Abstinence

According to the Christian Bible, sex was created by God as something to be enjoyed by two humans as an act of passionate intimacy.  It is the closest that two individuals can come to being one, when they are emotionally and physically connected.  The Bible also teaches that outside of marriage that this gift is not to be enjoyed.  The question is, is this teaching outdated?  Does it still apply in our society?

To be quite blunt, yes, it does still apply.  Sexual intimacy should be reserved for one's husband or wife.  These people should also be faithful and committed to one another.  Sex is not evil, but it is not to be encouraged.  I believe that the current teaches on many different fences concerning this issue are flawed and a result of the absence of morality among so many people in our culture.

I do not think that sex should be regarded as a "bad word" and I do not think that discussion about sex should be avoided, especially not in the home.  Instead, I think that young people should be taught about sex as the beautiful act that it is.  But they should be taught about the issue, with their hearts turned towards virtue.

There are a number of teenagers out there between the ages of 11 and 16 that lose their virginity everyday.  Many of these young people are really not ready for this mentally or physically.  But if you know a teenager out there who has lost his or her virginity at a young age, that does not mean the person needs to be condemned and cast away from your midst.  The person may need someone to talk with, may need to be educated about what he or she has done and the possible implications of it, and more than this, may need love.

I want to encourage any young lady who reads this to protect your body and not to give yourself away.  Your body is very special, and so is your heart.  You are all precious and if any guy you meet is not as interested in who you are as he is in how you look and feel, then he is not worth your time.  If you have already given yourself away and you are struggling, know that God still loves you and so do true followers of Jesus Christ.  You do not need to live with guilt, and you do not need to hate yourself.  You are still special, and you can still start over again.

I want to encourage any young teenage boys who read this to know that you do not have to have sex by the time you turn fifteen.  You do not need to feel like you are less of a man if you have never gotten a girl in bed with you.  Instead of trying to get a girl to give away her purity to you, I hope you will encourage her to hold onto it until the Lord brings her to the right stage in her life.  For now, just get to know her and love her for who she is, a beautiful creation.