Chaste in a runaway society

In this fast society we live in, young people find it hard to abstain in their teenage years. The talk and actions of others pressure them. They want to be in the ‘in crowd’ and not made fun of. Sometimes they give into the pressure and do things that perhaps they would not do if they were more informed or perhaps had different friends.

We can’t be with the teenagers every minute of the day. But, we can give them lots of reasons to abstain from sexual activity until they are married. Promiscuity can bring on sexual-transmitted diseases, an early pregnancy and perhaps a low self-esteem. Teenagers think they are invincible when they are young and parents are viewed as too controlling. What they don’t understand is the fact that parents do not want their teenager in a situation that may leave him/her scared for life.

Parents need to start early encouraging teenagers to talk to them about any and every thing. If they grow up sharing their problems with parents, they will tend to share more of their activities, as they grow older. They are more apt to listen to parents who are willing to listen to them rather than listening to their peers. Teens are able to make wiser decisions when they have the true facts rather than misinformation they pick up from their peers. But parents do need to inform teenagers early rather than letting them learn wrong ideas from their peers who haven’t been well informed. My daughter has always talked to her children from a very early age. She’s let them know that she is willing to listen to them and to their friends. She keeps abreast of their activities, with whom they are keeping company, and, when she doesn’t know someone they know, she makes a point of finding out about that person. She wants to keep them free of problems that would hinder them from having a carefree teenage experience. So many teenagers have gotten into trouble at an early age, and it seems the ages of early pregnancy are getting earlier by the year!

I believe also that a child brought up in church – not just sent, but taken - has a better approach to life than a child who hasn’t been taught the Bible. A teenager who knows Christ as his/her personal Savior and studies the Word is equipped with the knowledge that Jesus is there for them. Also, they should have been taught that abstinence until marriage is what they should be striving for. Today’s teenagers are put into too many situations that can cause a wrong decision in a heated moment. And they need to be strong enough in their minds to handle the situation without giving into pressure.

Ephesians 6:11-13, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

Picture from Allposters.com

As parents, we need to always live a good life in front of our children. Don’t do things you would not want repeated by them. You can’t be an effective parent when you try the ‘do as I say do, not as I do’ approach. You may find your child not listening and trouble may be brewing. A good solid marriage and conversation goes as long way when your child is watching.

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