Ok, right after blogging about being proud of praying on the Texas State Campus, I need to tell you about a study a couple of professors came out with. 

A foundation called the Texas Freedom Network, paid Texas State University to study the effects of our state’s sex education curriculum.  The foundation mentioned above has a mission to “counter the religious right”.  So, what do you think the purpose of the survey was?  It was to prove that “abstinence only” sex education is not working.  The Texas Freedom Network wants to “free” our society of ‘imposed’ morality standards.  They promote “religious freedom” (which really means freedom from religion) and “individual rights” (which means we should all do anything we want). 

So, the faculty of Texas State, comprehensively studied all of our Texas public school sex education programs.  What do you think they found out?  Well, I have read the report  and you can too: click here.

The bottom line was that abstinence only plans are not working in our schools.  But, as a pastor, I knew that would happen.  Why?

Abstinence does not work unless you LOVE God.  You can give kids all the tips and scare tactics.  Even talk to them about a fiery hell that awaits.  But, if the single person does not have an authentic love for God, abstinence fails.  We choose not to sin because it hurts the ones we love.  I choose to not commit adultery because it would hurt my wife and my God.  My lovers.  Not because I might get an STD or get someone pregnant.  My love for my spouse and my God is so healthy that I don’t desire adultery.  (on a side-note: I went through abstinent programs in high school and went without sex through high school).

The concept of abstinence for a Christian is a moral issue.  It is not a health topic.  Sure, the health dangers are a tool to make a case, but the foundational issue for abstinence is worship to God.  It says that His way is better than our way.  I do not expect any non-Christian to understand that.

What does the secular, scientific crowd want taught in schools concerning sex?  Dangers of STDs?  How someone gets pregnant?  How contraception techniques work and what their effectiveness/failure rate? BTW, even tying tubes and vasecomies fail.  I got that lecture already by my urologist.  Your thoughts?

Everyone knows there is a problem, but we define the problem differently:

Secularists say:

• “we don’t want disease being spread.”  However, using their reasoning: Why not?  We are all multi-cell organisms that are breeding our normal cycles.  There is no such thing as marriage or long-term relationships.
• “We don’t want teenage pregnancies.”  However, using their reasoning: Why not?  We are creating a Government that will take care of them financially.  They seem to be able to carry them to term and deliver normally?  After birth, they live with their mom/grandparents.  Men and women offer the same care and their is no need for a man (and/or woman specifically).
• “We don’t want religious people imposing their demeaning judgements on our kids” – We want to be free people!  We want to have individuality!

Ok, so this is a little tongue-in-cheek, but how could a secularist say that is it not right, good, or appropriate?  Secularism has no measuring stick for these terms.

A lot of people, in the name of Christianity, say a lot of horribly stupid things.  Just because some call themselves a title doesn’t necessarily mean they have earned that right.  I could list a long list of ignorant things Christians have also said.  However, let me take a stab at what I think is authentic:

• Jesus said, “”But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one.”
• Paul said, “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.   You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.”

Here, we have the foundation for marriage and intimacy and the reason why people stray away from it. 

As a parent of a young kids, 1 in public school and 1 starting kindergarten next year, I understand it is MY responsibility to teach the principles of Jesus and Paul mentioned above to my kids.  It is not the churches nor the school’s responsibility. 

I don’t think I want the teachers in the public schools teaching my kids theology.  I have a hard enough time making sure all the Sunday School teachers are on the right track.  BTW, we have some of the best ever atPSM!

However, I will speak up when schools don’t teach fact, but indoctrinate with the religion of secular/humanism.

-robin