Whatever the truth about Brian Houston, we need to talk about porn and Christian leaders

The founder of Hillsong Church Brian Houston has publicly denied watching pornography after an explicit video briefly appeared on his X account last month.

A similar incident took place in 2024, when it was claimed Houston’s post on X which read “Ladies and girls kissing” had been the result of a hack intended to embarrass him.

Speaking most recently in an Instagram video, Houston described the explicit content posted on his channel as “vile”, adding he was “disgusted” by the content. “A good starting point is to say I do not watch pornography - not online, not on social media, nowhere else,” he said.

It would be inappropriate to speculate on the details of any individual case. But moments like this do provide an opportunity to reflect on a wider reality that the Church cannot afford to ignore: Pornography is not simply an issue affecting people outside the Church. It affects people within our congregations, our families, and yes, our leadership teams too. 

One of the most challenging findings from Barna’s Beyond the Porn Phenomenon research is not simply how widespread pornography use has become, but how widespread it is among Christians and church leaders. The report found that more than half of practising Christians report viewing pornography. It also found that pornography use among pastors is far from uncommon, with many church leaders acknowledging it as a significant issue within leadership itself. 

That reality should give us pause. 

The culture of silence

For years, many churches have struggled to know how to address pornography well. Some have avoided the topic altogether. Others have spoken about it only when a scandal or public failure has forced the conversation into the open. 

Part of the reason may be closer to home than we would like to admit. 

Church leaders are not immune from the same struggles, vulnerabilities, temptations, and coping mechanisms that affect the people they serve. Yet leadership often carries additional pressures. Admitting a struggle can feel risky. Concerns about credibility, reputation, ministry, and the fear of letting others down can make honesty incredibly difficult. 

The result can be a culture of silence. 

Leaders may assume they are alone. Congregants may assume they are alone. Everyone knows the issue exists, yet few feel safe enough to talk about it openly. 

The tragedy is that secrecy rarely helps anyone. 

Whatever language we use — temptation, habitual sin, compulsive behaviour, unhealthy coping, or addiction — most people would agree that hidden struggles tend to flourish in isolation. Shame has a way of convincing people that they must solve their problems privately before they are worthy of support. 

Yet the gospel points us in a different direction. 

Throughout scripture, transformation rarely begins with concealment. It begins with truth. Again and again, we see people encountering God’s grace not after they have fixed themselves, but when they are honest about their need. 

The Church should be one of the safest places in the world to tell the truth. 

The question is not whether the Church should talk about porn. The question is whether we can create cultures where honesty is possible. 

That does not mean minimising the impact of pornography. Nor does it mean abandoning biblical convictions around sexuality. Pornography can cause real harm to individuals, relationships, marriages, and families. Many partners know all too well the pain that secrecy and sexual betrayal can create. 

But if we believe pornography is a significant issue within the Church, then we need responses that go beyond condemnation and beyond silence. 

We need churches where accountability is understood as support rather than punishment. We need leaders who model humility rather than perfection. We need congregations where people can seek help before a crisis develops. And we need to ensure that those affected by someone else’s pornography use receive the care and support they need as well. 

The Barna research suggests that many Christians want the Church to address pornography more openly, yet relatively few believe meaningful support is available. 

That gap matters. 

Because pornography is not merely a problem belonging to “other people”. It is present in our churches, our small groups, our leadership teams, and our families. 

The question is not whether the Church should talk about it. 

The question is whether we can create cultures where honesty is possible. 

If pornography use is as widespread as the evidence suggests, including among church leaders, then silence is not serving us well. 

Freedom rarely begins with being found out.

More often, it begins with feeling safe enough to tell the truth.