This article was inspired by a friend who contacted me to share her private painful ordeal and to request confidential prayer. It was not the kind of prayer request one makes in a Sunday School class. Though married as a virgin over a decade ago and never unfaithful to her husband, her gynecologist had just diagnosed her with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). She was in shock. I've heard this scenario too many times to be shocked by the news. I was just sad to encounter another victim of sex divorced from responsibility.
Though every month should be, April is designated National STD Awareness month. Given the current state of world affairs (casualties of war and terrorism around the globe and casualties resulting from rampant crime in our communities) the casualties created daily in America by STD's will likely be eclipsed by the more dominant news items. Not at all wishing to minimize the horror of the destructive acts of terrorists, America needs to be shocked awake, much as we were on 9-11, to an even more deadly and costly tragedy: an epidemic unleashed on our nation by the sexual revolutionaries of the 60's.
In a report by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention titled " Tracking the Hidden Epidemics -- Trends in STDs in the United States 2000", shocking statistics were published. I quote:
"In the United States , more than 65 million people are currently living with an incurable sexually transmitted disease (STD). An additional 15 million people become infected with one or more STDS each year, roughly half of whom contract lifelong infections (Cates, 1999). Yet, STDS are one of the most under-recognized health problems in the country today. Despite the fact that STDS are extremely widespread, have severe and sometimes deadly consequences, and add billions of dollars to the nation's healthcare costs each year, most people in the United States remain unaware of the risks and consequences of all but the most prominent STD -- the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV."
Public policy, attempting to be amoral (free of any moral assessments), addresses the growing problem of STDs, divorced from the true cause. The powers that be (I suspect the disciples of those 60's sexual revolutionaries) are intent upon protecting the behavior behind this epidemic while they honestly care about eliminating the diseases that are epidemic. "Let us insure that the people may keep fornicating with minimal adverse consequences" is the line of thought behind their policies. This I honestly believe.
They apparently live with a hope that science will somehow eventually find a cure for all of these diseases. Undoubtedly, they take comfort in the successes of their policies, having actually reduced some of these diseases. For instance, the CDC report states "Syphilis, in adults and infants, has declined overall and is now at an all time low, presenting an opportunity for elimination of the disease." Like a gambler whose selective memory only recalls his wins and forgets his losses, I see them celebrating the syphilis statement while ignoring other statements and the overriding tone of the CDC report. Consider these statements that they probably ignore or minimize:
"An increase in drug-resistant gonorrhea has been seen in Hawaii and in small clusters in other states." "Genital herpes continues to increase, spreading across all social, economic, racial, and ethnic boundaries, but most dramatically affecting teens and young adults (Fleming, 1997).
The public policy has been and still is predominantly disease-based. They try to use education and clinics to reduce the incidence of disease. Education is used to inform (young people especially) about the risks of sexual activity. The answer provided for these risks is "safe sex", which simply means "use a condom when you fornicate." Clinics are used to screen (especially young people) for these diseases. Obviously, if you identify and treat an infected person before they fornicate with a half dozen other people, you will substantially cut down on the spread of the disease.
What all that public policy misses, however, is the fact that no amount of clinics will screen all of the infected. Furthermore, many infected people have no idea they are infected, just like the lady who called me in shock. Then there is one more uncontrolled (and uncontrollable) variable to this epidemic story that comes from another source. Mark Goldman, a psychology professor at the University of South Florida , researched the drinking practices of college students. Based on results of his research, Goldman estimates these annual consequences of college student drinking: "70,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape" and "400,000 students between 18 and 24 years old reported having had unprotected sex as a result of drinking." Those are terribly frightening statistics.
We have created a culture in the past 40 years where drunkenness and fornicating are normative. Until a new national attitude about sex, alcohol and other drugs is embraced, we shall continue to see this epidemic take its toll on our children, grandchildren, friends and family.
The hope that these diseases will eventually be eliminated is vain. Oh yes, some of these diseases may be conquered. At one time, the total elimination of syphilis from the human race was prophesied by scientists. And for a decade or two, it appeared that they would fulfill their prophecy. Actually, in recent years contrary to their expectations syphilis infections have been consistently rising. I expect to hear about a drug-resistant strain of syphilis in years ahead, rather than a celebration of its total elimination. But what we must expect is that as long as people in our culture think they can operate their sex life, indeed their whole lives, indifferent to God's will for us, we are far more likely to see new diseases, worse diseases, emerge than we are to see significant elimination of old sexually transmitted diseases.
Whatever new venereal diseases may be encountered as well as the new diseases and new strains of diseases which we have encountered in the past 40 years, they are all diseases from which God's commands were intended to truly protect us. Sex was not designed to be dangerous but delightful; neither was it designed to be engaged in as acceptable entertainment for any consenting adults or infatuated youth.
Someone has said, "God's laws last longer than those who break them." They last longer than those who keep them, too. One of the reasons the Bible has remained the unparalleled literary influence in our world over millennia is because of its consistent accuracy. Again and again it outlasts and stands accurate against the contemporary "better ideas" that challenge it. For 40 years America has been forsaking the scriptural wisdom upon which it was founded. God's preachers have protested; they have been mocked. God has granted us freedom to forsake and mock His ways; He does not grant freedom from the consequences of having done so.
What is especially sad to me is how prevalent carnality is within the membership of churches. It stands in such contrast to the Apostle Paul's directive to the church, "Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality . . . " ( Eph 5:3 ). We may not be able to change our culture; we may not be able to check the epidemic of STDs, but we can individually determine to avoid "even the hint of sexual immorality."
Finally, for my generation, the Baby Boomers, I apologize for our misguided leadership to all who have followed us through the sexual revolution. We were wrong. I beg you to forgive us and turn around. I invite you to join me in working to change attitudes in our society about sex, alcohol and other drugs. I suggest you start by sharing this article with a teenager in your life.
Dane Tyner is founder and director of Home Improvement Ministry, a Christian family counseling service in Tulsa, OK.The ministry website is http://www.forhim.org.
» left by Lorrie Davids(4,817) Lorrie Davids (101 days 6 hours ago.)
Dane, this is good information presented well. I am afraid of what this world has become for our kids and grandkids. Sex has become an expected part of dating and the price that is being paid for a few minutes of pleasure is lifechanging. I hope many do print out your article and talk about it with their kids. Respond to this comment
» left by Dane Tyner(496) Dane Tyner (101 days 6 hours ago.)
Thank you. I have seven grandchildren. I pray for them and their parents daily. I hope they will choose the road less traveled and reap the blessings God wants them to enjoy. Thanks again. Respond to this comment
» left by Susan Thom(8,136) Susan Thom (98 days 9 hours ago.)
hi dane,
with a 17, 20, and 22 year old, the idea of sexually transmitted diseases is only one, but a big one, of the reasons i fall off to sleep around 3 a.m. every morning!
kids DO NOT listen. i have had the talk, i have shared my own experiences from the 70's and 80's, and still, they will do as they like when mom isn't around.
i personally don't ever want my babies to have sex :), but i'd rather them take precautions if they are going to, than not.
i also do not believe in any way, shape, or form, that sex is anything God is worrying about in this day and age of masacres happening to our boys and girls in their 20's. i don't like it, but God's love, to me, is much stronger than abolishing one because they had sex, at any age.
i am merely afraid of the physical ramifications, as well as the psychological.
i will find out when i pass how wrong or right i am, and am willing to wait to find out, as i don't agree with sex in young people, but i don't stop loving them and dealing with them in a loving way if they do. i don't believe God, as our Father, does either.
thank you for a well written article,
best regards,
sue thom
» left by Dane Tyner(496) Dane Tyner (98 days 7 hours ago.)
Susan, I know that parenting through the adolescent years is routinely disruptive to our sleep - well, at least for Mom's. I'm glad you have talked with your kids. I encourage you to keep talking. When kids know in their heart that a parent is talking to them because they care, they listen more than they reveal. It's true, we all do what we want to do; and no parent can absolutely control whether or not his/her child will choose to become sexually active. Neither can we control whether or not they will be sexually responsible (to "take precautions"), if they choose to become sexually active apart from marriage. Still, we can and should give them good information. Susan, I believe that in many places the souls of young people are "massacred" because of sexual sin. I KNOW there are "massacres" to reproductive organs because of sexual sin, that leave young women incapable of bearing a child of their own. What a rip-off! I remain certain that these tragic losses grieve our Heavenly Father, as do many of the terrible "front page" news stories. You have a great attitude regarding relating to the person who chooses wrongly. Indeed, we should love him/her. God does love them. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts with me. May God bless you and your children. Respond to this comment
» left by Mr. Keith(1,882) Mr. Keith (96 days 1 hour ago.)
I am so tired of people telling me what God is thinking or has said. I am glad you wrote the article though, it was fairly enjoyable and very well written.
» left by Dane Tyner(496) Dane Tyner (96 days ago.)
Interesting comment, Mr. Keith. I take it you somewhat enjoy being irritated by people like me. Thanks for the nice compliment on the writing. And I do appreciate you reading and taking time to respond. If you get in the mood to be irritated again, please read some of my other postings. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (95 days 18 hours ago.)
Dane,
With all the survival problems worldwide, I'm quite sure God is less than bothered by the sexual activities of American youth. Health problems are widespread, oftentimes self-inflicted, and are caused by many things, not just sex. I'd be interested to hear the religious side come out as strongly against smoking, drinking, obesity, lack of exercise and drugs as they do about sex. As your story portrays, even a young woman who remained celibate until marriage can contract an std. I'm very sorry for her, because her problems are more than the std alone, but what type of article would you write about, or sermon or lesson would you give if she had come to you with a self-inflicted disease, say Diabetes 2, which has nothing to do with sexual activity? I am genuinely interested.
» left by Dane Tyner(496) Dane Tyner (95 days 16 hours ago.)
Hannah, I agree with you whole-heartedly that "the religious side" should speak strongly about issues other than the "sexual activities of American youth". In fact, I did. I addressed the drinking issue about as strongly as the sexual issues. Like you, I am quite disturbed about the growing problem of obesity in our nation. To me, it is an unmistakable sign that our culture is out of contol. Perhaps I will write about that issue one day, but I think I should shed about 15 pounds first (smile). On the other side of this obesity issue, Hannah, is another serious one, that of people who are obsessed with not having any body fat, looking hot, and doing really strange - even unhealthy - things to that end. I think God is interested in that stuff, too. I honestly wonder how you conclude that "God is less bothered by the sexual activities of American youth" than the "survival problems worldwide". Could He not be bothered significantly by both? Could He not be bothered by even more than you and I have raised in our little interaction here? I wonder how you derive your ideas of what bothers and does not bother God? I am genuinely interested, too. Thank you for taking time to read and respond. Respond to this comment
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