Weekend Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: Love Sex and Marriage - God's Design for Sex
This eDevotional was written by a volunteer from Timberlake Church.
READ: I Corinthians 6: 12-20; Song of Songs 8:6-7
THINK: I love to impart information. One of my favorite audiences is teenagers and believe it or not, my favorite topic is SEX. Representing a group called S.H.A.R.E. I have had the opportunity of visiting many Middle School and High School classrooms, both in public and private institutions. The program is abstinence-based and presented from a Biblical perspective even though the names of God or His son Jesus are never mentioned. Without fail, in every class, there are snickers about the word ABSTINENCE and some kids who have never heard it before. In a survey at the end of my presentation the students are asked to comment on the statement, "My parents have talked to me about sexual abstinence." My personal stats show that 80% of the students wrote "NO."
These same students had been taught how to place a condom on a banana, learned about the difference between viral and bacterial STD/STI s, been given the phone number for Planned Parenthood Clinics and taught that expressing oneself sexually was a normal part of every teen's life. I thought about Pastor Ben's message and the second of four views of sex: animal passion. Our society has come to believe that our children are like bunnies and since they will act as such we had better help them with the mechanics. What if instead we were making sure that respect for self and others is taught, modeled and expected?
When students hear that there is a difference between sex and intimacy their eyes light up. When young girls hear that it is ok to say no to unwanted advances some have incredulity on their faces. When young men hear that there are young women who WANT to get pregnant they register shock. Adults, especially we who are parents have to speak to our kids and their friends about life choices, expecially in the area of sex.
Healthy relationships come from healthy living habits. These need to be modeled and taught. Curiosity about sex IS natural for children. But if we don't speak to them, someone else will. The only way to be sure of what they learn is for you to be the teacher.
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." - Proverbs 22:6
DO: How did you learn about sex? Did your parents speak with you? Like Pastor Ben and myself did your parents neglect to discuss that topic? Pastor Ben's message notes are a great tool to empower every one of us to discuss a topic that for some is very difficult. Pray for boldness and initiate the conversation. In today's world, sex can be a matter of life and death.
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of sex. Thank you for giving us guidance for the proper place it has in our lives. May we seek to know your design and teach it to our children. Give us direction and strength to refocus and be healed if we have gone off track. AMEN