11 Known Facts About Premarital Sex

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about premairital sex. This follows this post about atheism.  For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

11 Known Facts About Premarital Sex

A commentary by Daniel Roy Macaraeg




Premarital sex just isn't smart. There are more disadvantages to premarital sex than what society leads us to believe.





Source: Photos.comShould you save sex for marriage?



Many teens and young adults are torn between strong arguments for it and against it.



Some years ago, as I formed and solidified my own beliefs and convictions about this subject, I stumbled upon a book titled Sex, Love, or Infatuation: How Can I Really Know? by Dr. Ray E. Short, professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Wisconsin in Platteville. Dr. Short was a speaker who was popular to college students and school assemblies. Although it was originally published in the 1960s, I think you would still find this book encouraging and enlightening.



He titled chapter 10: "To Be or Not to Be—A Virgin." According to Dr. Short, science had established 11 facts—backed up by solid research—regarding the probable effect of premarital sex on your future marriage:



FACT 1: Premarital sex tends to break up couples.



FACT 2: Many men and women do not want to marry a person who has had intercourse with someone else.



FACT 3: Those who have premarital sex tend to have less happy marriages.



FACT 4: Those who have premarital sex are more likely to have their marriage end in divorce.



FACT 5: Persons and couples who have had premarital sex are more likely to have extramarital affairs as well.



FACT 6: Having premarital sex may fool you into marrying a person who is not right for you.



FACT 7: Persons and couples with premarital sex experience tend to achieve sexual satisfaction sooner after they are married. However…



FACT 8: They are likely to be less satisfied overall with their sex life during marriage.



FACT 9: Poor premarital sexual habits can be carried over to spoil sex in marriage.



FACT 10: Guilt may push a couple into a bad marriage.



FACT 11: Premarital sex robs a couple of "sexual cement."



Facts are still facts. My point is simply this: Premarital sex just isn't smart. There are more disadvantages to premarital sex than what society leads us to believe . Dr. Short doesn't preach or moralize, but his conclusions clearly confirm the teachings of the One who invented sex in the first place—it was God's idea. In the Bible, He inspired the writing of these three powerful verses [among many]:



"Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled , for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous" (Hebrews 13:4Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.



See All..., English Standard Version, emphasis added throughout).



"He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself . He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away" (Proverbs 6:32-33 [32] But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

[33] A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.





See All..., ESV).



"Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his [or her] own body " (1 Corinthians 6:18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.



See All..., ESV).



Aside from the obvious risks of STDs (including AIDS) and unwanted pregnancies, there are those not-so-obvious elements of suffering, betrayal, heartache, remorse, shame and guilt. How often do they show those things in most portrayals of premarital (and extramarital) sex on TV and in movies today? Those few moments of pleasure are just not worth a lifetime of grief and regret.



After getting all the facts, I made the decision some years ago to save sex for my future marriage—a tough and unpopular decision, especially for a guy. But I am convinced I will not regret it.



If you think vertically and go God's way, it will be true happiness and pure joy. And you will never regret it!



You'll find helpful information on saving sex and preparing for a wonderful marriage in the free booklet Marriage and Family: The Missing Dimension .

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Practical Christian Living: Tattoos

An interesting article from www.ucg.org about Tattoos. This follows this post about homosexuality that should definitely be read in these times! For more interesting stories like this click here to follow this blog.

Practical Christian Living: Tattoos
Introduction
Body tattoos show up very often in today's culture. Once, these body etchings were limited to sailors and gang members, but this counter cultural phenomenon is tempting many to have ink injected into their skin. Is it right for a Christian to put marks on his or her body? Would God want you to use your skin as a billboard for your current philosophy of life? What if you change your mind? Tattoos are often painful and expensive to remove. Can we discover any principles in the pages of the Bible? Christianity is a way of life. Christians practice what the Bible teaches, for it is written three times in scripture that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God" (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4, and Luke 4:4). So, it is only natural that a Christian would study the Bible to see if it has anything to say on the matter of wearing tattoos. This guide will lead you to discover the Biblical principles that apply to tattooing one's body.
Why Wear a Tattoo?
People claim to get tattooed for various reasons: For membership in a gang or group, to be cool or even to show independence or rebellion. What other reasons, if any, do you know for acquiring a tattoo?
Relevant scriptures
LEVITICUS 19:28 — "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD."
COMMENT: Bible scholars recognize that the context of the above verse is that of ways to worship God. Just as members of certain gangs today wear an identifying tattoo specific to their gang, worshipers of certain gods had tattoos to identify what god they worshiped. Children's transferable stickers or "tattoos" are not true tattoos as they wash off. Likewise the stamp that amusement parks often place on the hand to allow re-entry is not a violation of the commandment. The red dot that an Indian woman will place on her forehead when she marries (but removes should she become a widow) is not a tattoo. (However, any false religious significance given to the dot would violate the first of the Ten Commandments. The URL for the discussion guide on the First Commandment is www.ucg.org/teenstudy/1stcommandment.htm.)
1. Some feel that by having a tattoo of a Christian symbol or slogan (e.g. a cross, "Praise the Lord," "John 3:16") they honor God. Some say it reminds them of their commitment and making that commitment publicly known. What does the above verse teach us about using tattoos to worship or glorify the true God?
2. Do you think the principle of worship found in John 4:23-24 would apply to wearing a religious tattoo? Why or why not?
JEREMIAH 31:19 — "Surely, after my turning, I repented; And after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, Because I bore the reproach of my youth.'"
3. Some want to be "in." Would you say wearing tattoos is a fad? Are all fads sensible? What criteria do you use to decide which ones to follow?
4. Fashions change, so one day tattoos will be out of style. How long do tattoos remain on the skin?
5. When tattoos are no longer chic, how would one feel who has one? Do Jeremiah's words come close to describing the feeling?
6. People change their minds about what is attractive. Have you ever changed your mind about a clothing style or hairstyle, and then made the change in wardrobe or hairstyle? How hard are tattoos to remove? How painful? How costly?
7. When should we allow the values (including fashions) of the world around us to determine our behavior? Before answering, read and consider James 4:4 and 1 John 2:15-17.
8. Which do you think is wiser: to do something that is permanent but will be popular for only a season, or to not adopt the popular, but passing, fad?
EXODUS 20:12 — "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you."
Another reason some teens get a tattoo is to rebel against their parents. One recent article stated:
"For college students anxious to rebel against their parents' fashion sensibilities, getting a tattoo or piercing may be the modern-day equivalent of the 1960s-era fascination with long hair and love beads." ("Piercings Are A Girl's Best Friend? Body Art Study Shows Gender Preferences"; Source: University of Florida, 2004-12-09, URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041203084256.htm)
9. What does God think of that attitude—i.e. rebelling against one's parents?
10. What benefit is there to honoring one's parents? Why do you suppose that is?
Our bodies?
1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20 — "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."
1. To whom does your body belong?
2. How should we treat our bodies? Does a Christian have an obligation to God regarding caring for his flesh, or is a Christian free to decide what he will do to his flesh?
3. If the body is the temple of God, what do you think of the analogy of a tattooed body being like a temple with graffiti on its walls?
4. There is some evidence tattoos can have negative consequences on one's health*—enough evidence for some states and local communities to have regulations for tattooing facilities, and enough evidence to raise concerns by the European Commission. Is taking unnecessary risks to our health showing proper care for the temple of the Holy Spirit? Why or why not?
* Carolyn Chambers Clark, RN, EdD ( BellaOnline's Holistic Health Editor) lists among the "most common adverse effects of tattoos":
1. Hypersensitivity to the red dye, cinnabar which contains mercury (a known brain contaminant).
2. Photosensitivity to the yellow pigment, cadmium (another toxic metal).
3. Uptake of tattoo pigments by the lymph nodes has been documented, but the long-term effects are unknown.
4. Reports of transmission of syphilis and cutaneous tuberculosis have occurred.
5. Rare complications may include malignant malanomas, basal cell carcinomas, and granulomas at the design site.
6. The most well-known infection from tattooing is hepatitis, which has been transmitted from tattoos. In one study, tattooing accounted for 41% of hepatitis C infections.
(Source: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art20387.asp)
Think positive
1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 — "…whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
1. In light of Leviticus 19:28 (quoted above), do you believe God is glorified by having a tattoo?
2. Who should we try in all things to please?
3. Instead of thinking negatively of what one can't do, think about how a person can apply this principle (doing all to God's glory) positively. That is, what are some things a person could do to glorify God in one's: Appearance, Dress, Body and Attitude
Summary
1. What is the popular opinion among your peers regarding tattoos?
2. Characterize God's point of view of tattoos based upon what you've learned from the Bible.
3. If a friend asked you for advice concerning whether he or she ought to get a tattoo, what would you say?

Related Online Resources
Bible FAQ: What does the Bible say about getting tattoos?Is there a relation between the ritual tattoos of ancient times and the "body art" of today? What biblical principles apply to deciding whether to get a tattoo or not?
Leave a Permanent MarkWhat's up with tattoos?