Purity: A Virtuous Choice

Apparently, according to this article, at the MTV Music Video Awards, Russell Brand thought it would be somewhat cute to make fun of those persons that would rather keep their virginity for their future spouse, than to lose their purity by taking part in promiscuous sin.

I believe those who make the choice to flee youthful lusts, whether they wear a purity ring or not, should be commended as showing a desire to keep themselves pure. So, I am glad to see that others, such as Jordin Sparks also at the MTV Music Video Awards, voiced, in her own words, not everyone wishes to dwell in fornication.

I find it interesting that there are some, apparently even in the ‘professional’ field, which not only wish to discredit and shutdown abstinence classes, but also wish to talk down of those that have personally chosen to make virginity pledges. Almost seemingly claiming, ‘Ah, they want last.’

How has the human mind become so perverted that they have come to believe that ‘safe sex’ is better that virginity? Any virgin can lose their purity at anytime, but those in fornication can never regain their virgin purity. Does such make them jealous, and therefore lash out at those who were able to control themselves more so that they?

The fact is, if persons would hold dear their virginity until marriage, there would be no out-of-wedlock pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The problem is not, ‘does abstinence work,’ for it does. The problem is with boys and girls, men and women not staying true to purity, but giving themselves over to the lustful thoughts of their hearts.

And let it be noted, that those who have aforetime lost their virginity, this does not mean they cannot now live a life of purity till or in marriage. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God, but there is forgiveness found in Jesus Christ. Don’t look to the darkness of your past, but to the brightness of your future!

Purity is a virtuous choice, one that must be decided before we find ourselves in a situation, and one that must be strengthened by the power of God working in and through us. Don’t let lust take your purity, save it for your future spouse; whereby, you may give unto them a treasure you have kept just for them.

Teenagers Choose Fornication Over Purity

At first glance, the notion given by the article title Teenage Birth Rate Rises for First Time Since ’91 may appear to give credible voice to those which oppose abstinence-only classes, claiming this is proof as to their failure to work. It is obvious with the rate of teenagers giving birth being greater than zero that there are indeed those which are not practicing abstinence-only, but that in and of itself does not prove that the rise in teenage birth rates is due to the abstinence-only classes themselves nor that they are failing to work. In seeing the rise of teenagers giving birth, it must also mean (if blame is to be placed upon abstinence-only classes) the non abstinence-only classes are failing to persuade the teenagers also, for aren’t contraceptives 99% guaranteed against pregnancy?

This is why I have to agree with researcher Robert Rector. “Robert Rector, a senior research fellow with the Heritage Foundation, said that blaming abstinence-only programs was “stupid.” Mr. Rector said that most young women who became pregnant were highly educated about contraceptives but wanted to have babies.” Oh, you mean teenage birth rates are up because the teenagers want to have sex and want to have babies? Well, that makes sense. So, let’s blame those guys that don’t want our teenagers to have sex and have babies before they mature and marry – it’s a woman’s choice remember.

It also appears that it is not only our teenagers wanting to enjoy premarital sex (aka the sin of fornication), for “Unmarried childbearing reached a record high in 2006, according to the disease control centers, with unmarried mothers now accounting for 38.5 percent of all births. Births among teenagers and unmarried women tend to lead to poor outcomes for their children.” I guess abstinence-only classes are the reason unmarried women are having sex and getting pregnant also, huh?

So what was their answer to the “I will have sex with no contraceptive” will? “Helping to prevent these pregnancies was the reason advocates pushed for the wide availability of the morning-after pill known as Plan B.” So as a choice, if you don’t want them to be taught abstinence-only is the best way, and they will not adhere to you teaching them about contraceptives, you simple offer them the slaying of the child which develops at conception. This way they may feel they have been able to enjoy sin for a season without having to ever feel the repercussions of their actions to engage in fornication.

The rise in teenage birth rates is not the fault of abstinence-only classes, but the moral decline in our nation’s heart toward the sanctity of marriage, the purity of life, and a denial of sin and accountability to a Almighty Holy God.

Do We Want To Abstain From Abstinence Classes

Abstinence education as defined in Section 510 of Title V of the Social Security Act:

"an educational or motivational program that:

A. Has as its exclusive purpose, teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity;
B. Teaches abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage as the expected standard for all school age children;
C. Teaches that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems;
D. Teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity;
E. Teaches that sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects;
F. Teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child's parents, and society;
G. Teaches young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability to sexual advances; and
H. Teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity."

According to this article this Title V will expire on June 30th of this year unless renewed, and the fear is that “one of the major consequences will be a change in the language required by the government in discussing sexual abstinence with U.S. students.”

There are those that oppose (or should I say believe is a waist of money) abstinence programs. They claim they are not working and do not work. According to the article, “a conference hosted by HHS in Baltimore in March which included 30 positive evaluations of abstinence education programs.”

Also, “A list of nine specific abstinence education studies compiled by NAEA and posted on their website confirm that abstinence education has substantially contributed to the decrease in teen pregnancy, reduces the likelihood that participants will initiate sexual activity, reduces the prevalence of casual sex among sexually experienced students and is effective with at-risk students and inner-city students.”

It is reported, “78 percent of parents think sex education classes in public schools should place more emphasis on promoting abstinence than on condom and other contraceptive use.”

In what percentage do you stand the 22 or 78? Why?