5.28.2006

P.S. Let's Have More Teen Pregnancy

I forgot to share this article that John shared with me. John has heard the author on public radio before. She's a thoughtful author, and reading this piece was time well spent.

Spun by Abigail on Sunday, May 28, 2006

11 comments :

Novac said...

"I believe in making the world safe for our children, but not our children's children, because I don't think children should be having sex."
-- Jack Handey

5/29/2006 2:05 AM
barefootkangaroo said...

That was a very interesting article. Some new ideas for me.

5/29/2006 9:56 AM
Anonymous said...

That "heroic abstinence" (her words) grated for me.

Marry young . . . marry old . . . above all marry when God wants you to marry, and whom God wants you to marry.

5/29/2006 10:17 AM
Abigail said...

Rundy,
I don't know much about the author, but she's a member of the Orthodox church, and it's likely that she'd agree with you. Most of her reading audience probably come to her article with the presuppositions about youthful marriage that she addresses. To add to your comment, marry if God wants you to marry.

5/29/2006 12:51 PM
Unknown said...

She addresses a lot of the liberal gobbledegook surrounding the issue. I wasn't surprised that at the end of the article, it came forth that she went to church. She sounded Christian.

I do suspect, however, that between feminism and on-demand abortions, liberalism has largely created the teen pregnancy problem.

Earlier marriage could perhaps be a remedy. Yet even the author admits that our current social dynamic (liberalism) does not support it.

Christians need to realize that they exclusively have the answer to this problem. Christ can bring any human desire under His authority, even if it seems beyond control.

It irks me sometimes how Christian mentors discuss marriage with youth as if it will happen to everyone eventually, if not sometime soon. (In Reformed circles, marriage tends to be set up as the end-all-to-be-all for young ladies. A lot of my friends take for granted, as a result, that they will marry.) Since God's will is rarely conventional, why make such presumptions? But then again, it never hurts to be prepared. :)

6/01/2006 5:42 PM
Rebecca said...

I thoroughly enjoyed the article. Thanks for sharing!

Am I allowed to address other commenters on your blog-or is there a blog ethic I am not aware of? I will take my chances just this once...

In regards to a.l's comment: As far as presumptions go, I think the biblical NORM is for man and wife not to be alone-as the Lord granted a union of body and soul from the beginning of time and the beginning of man. That is not to say that EVERY person will marry, for the Lord uses the singleton in great ways also. But, I would safely say that presuming marriage will eventually happen is a safe bet. The Lord, generally, uses marriage as a means to further his kingdom. I think it would be encouraging to see young women glory in the role that the Lord has given women from the beginning of time. The danger lies in when they are discontent with their station while/if that isn't happening. Each person has gifts, but to reject such things because they are not the 'gifts' you want to be sharing, is sinful. After all, His will not ours. But lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Generally, the Lord DOES bless women (AND men) with the blessing of marriage. And it is GOOD.

6/05/2006 7:09 AM
Unknown said...

I totally agree that absolutely everyone should be spiritually ready to marry (young), and willing to use their gifts to serve a family. There is everything right about early preparation for marriage.

But there's no reason for a single person to squander or belittle his current ability to advance the kingdom of God. Kingdom work starts upon entrance into the Kingdom--it does not start when you marry, but merely takes on a different form. Moreover, the idea of marriage is often a distraction for a teenager like me, who needs to focus on the more immediate work God has given. Young girls so often fall into this pit, idolizing married life as if it were an ultimate source of fulfillment and worth, talking about it as if it's the ultimate purpose of their life. This is just not the case! What I meant to say above (but did not say), is that sometimes the church helps along this natural mindset of young ladies, instead of channeling the need for fulfillment and worth into a desire for fellowship with God.

If we (youth) did what God put in front of us (in our relationships, work, education, home life, etc.), we would be far better prepared for marriage than if we spend our time thinking about marrying someday. David didn't become a king by thinking about being a king or planning his life around his future kingship. When God called him, he was tending sheep. Obedience in the current situation is all God requires for high calling--and in fact, specific anticipation isn't all that helpful. 1., it easily becomes idolatrous fantasy. 2., it diverts attention from the present, wasting the time and energy that one should spend obeying God's present call.

So why talk about the possibility of marriage a whole lot? Just do what you're supposed to do, and if God calls you to marriage (as He probably--but not always--will), you'll be ready. (the Bible's content reflects this: how often does it address young men and young women separately about marriage, and how often does it give general directions for maintaining an obedient and fervent relationship with God? Not much Biblical content focuses on preparation for marriage, because not much is needed after the general ground rules of faith and obedience.)

That is my (albeit unromantic) perspective. I sounded terrible up above, but this was what I meant.

6/05/2006 7:36 PM
Anonymous said...

A.L said,

Young girls so often fall into this pit, idolizing married life as if it were an ultimate source of fulfillment and worth, talking about it as if it's the ultimate purpose of their life. This is just not the case! What I meant to say above (but did not say), is that sometimes the church helps along this natural mindset of young ladies, instead of channeling the need for fulfillment and worth into a desire for fellowship with God.

If we (youth) did what God put in front of us (in our relationships, work, education, home life, etc.), we would be far better prepared for marriage than if we spend our time thinking about marrying someday.

Well said. Your later point about how it can become an idolatrous fantasy is one I have also observed.

6/06/2006 9:02 AM
Anonymous said...

I say well said, too. I also want to add, at the risk of being redundant to what A.L. said, a passage from 1 Cor. 7:29-35

"What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live as though they had none; those who mourn as though they did not; those who are happy, as if they are not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs--how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can please his wife--and his interests are divided. An umarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord."

I have many other words I could pile on, but I'm thinking that in this case, "The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?" probably applies to me, and I ought to leave it as is.

6/06/2006 10:02 AM
Rebecca said...

True True. I too have observed and have been concerned with the amount of discontent that arises when women (specifically) are 'waiting' to be married. They forego their individual gifts for the sake of POSSIBLE marital gifts-for what? Thank you for reiterating, not that I was OFFENDED, but I understand better where you are coming from. Truly, as you said... "If we (youth) did what God put in front of us (in our relationships, work, education, home life, etc.), we would be far better prepared for marriage than if we spend our time thinking about marrying someday. David didn't become a king by thinking about being a king or planning his life around his future kingship. When God called him, he was tending sheep. Obedience in the current situation is all God requires for high calling--and in fact, specific anticipation isn't all that helpful. 1., it easily becomes idolatrous fantasy. 2., it diverts attention from the present, wasting the time and energy that one should spend obeying God's present call."

I couldn't agree more. :-) Rebecca

6/07/2006 7:06 AM
Anonymous said...

Since Abby doesn't have access to a computer, here is a far inferior update from me (I just saw her today), for those of you who are curious.

Upon first laying eyes upon Susanah, I was informed that they call her "Sausage", which is spot on--round and fat, and very delicious. I'm not normally one for kissing other peoples' babies (my siblings at baby stage, yes, but not other peoples babies), but Susannah is un-resistably kissable. She is bright eyed and bushy tailed, and totally ticklish. And she that wonderful baby smile!

Millie and Deirdre didn't quite know what to make of each other. Both girls are used to playing "leader" not follower, but since Millie was on her home turf (Grandma's house, actually), she won. Deirdre was shy and bashful and didn't know what to do with her self. Millie was full of smiles, and didn't stay put for a second. Cadie over-heard a snippet of their conversation.

Mille: "What did you say?" grinning at Deirdre.
Deirdre: "I said, you're rediculous."
Millie (innocence abounding): "Me? No, I'm not!"

(Just for the record, they're both rediculous.)

I didn't see much of Annika (who was taking a nap most of the time), but she looks like such a mischief maker every time I see her. Instead, she chose to hide behind her mother, despite Deirdre's attempts to socialize. Although, I must say, Annika is very good at making fish faces.

Abby is also full of smiles, and, also just for the record, does not have a double chin. (And she can't claim she spent the whole visit jutting her chin, as she quite towers over me, and had to spend most of her time looking down to talk to me. Still no double chin.) At this time, she is probably also burnt, burnt, burnt. Out working in the garden with a sleeveless shirt and no-sunblock means that she will fairly glow in the dark tonight.

She says as soon as thing settle down a bit more, she hopes to get on the computer once a week for email and such, so we can hope that Shotsnaps will soon have updates from it's rightful author.

6/21/2006 5:24 PM

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