sex and the teen

I was blog-hopping a few minutes ago and I came across Pek Kwan's post about sex, love and friendship. It's odd because just two days ago I read this article on what the bible says about pre-marital sex. Interesting read.

Solomon's Line on Pre-Marital Sex by John Thomas
(Whole article available here: Boundless Webzine)

The first time I read the Song of Songs in the Bible I thought, No. Way. I immediately grabbed a friend's Bible to see if his featured the same book. "Dude, have you read this?! This is unbelievable!"

"What? What is it?"

"Clusters, man! They're talking about climbing palm trees and taking hold of clusters! IN THE BIBLE! It's right here!" I was a teen Christian with active hormones and my grandmother's prayers were finally being answered because I suddenly developed an intense hunger for the Word. Hallelujah!

Over time, of course, I realized that the relationship described in Solomon's Song, including those face-blushing palm tree and cluster verses, occurred within a specific context. In the midst of beautiful, poetic language about the stages of a relationship that start with a glance and eventually lead to the honeymoon, the author charges us three times, "Do not arouse or awaken love until it pleases," or, as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson in The Message, "Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe — and you're ready." ...

That's not the whole article. To summarize the article, it basically means that although the Bible does not say anything about pre-marital sex, it's still wrong. Because...(here's another excerpt)

I ask these young, unmarried singles, does the community — your friends, family,
church — celebrate your private, sexual liaisons? When it appears that a
pregnancy might result, is there rejoicing?
No, of course not.
Why not?
The timing is wrong.
The context is
wrong.
A private affair is being forced out into the public and
is clouded by shame. You've "aroused love before its time." There will
be pain, disappointment and sadness. Compare that to the tone of Solomon's Song.
The couples' sexual life in the Song of Solomon takes place within the context
of a lifelong commitment of marriage, and the community rejoices. It will
produce grandbabies, nieces, nephews, more members of the little platoon of the
family. The couples' sex life is ultimately a social benefit. That, I say to my
young single friends, is a picture of sex in the proper context.

from Vicky's World.

For those of you who still don't get it, sex is good, and it's also holy, but is only for the enjoyment of a husband and a wife.

Any time other than that is unholy and not good.

Sex is more than a symbol of passion-it's a sign of commitment a couple show to each other, an expression of their dedication to one another's lives and to procreate, of course. Haha.