Know Your Bible


VOL. 14                                                                                                      September 20, 2015                                                                                                               NO. 28

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 CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS TO TEEN PREGNANCIES 4


It is my hope and preyer that you have benefited from the previous three articles in this series. Let us conclude our exploration of solutions to the crisis of teenage pregnancy. Why do we have a crisis of teenage pregnancy? 


18. Because we do not seek out mates for our children that have the same values. I know of fathers who visit other congregations so that their teenagers will meet other faithful Christians. If your child comes in contact only with those lacking in moral values, then that is all they have to choose from. The result of following this advice (to put your child in contact with other teenagers with high moral values) is that no pressure will be put on one or the other because they both want to do what the Lord says to do. 


19. Because "sex education" is nothing but a failure. Young girls are taught how to put a condom on a cucumber. How does this "sex education" stop the boy from slipping the condom off without the girl knowing it? Is the teen pregnancy rate going down because children are taught how to "prevent pregnancy?" That answer is clearly no! But, as it would seem, according to school policy it is a crime to tell the same child that sex outside of marriage is against the wishes of their Creator. 


The Bible says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7). And that is the reason why the world is so messed up today. Rather than accepting the instructions of the One who knows the most about us, because He created us, we reap the error of our rejection of those essential instructions. 


20. Because parents do not realize that it is simply unacceptable to make the excuse "I have not been perfect in the past so that justifies me from refusing to change what I can in the present." When we learn better, we should do better. And we should be determined that if we are imperfect on anything, it will be because of what we do not know to do. For what great shame there is in a parent who knows of something that he could do to benefit their child but refuses to do it. 


21. Because there may be a corrupting influence within the family or a near relative. Relatives sometimes encourage immorality. Sometime we as parents have to get to the root that leads to the sexual act, a pattern of thinking. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he”, (Proverbs 23:7). We are a product of our thinking. If an older male (family member or not) tells a younger male that he isn't anything unless he has "a lot of women," then the parents need to talk to that child about the consequences of that line of thinking. The child needs to be told that "a lot of women" ultimately leads to a lot of children that he can't take care of. They also should seek to limit the continued influence of that male with their child. We must also be careful of the advice our daughters get from family members too. 


22. Because parents fail to teach their children that doing unto others as we would have them do unto us applies to sex as well. There are many children who can see this point if it is properly made. Many children can look around and see homes where the family is what it should be with two parents who love each other and love their children. They can see how these other children have their needs met. They can understand how a child benefits from the example of two parents demonstrating their love for each other and their children. Then ask them, would you want that for yourself? Ask them would they want that for their child? Ask them, don't your future children deserve a mother and a father who are committed to them in love? Then ask them, "Isn't it selfish to engage in an act that will lead ultimately to a child having less than you would want for yourself?" 


23. Because some of us fail to realize that the temptation of sex is often made greater than it needs to be because it is inflamed by what we see, hear and various compromises to our conscience. If one drinks liquor, sex may become more appealing. If one views various forms of pornography, then one my find the temptation of sex to be greater. If one is continually involved in "heavy petting," then the temptation of sex will be greater. A man or woman, boy or girl who wants to please the Creator will not allow their bodies to be stimulated under the delusion that “we won't go all the way." 


24. Because parents do not utilize the power of prayer for our children. Paul said to Timothy, his "beloved son" in the gospel, "I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day" (2 Timothy 1:2-3). Let us pray night and day for our children that they may not stray, always remembering that "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16). 


Conclusion: 


We need to realize that, if Christ is in our hearts, thus the word of God dwelling in our hearts by faith, we will have the strength to be more than conquerors (Please read Ephesians 3:17; Romans 8:36-39). Let's remember the inspired words of the apostle Paul, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). The more we love righteousness, the less we will love sin (Matthew 5:6)! 


—Abraham Smith



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THE REAL TEST


It is always easier to walk with the crowd, to agree when everyone else is agreeing, to go with the flow. However, it is how we stand when we have to stand in opposition that is often the real test of our faith in God.


"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). To be a true Christian means to oppose evil. To stand with Christ often means to stand against people and ideas that are set against Him. While a Christian is to be patient and loving, he or she is not to be passive. A Christian is a soldier in a war.


Christ displayed such a character. While He was meek and gentle, He could also be aggressive and bold: “I tell you, no: but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men..." (Mark 7:8). "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves” (Matthew 23:15).


It was not that Jesus was trying to be offensive, but in standing for what was right it was necessary for Him to oppose certain beliefs, teachings, and even people. It was necessary to tell people what they needed to hear rather than what they wanted to hear.


Some religious people who claim to follow Christ are not willing to oppose anything or anybody. They believe the way of Christ dictates a totally positive approach where one never challenges any belief or practice, even if it is in clear opposition to the way of Christ.


How much do you believe in God? How much do you trust the Bible as God's word? How convinced are you that Jesus is God's Son? How committed are you to the Bible's standard of righteousness? If you are truly faithful to God and firm in your devotion to His will, then you must stand against whatever opposes these things.


It is easy to speak up for Christ when others are doing the same. The real test, though, comes when we must speak for Him when others are speaking against Him or His word. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

—Phillip Mullins


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Know Your Bible" is e-mailed weekly by the church of Christ which meets at 112 Roberts Avenue in Wise, Virginia. If you know of others who might benefit from the articles contained in this bulletin, we would be glad to have you submit their e-mail addresses and we will include them in next week's mailing. If you are receiving this bulletin and do not wish to continue to do so, please e-mail us with your desire to be removed from the mailing list and we will remove your address promptly. Continue to the bottom of this page and further instructions will be given as to how you may contact us.


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