The month of November is winding down and I am coming to a close on this series of abstinence and the Christian single. When all is said and done, waiting to make love to your man (when he becomes your husband) is loving your body, mind, and soul….and showing true love for his.
There are too many repercussions, spiritual perils, and physically life threatening dangers involved with premarital sex. Saving sex for marriage is a joy and truly worth the wait.
As promised, I am sharing with you a few statistics on the subject. Abstinence is not a celebrated hot topic across the globe. Yet in spite of this, for the glory of our God, we must strive to do what is right.
In spite of varying opinions and disputes on who is or isn’t having premarital sex, there are some incontestable facts about abstinence.
Abstinence prevents pregnancy 100%.
Abstinence prevents the transmission of sexual diseases 100%.
Abstinence before marriage is 100% what God desires.
According to the American Pregnancy Association…
“Individuals who abstain from sexual intercourse during their teenage years tend to have fewer sexual partners in their future. Remaining abstinent as a teenager means that you will be less likely to:”
Contract a sexually transmitted disease
Become infertile
Develop cancer of the cervix
Experience an unplanned pregnancy
Although I found more articles related to premarital sex and teenagers, I challenge that the same perils exist for adults. Adults also find themselves at risk for disease and unplanned pregnancy. Yes, most of us are grown now. But infections and diseases like HIV, hepatitis, herpes, syphilis, and genital warts are still among us.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are approximately 19 million new STD infections each year. These infections can lead to irreversible complications such as reproductive health problems and cancer, according to www.healthypeople.gov.
The American Pregnancy Association lists several pros to abstinence. Among them are….
No side effects or health risks
Reduces emotional and psychological challenges that relates to relationships and sex
Abstinence is free!
I really love the “FREE” benefit of abstinence. The cost of sexual sin is all over the map, effecting our emotional, physical, and spiritual life. Buy now and pay later does not exist with waiting. There is no risk of loss, injury, or opportunity.
What God has ordained, He has done so with purpose and excellent reason.
If there is a cost associated with making the decision to wait until marriage, it is having faith and discipline. Yet once you invest these costs, you will find that they will pay you back enormous dividends. You can only reap benefits when you make a decision to do what is right for your soul, mind, and body.
If you choose this day forward to practice abstinence
there is no loss or detriment to who you are or what you will become.
Glenn Stanton writes in his book, The Ring Makes All the Difference, living together before marriage may result in, violent behavior, a husband who is less committed, and less emotional support.
Although there is an increase of couples engaging in premarital sex and/or living together before marriage, the divorce rate does not get better. This dispels the myth that couples who live together first will have a successful marriage.
After reviewing these and other statistics I am still lead to conclude that waiting until marriage before having sex is the best the choice for all men and women. Maybe we really are a society who wants to wait but perhaps we don’t know how to overcome the pressures of society and our own bodies? This question prompts what will be my last post in this series of sex and the Christian single….
Stay tuned….
-Candra Evans
