What I learned about the adult entertainment industry from a former stripper
When you hear the phrase “Adult Entertainment Industry,” what is your first thought?If you are like me, you may have cringed because you know what it means, and it disgusts you.Porn stars, exotic dancers, prostitution, erotic fiction authors—all of this is meant to stimulate a part of us that should only be stimulated by our spouse inside a healthy marriage between a man and a woman.God’s design has once again been hijacked by corruption. You have the right to be angry, as a believer.However, not at those in the industry, but at the industry itself.The people inside the industry are victims, just like those stuck in porn or sex addiction, the spouse who pays for something outside of their marriage, or the lonely housewife who may read erotic novels, longing for her husband to be like the man in the book.Does this hit you hard?Do you want to judge the ones responsible for creating the content that is ruining so many marriages?Are you ready to slap the face of the stripper who has your husband’s attention instead of you?Don’t forget: they are people too, made in the image of God.Have you ever paused to consider that the woman writing erotic novels is doing so because she is longing for something she will never have herself? Maybe she writes it because she grew up with unhealthy ideas about sex shaped by her family or by things she watched or experienced.What about porn stars, strippers, or prostitutes?Have you ever considered that they aren’t doing these things because they want to?Some absolutely are forced.Some are trafficked.Some entered because of addiction.Some because of poverty.Some because of trauma.Some because they chose it.Human trafficking is a real epidemic all around the world, including here in America.Take a moment and think about your loved ones. What if something happened to them and they were forced into the same position as the person you hate right now? How would that change your idea of them?This was a convicting thought for me as well, and because of it, I repented, realizing I was judging too much and not showing enough of Jesus’ love and compassion for these broken souls.Let’s take this a step further; sometimes the victims aren’t on the screen or writing the books or doing the prostituting.Even those behind the camera, the pimps, and the publishers need the saving grace of Jesus.What? How can you say that? Look at what they are doing, look at the money they are making. I bet they don’t even care. They have no soul.Okay, perhaps this is true of some inside the industry, as performers and behind the scenes, but many are there because of abuse, coercion, addiction, trauma, or exploitation.Whomever you are thinking of as “the most disgusting” in this industry is someone who desperately needs your prayers. God is placing them on your heart for a reason, and you need to wrestle with that tension between judging and healing.Many in this industry were sold a lie by Satan that they would be fulfilled completely if they sold themselves to him, but as I learned from a former stripper, this is a lie straight from the pit of hell.I sat down for a heart-to-heart with Tiffany Brearton, a former stripper who spent years in the industry and is now a believer spreading the word about the darkness behind the adult entertainment industry and its need for a Savior through her speaking engagements and books. Her heart’s desire is to see everyone inside set free and healed in Jesus’ name.Our conversation was raw, honest, and eye-opening. If you have any bitterness and judgment toward those in the industry, I encourage you to listen as Tiffany sheds some much-needed light on the realities of the adult entertainment industry by sharing what she experienced and what this industry really is.Her conclusion wrecked me and gave me a new heart for those inside this vulgar industry.If you have ever struggled with porn or sex addiction, found yourself passing judgment on those working inside a strip club, or on those who consume or write sexually explicit novels, you aren’t alone, but you aren’t right either.Only God can judge fairly, so we need to surrender our judgments at his feet and do what he is calling us to do.Love the least of these.Did this episode change the way you think about those in the adult entertainment Industry? I would love to hear from you.Honest Christian Conversations exists to encourage, equip, and help you stand firm in your faith. If you are looking for a deeper connection in your community, consider becoming a subscriber.If this article encouraged you and you’d like to help keep Honest Christian Conversations free, you’re welcome to support the ministry by clicking the image below. Thank you for your kindness! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.honestchristianconversations.com
