Pastor Emmanuel Iren has said 50 per cent of churchgoers view pornography at least once every two weeks, attributing the rise in immoral behaviour partly to secrecy and the anonymity provided by the internet.
Iren made the statement during the morning session of Day Two of the Ownership Conference 2026, held from September 22 to 27.
“Fifty percent of churchgoers view porn at least once every two weeks,” Iren said.
He subsequently asked participants to look at the people sitting beside them, adding, “Statistically, one of them.”
According to the pastor, the anonymity offered by the internet has contributed to a spike in immoral behaviour.
“One of the things that created a spike in immorality was the anonymity that the internet gave,” he said.
Iren, however, argued that some of the vices people struggle with may not be as difficult to overcome as they believe.
Illustrating his point with pornography, he said people would likely stop the behaviour if they had to engage in it publicly.
“Just imagine the only screen in the whole of Johannesburg is this screen here, and if he has to watch pornography, he has to come and watch it here in church. I hope you know he will stop instantly,” he said.
“There is something about us. Even the things we are struggling with, when we know that people are watching, we will not do it,” Iren added.
He maintained that secrecy, rather than sin itself, gives immoral behaviour its strength.
“So what strengthens the sin? The sin is not strong. It is secrecy that has given it its power,” he said.
Iren also stressed the importance of accountability in the Christian life, describing it as a major requirement for Christians.
“One of the major things that a Christian needs is accountability,” he said.
He warned that a person’s reluctance to embrace accountability could indicate that they were already creating an environment for sinful behaviour.
“The moment you find yourself struggling with accountability, you are already on the way. Even if you have not sinned yet,” he said.
Iren added, “If there are aspects of your life that you can do in the dark, you have created an environment for sin.”
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