Tell Your Teen to Wait Until Marriage

“Fix these words of mine in your heats and minds…Teach them to your children” (Deuteronomy 11:18, 19).

Have you talked to your teenagers about why they should wait until marriage to have sex?

Here’s what my parents told me about premarital sex: nothing!

I want my kids to be virgins when they marry. Research shows that young people who marry as virgins are more likely to stay married and to be faithful to one another.

Not everyone places a high value on virginity. Many think sexual purity is unnecessary. Even some Christians feel this way.

Your teens need to know God’s command to be sexually pure is partly for their own happiness. Sex outside of marriage will break your child’s heart and can bring disease or an unplanned pregnancy.

The best way to deal with this issue is to talk openly to your teenager about it. Talk to them about the feelings they may have and the strategies they should use to deal with temptation.

A writer friend of mine told me his dad said to him simply, “Son, you are going to love sex, but you’ve got to wait!”  This open and honest approach brought my friend closer to his dad and motivated him to make the choice to wait.

You are responsible to instruct your children about sex and purity. If you are silent on this subject, your kids will find out the information they want from friends, tabloids or media. It will not be presented from a Christian perspective. Don’t let someone else shape your teens’ values on this major issue.

Kimberly Snider is a missionary to the Philippines.

From “Moments for Moms,” a free email subscription.
Copyright (c) 2005 Women’s Ministries of the Assemblies of God.
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