Good News For Youth (GNFY) published under the oversight of the Alkire Rd Church of Christ elders and posted by permission of the editor.
Obviously, this is no guarantee that your date will not get of line or suggest that you engage in sexual activities. But if they do get out of line, you can always remind them that they are Christians and that God knows what you are doing.
Remember that regardless of where you are, God is aware of what you are doing (Psalms 139:7-12). The knowledge that God is watching my every move and listening to my every word should make it easier to do the right thing.
I may hide my sins from mom and dad, from the elders or the preacher, but I can never hide it from God.
As such you have a great responsibility -- the responsibility to let your light shine before others (Matt 5:16).
Ask yourself, "How can I convert my boyfriend or girlfriend when I am acting like a child of the devil rather than a child of God?"
How would you go about asking your date to attend services with you after engaging in immoral behavior.
They might not say it to your face, but they will probably conclude that you are a hypocrite! And they would be absolutely right.
Girls, this is primarily for you, but dress like a Christian lady. If you dress like a slut, you can expect to be treated like one.
When you wear low cut blouses, shorts, halter tops, mini skirts, slit skirts, or see through clothing, you can expect problems with your date. Such clothing is designed for one thing only, sex appeal, to turn the guys on. And you will find that it is much easier to turn a guy on than it is to turn him off. Girls have a hard time grasping this concept, because they are not affected by such immodest clothing to the same degree that guys are, but it is still true.
Girls, when you get ready to put on that immodest outfit ask yourself the following questions:
1. "Why do I want to wear it? Is it to be sexy? Is it to make the guys look at you?"
2. "Will this outfit help me to be chaste? or to be chased?"
3. "Is wearing that outfit going to help me be a better Christian?"
4. "Will this outfit help me let my light shine before my friends?"
5. "Will what I'm wearing make it easy or difficult for my date to behave himself?"
Plan dates where you are around other people. Have a planned activity. Stay out of parked cars and never stay at home when no one else is there.
Joseph is a good example of this -- he fled from temptation in Genesis 39. It would seem that Potiphar's wife (i.e., Joseph's master) tried to seduce him on more than one occasion (Gen 39:10). Ultimately, she set a trap for him. Look at Genesis 39:11,12: "And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out." Notice Joseph's response; he didn't stand around, he ran. Sometimes the only way to resist temptation is to do like Joseph and run.
Guys, when you find yourself in a compromising, tempting situation, you might have to run -- take her home, leave the party. Do whatever it takes to get out of temptations way.
Girls, you may need to call your parents or a friend to come get you if your date won't take you home.
You may think that this is silly, but it's not. It's how to stay out of trouble!
Young people, in closing let me remind you that the greatest gift you can give your future husband or wife is your purity. Don't throw it away in the back seat of car or anywhere else. Don't be ashamed to let your friends or dates know that you do not engage in such immoral behavior because you are a Christian. Perhaps some will not ask you out, but you will be better off without those kinds of dates!
I would remind you of Paul's admonition to the young man Timothy in I Timothy 5:22: "...keep thyself pure."
-- Mark Bass, April 2001 --
|
|