Sunday, September 07, 2008

Purposeful living

Often there is confusion or controversy about what is right and wrong when it comes to teaching youth about sex, and about promoting abstinence until marriage as the expected standard for youth.
However, when you think about it from a God-centered perspective, it is clear. Genesis 1:28 says that one should "Be fruitful, and multiply, and ...have dominion". Many equate being "fruitful" and "multiplying" as being the same, but that is not the case. Being fruitful means fulfilling your God-given potential and purpose. This is the stage where youth and young adults should develop their heart and spiritual self, learning to love and serve others. It is good for youth to focus on causes greater than their own self-interest. Relationships between boys and girls should be brotherly and sisterly, and should not involve romantic relationships.
During the second phase, which is "multiply", each person should resemble God, who has both male and female attributes, by forming a family. Since this will enable that couple to resemble God's complete image, the sexual union within marriage is a sacred union. It is not an exaggeration to say that God wants to bless that union, and that under His blessing, He wants to dwell in that very relationship, where the couples' love will bear fruit and where life and lineage can be created.
Since a man and a woman are resembling God through the sexual relationship (or should be!), it is a sacred union, one that should not be consummated outside the confines of marriage.
With this understanding, we can realize that anything that keeps youth from moving toward the purpose for which God created us (to grow as individuals in our relationship with God, resemble Him in families, and take care of the Creation) is wrong.
So should we be giving HPV vaccine to 11 year old girls. Of course not!. Should we be promoting same sex relationships to the same age group. Of course not! Should we be telling youth that sexual relationships are normal, just use a condom! Of course not!
From the above spiritual perspective, it is no surprise that sex outsie of marriage carries serious physical, emotional and social, as well as spiritual consequences.