Love, Marriage and Family

Sexuality and Sunday School  by David H. Meadows

   Abortion, Herpes, A.I.D.S., rape and many other problems in our
society are all related to the same basic problem. That problem is the
lack of Christian chastity and self-restraint in the sexual activities
and attitudes in American society, especially among the young.

   If there is any one area where the Church in America has failed the
youth of our society, it is the failure to offer a clear Christian
alternative to our sexually promiscuous society and the terrible
problems that have resulted. There is not a Christian denomination in
America that does not consider extra- marital and premarital sex wrong.
Yet, this writer has found woefully few young people in church or
society that can give clear reason why the Bible condemns sex outside
of marriage even though it gives much information on the subject.

   This writer will agree that the Church does not share the greatest
blame. Yes, the movie industry is to be blamed. Yes, the producers of
TV programming are to be blamed. Yes, our public schools are to be
blamed for not taking a clear moral stand on sexuality. And, of course,
parents who have not morally educated their children must share the
blame.

   But this does not remove the responsibility of the Church to speak
prophetically to our society and to confront it when it is violating
God's moral law. Where are the prophets like Jeremiah who warned his
nation that their adultery was reducing them to the level of donkeys in
heat? (Jeremiah 2:23-24). Where are the preachers like Moses who gave
his nation God's warning that illicit sexual activity would bring
chronic incurable diseases on them? (Deuteronomy 28:59-60). Where are
the teachers like the Apostle Paul who taught the pros and cons of
human sexuality from God the Creator's point of view? (1 Corinthians 6
& 7).

   Recently, Phyllis Schlafly, a noted conservative social commentator
and political activist, was asked "What is the most important thing the
Church can do to stop abortion until we can overturn "Wade vs. Roe'?"
She said the most important thing the Church can do is "DO SOMETHING TO
STOP PROMISCUITY AMONG THE YOUTH."

   When she said this, the words beat on this writer like a giant
hammer. Two very important scriptural principles can be applied to our
society's problem with sex. The Church must act on them now!

   The first is found in Proverbs 29:18 which says, "WHERE THERE IS NO
PROPHECY THE PEOPLE CAST OFF RESTRAINT" (RSV). The Church failed to
give a clear prophetic vision to counter the proponents of sexual
immorality. The people cast off restraint and have suffered.

   The second is that the Word of God can still make a difference.
"WHEREWITHAL SHALL A YOUNG MAN CLEANSE HIS WAY? BY TAKING HEED THERETO
ACCORDING TO THY WORD" Psalm 119:9, KJV. "IS NOT MY WORD LIKE AS A
FIRE? SAITH THE LORD; AND LIKE A HAMMER THAT BREAKETH THE ROCK IN
PIECES" Jeremiah 23:29.

   1. First, every young person should know that sex was created by God
(not Playboy, pornographers, movie makers, etc). God created sex for
two very specific and important reasons. Sex was created to bring into
existence new human beings (Genesis 1:28). Therefore, there is great
responsibility in the sex act. Sex was also created to be a bond of
pleasure and mutual fulfillment between a man and woman in marriage (1
Corinthians 7:3-5, Hebrews 13:4). When sex is practiced in its
God-given context, it helps bring physical and spiritual unity (Genesis
2:23, 1 Corinthians 6:16); pleasure without guilt (Song of Solomon 1:2,
Proverbs 5:18-19); children (Genesis 4:1); stable family life (Genesis
2:23-25). However, if sex is taken out of the context of marriage, it
brings destruction not only to the people doing it but to all of
society.

   2. Promiscuous sex will bring dangerous incurable diseases on people
who practice it and the society in which they live. God warned us of
this in the Bible in Deuteronomy 28:59. Herpes and A.I.D.S. are only
two of the 25 diseases spread by sexual activity. The only way to avoid
these diseases is to be sexually pure until marriage. Marry someone who
has done the same. And remain faithful in marriage. Learning to say
"NO" is the only way the 25 sexually transmitted diseases will be
stopped.

   3. Every young person needs to understand that there is a constant
link between illicit sexual activity and evil spiritual activity in the
Bible. There were two words for prostitutes in the Old Testament. The
one usually translated whore refers to prostitution as we know it.
However, the word translated harlot refers to women who engage in
sexual activity for spiritual reasons as well as money (Jamieson,
Fausset 7 Brown, Commentary on the Whole Bible, pg.770).

   Look at Hosea 4:12-14. It is a known fact that the worship of many
pagan deities involves illicit sexual activity (Deuteronomy 23:17). The
Bible warns of the spiritual as well as physical dangers of promiscuous
sex in 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 and possibly Romans 1:27. Mike Warnke, in
his book The Satan Seller, said the primary method he used to draw
young people, as a high priest of satan, into satanic activity was to
offer them free sexual activity.

   4. Fornication (illicit sex) is not a victimless crime. All of
society is the victim. "DO NOT PROFANE YOUR DAUGHTER BY MAKING HER A
HARLOT, SO THAT THE LAND MAY NOT FALL TO HARLOTRY, AND THE LAND BECOME
FULL OF LEWDNESS" (Leviticus 19:29, NAS). When two young people who are
not married engage in sexual intercourse, they are not only endang-
ering themselves, but all of society with them.

   The dreaded disease A.I.D.S. is now being spread to innocent victims
through blood transfusions even though it entered our society as a
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE. Herpes is deadly to newborn babies born
to infected mothers. Millions of the taxpayers' dollars in America are
spent every year treating problems caused by the sin of fornication.
Some of these include treatment of sexually transmitted diseases at
public health clinics, homes for unwed mothers, welfare for unwed
mothers, etc. OUR GREATEST NATIONAL TRAGEDY WHICH IS THE MURDER OF
UNBORN BABIES THROUGH ABORTION IS PRIMARILY CAUSED BY SEXUAL
PROMISCUOUSNESS.

   5. Every young married couple needs to understand that if they sin
against their marriage by adultery, it not only opens the door to all
of the problems mentioned above, but also releases negative forces in
themselves and their families that do not easily, if ever go away! "THE
ONE WHO COMMITS ADULTERY WITH A WOMAN IS LACKING SENSE; HE WHO WOULD
DESTROY HIMSELF DOES IT. WOUNDS AND DISGRACE HE WILL FIND, AND HIS
REPROACH WILL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT" (Proverbs 6:32-33, NAS).

   6. Those who engage in sexual activity must understand that a baby
may be created. No contraceptive is 100% fail-proof. If a baby is
created, they are morally responsible for its welfare (Malachi 4:6,
Titus 2:4).

   If you are a young person (or older, for that matter) who has
already "messed up" and sinned sexually, ALL IS NOT LOST! God loves you
and wants to help you! If you want God's forgiveness, do these things:

   1. Pray to God. Tell Him you are sorry and ask Him to forgive you.

   2. Invite Jesus Christ, God's Son, to be the Lord (BOSS) of your
life.

   3. Find a pastor or mature Christian friend who can help you find
God's help in your situation.

   4. Attend church and read the Bible regulary so God can redirect
your life in a positive way.

   5. Say "NO" to sexual sins.

   Any young person who wants to live free from sexual sins can do so
with God's help. Second Peter 2:9, "THEN THE LORD KNOWS HOW TO RESCUE
THE GODLY FROM TEMPTATION..." NAS.

   David Meadows