Pornography is a pervasive issue that impacts both Christians and non-Christians, alike, but, despite the spiritual and relational problems smut poses, it’s a topic that doesn’t always receive its warranted amount of attention in Christian circles.
That’s why people like ex-porn star Crissy Outlaw are so important, as they shed light on the issue, while offering a lens into how people with difficult pasts — even those who once worked in the adult film industry — can find redemption.
Outlaw, who has gained quite a bit of attention over the past few years speaking about how she found Jesus and immediately left the adult film industry, recently told Lucas Miles, host of “The Lucas Miles” podcast, that she “never planned on going into the sex industry,” though that’s where her path tragically led her.
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Now, after leaving the money and fame behind, Outlaw is an outspoken Christian who has repeatedly said that she feels “called” to tell people why she left the industry in an effort to help prevent others from making the same mistakes she did.
“Most people can think about their pasts and can easily hide it … never sharing it with anyone for the rest of their lives. The evidence and consequences of my past mistakes will never go away,” Outlaw writes on her website. “I have to deal with this daily, and it isn’t easy. I find happiness in using my past to help others who might be going down a similar path.”
The former porn actress told Miles about the key moment that caused her to leave behind a $15,000-per-month salary — a prayer during which she heard about the gospel, accepted Christ and made an instant commitment to dramatically change her life.
“This guy tells me, ‘You can change your life … you need to repent and turn away,'” she recalled. “We prayed … and I cry and I’m like done. I knew I was done. So, that was the easy part … It was that one moment that I decided, ‘I don’t want the money anymore.'”
Listen to Outlaw discuss her conversion to Christianity below:
While Outlaw said making her decision was easy, it was the follow-through in leaving the cash behind that was a bit more difficult. In the end, she tried to have her website taken down, but said that the man running it refused to let her out of her contract.
“‘If you were trying to leave the industry to try and have a child or start a family, I would understand,'” she recalled him saying. “I can’t let you out of the contract for a fantasy like God.”
To date, the website is still up and running despite her objections. And, unfortunately, she said that those behind it have resorted to some offensive tactics in promoting it, accusing them of intertwining her faith with porn.
As Faithwire previously reported, Outlaw has been open about her story in the past, telling the Daily Mail about the sexual abuse she suffered as a young child and the emotional scars from an abortion she had at the tender age of 17. She described the aftermath of the abortion as “one of the most traumatic things that happened” to her.
“I was fully awake and aware of everything going on during the abortion and my heart was shattered while the life was literally being sucked out of me,” Outlaw said of the experience. “It was awful … my school knew about my abortion and I lost all my friends.”
Additionally, during her early years, Outlaw experienced numerous failed relationships that left her feeling inadequate. Read more about her story here.