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Today, Allie knows all the details in the book, although she doesn't want to read it. The Larkins spend virtually every evening together. After years of emotional detachment, Nate's gregarious laugh at the eatery is evidence that his best friend is his wife.

Experts say sexual addiction is bound to worsen because teens are today's largest porn users. Addiction begins with simple temptations or manageable sexual problems. But says East Hill Church's Roberts, "No matter where I travel in the world men have the same problem, but no one talks about it."

While addiction is a crippling weakness, when brought to light, it's a form of empowerment. Laaser says he is weary of retelling his personal tragedy, but it's necessary to offer hope to others. "Silence is the greatest enemy of sexual health," he says.

"There are wounded men in every country medicating their pain through sexually compulsive behavior," says Vogelman, who spent 23 years as an international high-tech healthcare business consultant. "But the very guys that Satan poisons are coming out of that bondage to minister to other men as they recover themselves."

Several therapists and pastors liken sex addiction to a coming tsunami. Larkin thinks they're off base.

"The tidal wave has passed," he says. "We're standing around in our shorts."

Yet Larkin is optimistic. "This new epidemic provides the church with an unparalleled opportunity," he says. "The Enemy has overplayed his hand. Desperate men will do what they have to do to get help."

John W. Kennedy is a consulting editor for CT and news editor for Today's Pentecostal Evangel.

Copyright © 2008 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

A short article on the Samson Society accompanied this article.

Inside CT: Porn's Stranglehold tells more about what John Kennedy found about Christians and porn in writing about sexual addiction.

More articles on sexuality and gender are in our full-coverage section.

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March 2008, Vol. 52, No. 3