrity and new life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Tim Chester's Closing the Window provides insightful reflection on the problems that many Christians who are struggling with pornography will find easy to relate to. Full of practical and spiritual insights, it stays true to the message of grace and hope that is found in the gospel of Christ." (William M. Struthers, associate professor of psychology, Wheaton College, and author of Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain )

"Finally, a book which rightly puts the struggle with purity, pornography and sexuality into the larger biblical framework of what it means to know God in the midst of our brokenness! This is a wonderful resource to add to the arsenal of anyone serious about finding freedom from the power of pornography. In addition to that, Tim has written a book that can be effectively used by pastors and leaders. It is an excellent pastoral tool to help those dealing with and impacted by the false promises and lies of our porn-is-the-norm culture." (John Freeman, president, Harvest USA (www.harvestusa.org) )

"One of the greatest challenges facing Christians today is the call to sexual purity and integrity. Tim Chester's book will prove indispensable for those committed to that challenge. By exposing the lies that fuel pornography addiction and offering practical tips for staying free, he arms us with the tools we need to win the battle against porn." (Andy Comiskey, founder and director, Desert Stream Ministries, and author of Strength in Weakness and Naked Surrender )

"Tim Chester offers hope, and the possibility of living free from the snare of pornography. . . . Without sounding superspiritual or piling on the guilt, this book emphasizes the fact that we cannot change without God's help. . . . Chester's diligent research and nonjudgmental approach will, I promise, help many Christians who are struggling with porn." (Lyndon Bowring, executive chairman, CARE )

"Christians think sex is great, but its misuse is bad! Pornography draws Christian men into a dark world where shame and guilt replace joy and freedom. This book superbly diagnoses the problem and points to God's healing. Tim Chester's writing will rescue many a marriage and restore many a man to a place where purity and passion coexist in biblical relationship." (Stephen and Janet Gaukroger, Clarion Trust International )

"Tim Chester believes that churches need to talk about porn, and has written a helpful book that explains why. I believe it will be a lifeline for those who feel trapped and say, 'I can't change.' It contains a message of grace, strength and hope." (Ian Coffey, director of leadership training, Moorlands College )

"Tim Chester has hit the nail on the head! Pornography is a cancer eating the heart of the church, and this excellent book tackles it head-on. As you would expect, it is thoroughly rooted in the Bible, very well researched and highly accessible. Crucially, Tim also offers fantastic practical and realistic help and advice that us men would do well to take advantage of. I highly commend this timely book." (Carl Beech, general director, Christian Vision for Men, www.cvmen.org.uk )

Product Details

• Paperback: 151 pages
• Publisher: IVP Books (October 4, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830838422
• ISBN-13: 978-0830838424
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr Tim Chester is a director of the Porterbrook Institute which provides affordable, Bible-college level training for church leadership and missional church in the context of your ministry (www.porterbrookinstitute.org). He is a leader of The Crowded House, a church planting network (www.thecrowdedhouse.org). He blogs at www.timchester.co.uk. He has previously been Research and Policy Director for Tearfund UK and a part-time lecturer in missiology. He is the author of a number of books and series editor of The Good Book Guides (The Good Book Company). He is married with two daughters.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Short, sharp, indispensable, May 11, 2011

By 

Jared Totten "jaredtotten" (Omaha, NE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Closing the Window: Steps to Living Porn Free (Paperback)

Christians and pornography. Depending on who you talk to, you'll get one of three responses: 1) it's a deeper, more wide spread problem within Christianity than we know or want to admit, 2) the problem is overblown and the statistics are imbalanced, or 3) *cough* uhhhhhh, next topic.

In Closing the Window, Tim Chester cites a number of different studies and surveys that have very consistent results: one in three. One in three people in the church are struggling with pornography. While I'm not one to bicker about the numbers, I think it's fair to say that it's a growing problem for each subsequent generation within the church.

And Tim has written a gospel-saturated little book (146 pages) that will be indispensable for anyone leading men, young adults, or a whole church. As just such a leader, I am constantly looking for books that handle tough topics in a way that is simple, clear, and relatively brief to build a "loaner library". I believe that Tim Chester's Closing the Window is the book for just that purpose.

The structure of the book revolves around "Five Keys in the Battle Against Porn":

1. Abhorence of porn
2. Adoration of God
3. Assurance of grace
4. Avoidance of temptation
5. Accountability to others

"We become Christians through faith and repentance. We continue and grow by ongoing faith and repentance. And this means that we counter porn through faith and repentance. Battling porn with faith means embracing the truth about God in place of the false promises of porn. Battling porn with repentance means turning from self to worship God."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest, bold, and true., July 5, 2011

By 

Brian Sun (Flagstaff, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Closing the Window: Steps to Living Porn Free (Paperback)

I hardly ever use all caps but this seems appropriate: WE NEED TO BE OPEN ABOUT THIS STRUGGLE WITH OTHER PEOPLE. Whew. I said it. Anyway.

The framework of this book is built with the "Five Key Ingredients In Your Battle Against Porn" that are super helpful in getting free from this addiction.

As opposed to the usual "just stop masturbating" book, Closing the Window challenges us to have a vision and desire for God that overcomes the fleeting desires of pornography.

Some of the best writing I've ever read on the topic. Thanks, Tim.