My daughter was recently exposed to a "sex talk" by a well-meaning Christian fool. In the process of withholding my rage and re-educating her I once again became aware of how spiritually bankrupt the church becomes when it divorces the gospel from topics as important as sex.
The gist of the "talk" was an urban-legend style, fear-based appeal to stay out of bed, or you might end up like the girl who spent a crazy weekend with a guy, who afterward gave her an appreciation gift. When she opened the package it contained a little wood coffin, in which was a piece of paper with the words, "Welcome to the world of AIDS."
Since when is it effective to use fear of death to keep teens out of trouble? My kids want to skydive, jump their bikes over ramps and pick up snakes. They crave danger and risk. Dare I say, it's how God wired them?
This may sound harsh, but fear is the only wrench in the toolbox of biblically illiterate and immature Christians who are too lazy or ignorant to piece together an articulate biblical case for purity. But what happens when we find a cure for AIDS—and I pray we will? What happens when our advanced culture removes all the potential earthly consequences for sin—and we may?
7 comments:
I hear what you're saying Matt and I agree that a positive case for purity and holiness is the only way.
Even if there is a cure for AIDS and all STDs, there will always be earthly consequences for sin as well as eternal consequences. That's just part of the fallen world we live in.
I've written volumes (well, several thousand words and multiple blog posts) on the screwed up nature of Christian views on sex. My pet peeve is the assumption that guys are sexual juggernauts and girls are innocent unless influenced by their boyfriends, but your point is good as well. Fear seems to drive a lot of Christian moral thought, actually--if it's not fear of earthly consequences, it's fear of God's eternal wrath via a lost salvation.
We're never going to be able to convince kids to stay out of bed unless they understand holiness and how it glorifies God (not to mention glorifying God as being a worthy and ultimate goal in life.)
I love me Song of Solomon. That, my friend, will preach.
I agree, but how many youth pastors do you know whom you would trust with SoS?
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So good! Colossians 2:20-23 comes to mind here: "20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."
All fear and "discipline" based messages on purity and holiness can only lead to greater bondage and entanglement. If preachers really knew the true pleasures of Jesus Christ and could rightly declare these to others, perhaps we wouldn't need to "scare the hell" out of people. Sensual indulgence can never be restrained by the basic principles of the world. We must redirect our desires for pleasure towards their true source--namely Christ. Preachers must first have a clue as to what this means, however, in order to be able to proclaim it.
...goes along with these new immunizations that doctors are encouraging girls to get to protect against sexually transmitted diseases (and they can start getting the immunizations from something like 10 or 12 years old). What kind of a message are they giving to girls????!!!! And now that same immunization is being made available to boys. Next thing you know, we'll hear of Christian parents getting these immunizations for their children (although they probably are already--out of FEAR).
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