Let's Talk About Sex!
Now that I have your attention, I would just like to say that I am a statistical anomaly. "According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 96 percent of Americans over the age of 20 have had sex." - Foxnews.com That's right. I am now officially a minority. All these frustrating years of being in the majority in every possible way (as a straight, white, protestant male I don't have a single affirmative action playing card) have not been in vain. I am finally part of a minority - a very small minority at that.
But, this isn't about me. That would be awkward. This is specifically about sex-ed. Few things piss me off more than conservatives' fight to teach abstinence only sex education. It's just so unrealistic. If only 96% of the American public is sexually active what's the problem right? I mean, obviously all those abstinence pledge cards are working.
The thing that astonishes me is that if everyone in the country was tested and treated for STD's and from now on wore condoms unless they were in a long-term monogamous relationship we could virtually eradicate every known STD in a generation. Then, we could all have as much sex as we wanted without having to worry (hint of sarcasm).
There's a deeper issue (deeper than my biting sarcasm you ask?) dealing with sin nature. It is our sin nature to want to have sex. Our churches are teaching that you can overcome your sin nature. (I'm okay with this idea to some extent, "dead to sin alive in Christ", etc.) Our churches are advocating that even non-Christians in public schools can overcome their sin nature. (I have a huge problem with this one. It's impossible to overcome your sin nature apart from Christ.) Not only are we trying to get non-Christians to live like Christians when Christians don't live like Christians; but we are asking them to do something impossible.
I support a full sex education in all public schools. Kids are going to have sex. We need to have abstinence training at our churches in our youth groups and in our families. Our kids are still (more than likely) going to have sex. Beyond abstinence training we need to have grace and forgiveness training. We need to abolish the idea that if you have lost your virginity you are worthless to Christ.
At church camp last summer I had a high school kid confess that he had slept with his girlfriend. He grieved so heavily at his sin that he cried. I have never felt greater joy in my life than when I looked him in the eye and told him. "Your sins are forgiven."
But, this isn't about me. That would be awkward. This is specifically about sex-ed. Few things piss me off more than conservatives' fight to teach abstinence only sex education. It's just so unrealistic. If only 96% of the American public is sexually active what's the problem right? I mean, obviously all those abstinence pledge cards are working.
The thing that astonishes me is that if everyone in the country was tested and treated for STD's and from now on wore condoms unless they were in a long-term monogamous relationship we could virtually eradicate every known STD in a generation. Then, we could all have as much sex as we wanted without having to worry (hint of sarcasm).
There's a deeper issue (deeper than my biting sarcasm you ask?) dealing with sin nature. It is our sin nature to want to have sex. Our churches are teaching that you can overcome your sin nature. (I'm okay with this idea to some extent, "dead to sin alive in Christ", etc.) Our churches are advocating that even non-Christians in public schools can overcome their sin nature. (I have a huge problem with this one. It's impossible to overcome your sin nature apart from Christ.) Not only are we trying to get non-Christians to live like Christians when Christians don't live like Christians; but we are asking them to do something impossible.
I support a full sex education in all public schools. Kids are going to have sex. We need to have abstinence training at our churches in our youth groups and in our families. Our kids are still (more than likely) going to have sex. Beyond abstinence training we need to have grace and forgiveness training. We need to abolish the idea that if you have lost your virginity you are worthless to Christ.
At church camp last summer I had a high school kid confess that he had slept with his girlfriend. He grieved so heavily at his sin that he cried. I have never felt greater joy in my life than when I looked him in the eye and told him. "Your sins are forgiven."
posted by Michael Airgood at 8:26 AM
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