A new study released by the Guttmacher Institute, a liberal think tank dedicated to promoting promiscuity and abortions, says that 95% of Americans have engaged in premarital sex... that's more than nine out of ten! These numbers are strangely high in my opinion, and we certainly have reason to doubt the veracity of such a radical left-wing research group. However, I do believe that the number of men and women in America who are engaging in premarital sex is shockingly high...even in our churches.
There are many reasons: we live in a sex-saturated culture, poor parenting, many colleges have coed dorms (the dumbest thing I've ever heard), the silence of churches on the issue, etc.
But I would like to suggest a reason that perhaps might surprise you: Delayed Marriage.
The average age for a woman to marry now is anywhere between 26-30. In years past the average age was 18-20. That large jump is due, in part, to the American education fixation. One is pushed to finish his or her education (which could last until he or she is 30!) before entertaining the idea of marriage. The message? Family comes second to "bettering" oneself in America. And Christians just buy into this practice, never questioning its intentions or examining its effects. We have embraced the world's philosophy that it is best to wait to marry. But is that a biblical idea? Let's look.
Proverbs 5:18 - ...rejoice in the wife of your youth.
Malachi 2:15 - ...let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.
1 Corinthians 7:2 - But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
Titus 2:4 - ...train the young women to love their husbands and children.
The first two passages, along with the last one, show that marriage is meant for young people. The passage from 1 Corinthians teaches us that the common result of a bunch of unwed people is sexual immorality. Thus, we read in the news today that 95% of Americans have had sex before marriage. The numbers are staggering. The solution is simple. Get married.
There are many reasons: we live in a sex-saturated culture, poor parenting, many colleges have coed dorms (the dumbest thing I've ever heard), the silence of churches on the issue, etc.
But I would like to suggest a reason that perhaps might surprise you: Delayed Marriage.
The average age for a woman to marry now is anywhere between 26-30. In years past the average age was 18-20. That large jump is due, in part, to the American education fixation. One is pushed to finish his or her education (which could last until he or she is 30!) before entertaining the idea of marriage. The message? Family comes second to "bettering" oneself in America. And Christians just buy into this practice, never questioning its intentions or examining its effects. We have embraced the world's philosophy that it is best to wait to marry. But is that a biblical idea? Let's look.
Proverbs 5:18 - ...rejoice in the wife of your youth.
Malachi 2:15 - ...let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.
1 Corinthians 7:2 - But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
Titus 2:4 - ...train the young women to love their husbands and children.
The first two passages, along with the last one, show that marriage is meant for young people. The passage from 1 Corinthians teaches us that the common result of a bunch of unwed people is sexual immorality. Thus, we read in the news today that 95% of Americans have had sex before marriage. The numbers are staggering. The solution is simple. Get married.
Prolonged singleness is the playground of promiscuity.
I'm curious to hear what you think.
4 comments:
I agree that prolonged singleness can lead to promiscuity, but I think the root of the problem is what we place our treasure in. As singles in America we have said with our actions that sex is more to be desired than God. Singleness is an excellent time to pursue the work of God. I think to turn the tide toward abstinence we must fix our gaze upon Jesus and treasure Him above all earthly things including sex. Sex inside of marriage can be as much a sin as sex outside of marriage. It all has to do with our motives. We must seek to glorify God in all we do including our sex lives.
I think you are exactly right. We have relegated marriage to that "thing" we do when we are finished having all of our fun. When did marriage become such a bad thing? My Bible says that a man who finds a wife finds a good thing (Prov. 18:22). Parents BEG their children to wait until they have gotten their education before they get married. We act like it is the education we are concerned about, but do you think Lebron James' mother was upset about him skipping college. Do we look down on the other athletes who leave college early? I don't think so. People including Christians have bought the lie that marriage is a burden and not a wonderful gift of God.
By asking people to put off marriage we are asking them to be stronger than Samson, wiser than Solomon, and more godly than David (all of them fell into sexual immorality).
Jarod, good point. It's always a matter of the heart. John, the athlete point is so true...hadn't even thought of that. And great last line!
I feel into that parent category wanting my daughter to wait to have more, have better, be more prepared...this makes me feel bad but stepping on our toes does that. Thank God I did turn to him and ask him to guide me and help me see what He wanted for my daughter!
I will share this and it will be good teaching of been there, screwed that up, learn from my mistakes please
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