NFL's Ben Roethlisberger Credits God With Saving Him From Porn And Addiction

NFL’s Ben Roethlisberger has struggled with demons such as addiction and pornography throughout his lifetime. Now, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is opening up about those demons and how his Christian faith has helped him overcome them since being baptized again three years ago.

Accepting Jesus can be life changing. The power of His love for us can change our lives. It doesn’t matter who you are or what is in your past.

When you have Jesus in your heart, you can overcome obstacles. This is what Ben Roethlisberger recently discussed at a Christian men’s conference.

Awesome testimony from ⁦@_BigBen7⁩ on #ManUpPittsburgh! “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 pic.twitter.com/RZNxeBS7v8

— Matthew M. Polka (@MATTatACA) June 20, 2020

The Struggle With Pornography And Addiction

Roethlisberger spoke at the ManUp Pittsburgh conference on Father’s Day. The event “encourages and teaches men to be godly leaders for their families, and raises awareness of the devastating impact of fatherlessness among youth today.”

The long-time quarterback took his role in this conference seriously. Roethlisberger was brutally honest about his past vices – alcohol and pornography – and how he has overcome his addictions with the help of his faith.

“It’s not always easy,” Roethlisberger told event host Tunch Ilkin, a former Steelers player. “People don’t realize all the time that us athletes, we’re human. We sin like everybody else. I am no different. We make mistakes. We get addicted to things. We sin. We’re human. I think sometimes we get put on this pedestal where we can’t make mistakes. I’ve fallen as short as anybody. I’ve been addicted to alcohol. I’ve been addicted to pornography, which makes me then not the best husband, not the best father, not the best Christian I can be.”

The NFL star talks about his vices and faith in the video:

This is not something that many people publicly acknowledge. We don’t like to shout out the negative parts in our lives where we have failed.

But, in Roethlisberger’s case this is a story of redemption that he believes others can learn from so it’s worth the risk. Faith can change everything and it did for him.

“But you have to dedicate yourself and understand that you can get out of it because of the grace of God and him saying, ‘Listen, you’re good enough for me the way you are. You don’t have to be perfect,'” he continued.

Our leader.@_BigBen7 | #BensDay pic.twitter.com/NugfeRWVxZ

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) June 17, 2020

Roethlisberger: “It’s Cool To Be Christian And Be An Athlete”

Roethlisberger encourages men and boys to be good athletes but to focus on being even better Christians as God should be the focal point of our lives.

“Now more than ever, it’s cool to be a Christian, especially professional athletes,” the NFL star shared with the audience. “One of the things I want to tell guys and tell people out there, I can be a really good athlete and a Christian. It’s not one or the other. I can do both. I want it to be known to all of the young men out there, it’s cool to be Christian and be an athlete. Go ahead and be the best athlete you can be and see if you can be a better Christian. And that’s what I’m trying to do now. I’m trying to be a better Christian than I am athlete and football player. I push myself every day to do that, and it starts here. It’s not always easy.”

Roethlisberger also told Ilkin that he’d used his stance as a football player for selfish reasons early in his career. But, he said he has changed to be more selfless since becoming stronger in his faith.

He asked the men at the conference to also make the challenge to say “I will be the husband and father that God calls me to be.”

That’s what “Big Ben” is working toward with his wife, Ashley Harlan, and three children, Baylee, Bodie, and Benjamin.