Why Young Christians Aren't Waiting Anymore

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/27/why-young-christians-arent-waiting-anymore/

Short article, good read. Brings up a critical point in the fight for abstinence: people are marrying later nowadays 


Excerpt from article below:

Yet the article also asks a question that rarely comes up in discussions about abstinence movement. Relevant notes that in biblical times, people married earlier. The average age for marriage has been increasing in the U.S for the last 40 years.

Today, it’s not unusual to meet a Christian who is single at 30 - or 40 or 50, for that matter. So what do you tell them? Keep waiting?

Scot McKnight, author of “The Jesus Creed,” and "One.Faith: Jesus Calls, We Follow," acknowledges that young, single Christians face temptations that their counterparts in the biblical age didn’t face.

He  tells Relevant:

Sociologically speaking, the one big difference – and it’s monstrous – between the biblical teaching and our culture is the arranged marriages of very young people. If you get married when you’re 13, you don’t have 15 years of temptation.

What is the answer? Why are Christians waiting so long to marry? What isn't marriage appealing anymore?  Are the young men getting their physical needs met with no strings attached--leaving them with no hurry? Are the young ladies looking for someone with wealth--passing all the faithful, humble men by, who can only provide enough? Has materialism infiltrated their young hearts? 

According to the article, 80% of young, unmarried evangelicals have had sex.

Depressing news, yes. But God is big enough to set our own children apart, friends! We must pledge to stand with them, never leaving them vulnerable. We must teach our girls that, unquestionably, they are worth waiting for...that God's plan is beautiful. And to our boys, we must teach the same, as well as the principal that each girl belongs to God. They may not steal.

We must spend time with our children, filling up their emotional cups, so they won't look elsewhere for a false filling. Family is a formidable force. Outside of the Holy Spirit's power and our prayers, family is the strongest weapon we have against Satan.

Let's look at every aspect of our lives, identifying all the things that weaken our family bond.

Then, eradicate. One by one. Let's make family a rock for our children!

Discipling Boys: Looking At God's Design

Barna Research Groups, back in 2009, found that only 9% of Americans have a biblical worldview. I've seen a more recent quote of 4%, but I can't find a Barna survey to back the lower number.


In any case, be forewarned; my worldview is "radically" Christian. Only about 4% of Americans are going to agree with me, and you might not be one of them.


But.....please read my series on discipling boys anyway? Everything I write on the subject is covered in prayer, meaning, you can safely assume God's voice will prevail.


In regard to every life issue, I ask: What does God want? If the Bible doesn't specifically address a life issue, I then ask: What can be assumed from God's design of our bodies....or of the earth? Our Father is omniscient--all knowing. Everything He created, down to the last detail, was intentional.


Boys today enter puberty between the ages of 9 and 14 years old (girls between 8 and 13 yrs. old), with the entire process taking 3 to 4 years. Researchers believe that improved nutrition, fewer diseases, and increased body fat, contributed to earlier puberty rates over time for both boys and girls. My own son, quite lean but with stellar nutrition, developed adult perspiration odor two months before he turned 9. Now, at nearly 10 years old, he has no other puberty signs, save for a new consciousness around girls. He will either have an earlier than average puberty, or one that is unusually drawn out.


To say I'm shocked by these developments is an understatement. What was God thinking? My son can't get married for years! How is a Christian boy to remain pure until marriage, while waiting at least ten years to "express" himself?


With God, all things are possible. I fully expect my sons to enter their marriage beds pure and undefiled. It will happen through the power of the Holy Spirit, bolstered by intentional discipleship from home. I will never allow my boys, nor my girls, to be alone in their fight for righteousness--especially while they're still under my roof. Once they're gone, my prayers will strengthen them.


Make no mistake, the quest for righteousness is a fight! Less than 1 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 - 23 have a biblical worldview.


I'd call that a fight.


Looking at how God designed our bodies, we can see He wanted physical tension there early...before the age of marriage opportunity. Why? Isn't this setting young people up for moral failure?


No. I believe the tension encourages young men to work hard preparing to support a wife, as the Bible commands. It focuses boys on the future, rather than on today. Indeed, the harder they work, the earlier they can marry and enjoy the cord of three strands (God, man, wife).


We know God's design for a man's life; the Bible clearly states what is required. 


1. A man must marry and have one wife.

1 Corinthians 7:2
But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.



2. A cord of three strands--God, man, wife--will withstand the Enemy. God must be present in the union.

Ecclesiastes 4:11-12
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.



3. A man must leave his parents and properly cleave to his wife--not relying on his parents for physical or emotional support.

Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.



4. A man must physically provide for his wife and children (food, shelter, clothing).

1 Timothy 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.



5. A man must be the spiritual head of his wife.

Ephesians 5:25-27
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.



6. A man must disciple his children--not leaving this duty solely to his wife.

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.



In light of these Biblical mandates, we see why God needed to give boys early physical passions. Much is required of them, and they must be wholly focused on becoming the man God designed them to be. The physical passions are incentive--they are God-designed, part of being fearfully and wonderfully made. 


But certain conditions aggravate them, enabling the Enemy to invade. I'm speaking about the constant presence of the opposite sex, such as in institutional settings. In contrast, when young men spend the majority of their time with their families, with cable TV and other visual media absent or strictly monitored, and they see girls only in the group context of family or church hospitality, the tension tempers. It fuels the work ethic, but doesn't overwhelm a young man. 


Time spent away from the prize (a potential wife) allows a boy to study, learn trade skills, and soak up spiritual lessons from the Bible and from his parents. He can also practice living sacrificially, as he dwells with his mother and sisters, learning to interpret their hearts


You might be thinking, "But my own husband doesn't even do all these things!"


Yes. True. Many of our own husbands are still learning these things. Media and popular culture, moral relativism, the obsessive aspect of electronics, and the mere act of leaving young people alone, have all created a crisis in our culture. Young boys and men are lost, and it started the minute we departed from God's design for the family.


When we look at God's design for our bodies, along with Scriptural mandates, it becomes clear what God desires for our young boys and girls.


The question is, as a parent, what is your worldview? Are you with the 4%, or the 96%? The answer to this question will determine the spiritual health of your boy, his marriage, his children, and his future relationship with you.


What worldly ideas and things have invaded your heart and your home, stealing you away from your first love...your Heavenly Father? We must "clean house" first, before we can spiritually guide our children. 


Trust His design. Be fearless in your pursuit of it.



photo credit

Caldecott Medal Monday, 2000: Joseph Had A Little Overcoat

Simms Taback won the 2000 Caldecott Medal for Joseph Had A Little Overcoat, a charming story based on the Yiddish folk song I Had A Little Overcoat.  Style and techniques featured include watercolor, gouache, pencil, ink, and collage. The affect is eye-catching, colorful, bold, but not overdone. Children will never tire of Taback's artwork, and the story itself is simple to read, with just one sentence gracing most pages. One part, "Joseph had a little _____. It was old and worn" repeats throughout the book, allowing pre-readers to join in.


The main character, Joseph, a Jewish farmer, owned an old, worn overcoat. Each time it became too worn, he used its fabric to make something else--something smaller. Holes in the illustrations (die-cut technique) peek through and give children a hint of what garment Joseph made next. 


With each successive reading of this gem, we're newly charmed. I check it out several times yearly, and we continue to find surprises in the illustrations.


I highly recommend Taback's entire body of literary & illustrated works for pre-readers and new readers. The use of folk songs, rhymes, and repetition is perfect for these children. What a pleasure, a gift, and a help his body of work is to children, parents, and teachers!


Visit teaching background and ideas for Joseph Had a Little Overcoat.

Simms Taback also won a 1998 Caldecott Honor Medal for I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly




Visit his official site for a complete list of his works, for information about his artwork, his life, and for videos and interviews.


More works:








These book jackets and more can be found on Taback's website.

Revelation Song - Kari Jobe

We sang this in church this morning. I love the music at our new church! We've been attending a small (150 - 200 people) non-denominational church that meets in the local elementary school. It's a church plant based out of a larger church about 30 minutes away. We wanted something really close to home, in case our van gave out and we needed to walk! So far that hasn't happened, and since the nights have reached 30 degrees, I hope it doesn't happen anytime soon.

Anyhow, sometimes corporate worship sends me to my knees emotionally; this morning was one of those times. The pastor, similarly affected, came up after this song to bid us goodbye for the week. Tears threatened. He fought them, but he still couldn't speak more than a couple words.

We've been studying the Book of Revelation for several weeks, and I think we're all learning, anew, how to fear and worship the Almighty God.

I love the theology in this song, as much as the emotion.

Worthy is the,
Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat
[Repeat 2x]

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You…!
Yeah!

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King,
Yeah

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore You!
Yeah!
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/g/gateway_worship/revelation_song.html ]
Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah...

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come, yeah
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore You!

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come,
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore YOU…

(Chorus) (Repeat at a cappella)

Come up lift up His Name
To the King of Kings…
We will adore YOU Lord…
King of heaven and earth
King Jesus, King Jesus
Aleluya, aleluya, aleluya!
Majesty, awestruck Honor
And Power and Strength and Dominion
To You Lord,
To the King, to King
To the King of Glory

(Singer: Kari Jobe)

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/g/gateway_worship/#share

The Prayer Warrior Life: A Mother's Prayers

I may not know you personally, but I know what your days are like.


If you're a momma you work hard, often into the wee hours of the morning, investing in your children emotionally, with hugs and loving words, and physically, with broccoli and oranges and apple slices. You wash, fold, and hang, vacuum mud and leaves, sweep crumbs, Lego Creator pieces, and Light Bright pegs.


You worry about fevers, wheezes, infected cuts. You devour parenting books in five minute chunks while on the toilet. You read parenting blogs to make sure you're understanding it all, and to commiserate with other moms in the trenches.


You take them to the library, to museums, and buy them educational toys. You teach, correct, repeat. Teach, correct, repeat. You devise systems for chores and other responsibilities.


Your children are your life. You're loving them sacrificially, giving everything.


But, could you be forgetting something? Maybe your own fallibility? And the Lord's power?


Are you, perhaps, forgetting.....prayer?


Pray for your children. Pray for their hearts, that they'll belong to the Lord. Pray they'll offer themselves as living sacrifices...laying down their lives for Him, for His purposes.


Isn't this what you really want? 


You want them to heal when they hurt, yes. You want them to do well in school, yes. You want them to work hard and accomplish, yes.


But don't forget their hearts.


The greatest mother--the one with whom He is well pleased--is the one who mothers on her knees, praying for her children's hearts.


He wants their hearts, not letters behind their name, showing accomplishment. He wants your heart--not a mother who pats herself on the back, each time her children shine.


Humble yourself. Give Him the gift of your heart...their hearts.


Pray.


To read more of my prayer journey, check out Into a Life of Prayer: A Journey Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

To read even more, check out The Prayer Warrior Life part 1; part 2; part 3; part 4; part 5, part 6, Part 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

A sweet friend, Amy, wrote guests posts for us, telling of her prayer journey: Vol. 1, and Vol. 2, and Vol. 3, Vol. 4, Vol. 5


photo credit