Steve Gallagher - A Biblical Guide to Counseling the Sex Addict

Also Available by Pure Life Ministries:

At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry

The Walk of Repentance

Living in Victory

Irresistible to God

Out of the Depths of Sexual Sin

How America Lost Her Innocence

Intoxicated with Babylon

A Lamp Unto My Feet

Pressing On Toward the Heavenly Calling

Create in Me a Pure Heart

Standing Firm through the Great Apostasy

He Leads Me Beside Still Waters

The Time of Your Life

For these books and other teaching materials please contact:

PURE LIFE MINISTRIES

14 School Street

Dry Ridge, KY 41035

(888) PURELIFE - to order

(859) 813-0005 FAX

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BP:E1

A Bibilical Guide to Counseling the Sexual Addict

Copyright 2011 by Pure Life Ministries
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form except for brief quotations, without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN 978-0-9715470-9-4

eISBN 978-0-9846605-4-4

Note: This book has been written as a complement to At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry.
It is assumed that the reader is already familiar with its concepts.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from the
NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE,
Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995,
by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. ( www.Lockman.org )

W hen I first met Steve Gallagher at a Biblical counseling conference I sensed I had met a partner in the battle for truth. I had watched TV interviews of self-proclaimed experts on sexual addictions promote standard psychological dogma in the name of Christ. I had heard well-known Christian psychologists tell their radio listeners that obsession with pornography, perversion and adultery are results of unmet needs and childhood traumas. So when I heard of Pure Life Ministries, I wondered if they too would provide the same old excuses for immorality and offer one more failing variation of Christian psychotherapy to treat this growing scourge.

Steve and I talked for quite some time about the weakening of the Church by well-meaning, but misguided counselors who believe that the Bible is insufficient to heal the wounded hearts of damaged Christians. I was encouraged to hear Steves heart-felt commitment to genuine Biblical counseling and its application to sexual idolatry.

Pure Life Ministries eventually applied for affiliate membership with the International Association of Biblical Counselors and our vice president went on site at their Kentucky campus to examine their doctrines and practice. To our delight, he found an organization that takes the Scriptures seriously and is committed to helping fallen Christians find their way back to a strong walk with the Lord.

Thats why I am pleased to recommend A Biblical Guide to Counseling the Sexual Addict . In this book Steve Gallagher lays out a powerful model for counseling sexual addicts in a Biblical manner. He does not use the term addiction to indicate a disease or to lessen personal responsibility for ones behavior; rather, it is shorthand for life-dominating sexual sins that can be conquered through the Word of God and intense discipleship.

Steve writes with the authority of one who has experienced the pain and devastation of the downward spiral of sexual idolatry, and his subsequent victory and restoration through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit as he submitted to the Scriptures. This is not a book of theory, but of proven successful practice taking place continually at the Pure Life Ministries campus.

The Pure Life Live-In Program requires at least a six-month commitment where counselees are taught Scriptural principles of Christian lifestyle through ongoing instruction, Biblical homework, regular chores, intensive prayer, in-depth Bible study, supportive fellowship and one-on-one counseling. Worship services are held three times a week in the PLM chapel in order to help the men develop a spiritual hunger to know and please God. Through this powerful regimen, many have been set free and have seen their broken marriages restored.

But Pure Life Ministries is limited in how many applicants they can accept, due to the constraints of their facilities and finances. Thats the reason for a book such as thisto provide a practical Biblical model for churches and counselors who wish to replicate this sort of ministry in their own communities.

In the first section of this volume, Steve explains the fundamentals of Biblical counseling as they relate to sexual sin. Then he shares specific applications of the principles when dealing with the temptations facing young people, helping the devastated wife who discovers her husbands infidelity, ministering to the homosexual, and when confronting the pastor who struggles with pornography and other sexual sins. In the final section, Steve explains how to begin a ministry of support for those who have fallen into sexual idolatry. Imagine a Pure Life Ministry campus in every State where people can be set free!

We in the International Association of Biblical Counselors are thankful to partner with people like Steve and Kathy Gallagher and the committed Staff of Pure Life Ministries. May our Lord help us all to return to the Word of God to find lasting healing for sin-damaged lives and devastated marriages.

Dr. Ed Bulkley, President

International Association of

Biblical Counselors

W hen I entered the ministry in 1986, I could have never guessed that my lifes calling would be to minister to men in habitual sexual sin. Sexual addiction was a concept almost unheard of in those days. All these years later, I can honestly say that it has been my privilege to devote my life to helping these men.

Having since encountered thousands of men bound up in sexual sin, I have gotten a fairly good sense about what the typical sexual addict is like. The first place to begin ones preparation for providing help is to understand what the man in habitual sexual sin is like. In that light, I will attempt to draw a composite picture of him.

The typical man who will come to you for help has been involved in illicit sexual activity for years. This immoral lifestyle has been done almost entirely in secret. Although sexual fantasy, pornography and illicit encounters make up a huge part of his life, he has managed to hide it from most, if not all, of his closest friends and relatives. Most acquaintances would consider him to be morally upright and would never guess what he does when no one is looking.

At different times, you will undoubtedly find yourself helping men who frequent adult bookstores, strip clubs, massage parlors and prostitutes. You may also be forced to minister to men involved with peeking in windows, exposing themselves to women, making obscene telephone calls, sexually assaulting others, or even having sex with animals. You will most certainly deal with promiscuity among teenagers and adults. You will also probably minister to homosexualsboth male and female. However, the primary recipients of your attention will be men who are simply addicted to pornography.

At any rate, the average man you will encounter in your work has been faithfully attending church services for many years. He also reads inspirational books, listens to Christian radio, and possibly attends special mens events.