Temptation. Lust. Masturbation. Sensuality. Sex.

A code of silence has grown up in the church around these issues – many hoping that if we don’t talk about them, they will just go away. And yet men of all ages continue to struggle to attain the standard of Ephesians 5:3 – “there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality”. How is this possible in an age where we are constantly bombarded by sexual images that open the door to temptation – TV, magazines, music, the Internet?

Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker shatter this code of silence in the “Every Man” series. The latest installment, Every Young Man’s Battle, addresses “the challenge every man faces… the fight every man can win” from the point of view of single Christian men. (The original book in the series, Every Man’s Battle, is more geared towards married men) It explores how our thought lives control our actions, and are in turn controlled by what we allow in.

I found one of the most potent images was one of doing battle with a sumo wrestler. In one corner is Mr Sex Drive – fed up on “a billion meals of lust and fantasy”. In the other corner… you. Things don’t look good – he’s many times bigger than you, and consistently, effortlessly, sends you flying out of the ring. The book goes on to explain that the only way to overcome is to “Starve the sumo”. By cutting out the sumo’s food – sexy movies, TV, music, websites etc. – you can reduce his power over you, even the odds in those contests in the ring.

Every Young Man’s Battle is a highly practical book, and “will show you how to train your eyes and your mind, how to clean up you thought life, and how to develop a realistic battle plan for remaining pure in today’s sexually soaked culture”. Personally, I found it very encouraging for two reasons: a) I’m not the only one who struggles (nor are you!), and b) the battle can be won! I highly recommend Every Young Man’s Battle to any man who is committed to sexual purity God’s way, and would be happy to lend my copy to anyone who wants to have a read.