The Guttmacher Institute, a respected New York-based think tank that studies sexual and reproductive issues, released a study yesterday that said more than nine out of ten Americans, men and women alike, have had premarital sex. I am frankly not sure what to make of these numbers.

What is even more surprising to some is the claim that these high rates extend all the way back to the 1940s, challenging perceptions that people before the 1960s were more chaste than people in recent decades. (Frankly, I am not surprised at this observation at all since I think we romanticize about the previous generation being morally stronger than this one.)

The study is based on interviews conducted in 1982, 1988, 1995 and 2002. The overwhelming majority (33,000 of 38,000) of those surveyed were women. The survey said 95% of the respondents had sex before marriage. And, if the survey is to be believed, women are about as likely to engage in pre-marital sex as men. Lawrence Finer, the author of the report, openly challenges all government sponsored programs that encourage abstinence before marriage so his “agenda” position gives me some pause about his claims. Finer concludes, “The data clearly shows that the majority of older teens and adults have already had sex before marriage, which calls into question the federal governments funding of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs for 12-to-29-year-olds.” He adds, “It would be more effective to provide young people with the skills and information they need to be safe once they become sexually active, which nearly everyone will.”

I, for one, look forward to reading various reactions that will undoubtedly be generated by this report. I am suspicious of numbers this high. My own experience tells me that the number is high, but not this high. One thing I am quite sure about—pre-marital sexual activity is very high and thus the moral teaching of the Christian Church is virtually ignored by those who profess faith and obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord. One cannot help but wonder how the Church will respond to such sexually promiscuous practice. We do not need a reversion to “guilt manipulation” that makes those who sin sexually into second-class people but we sure could use some very serious teaching on spiritual formation, holy abstinence and godly self-discipline. There are lots of “guilty” teens, and young adults, in your congregation and “just say no” is clearly not working. We should put this subject out in the open in the church if we are serious about helping people practice godly chastity. (I seriously question if the will to practice godly chastity still exists in most churches.) I also know that when revival has impacted generations in the past such sins have surfaced through confession by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit within the lives of Christians and converts. There appears to be a lot to confess if the Spirit moves in power again.

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Comments

  1. CJ December 20, 2006 at 10:31 am

    John,
    From what I have read, the surveys do not say anything about people who lived in the 1940’s. They include people born in the 1940’s so these are people who came of age in the 60’s.
    We must also consider that these surveys include randomly selected people who were willing to talk about their sex lives for an hour with a stranger. A survey description is found here: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg.htm. The article by Finer is here: http://www.publichealthreports.org/userfiles/122_1/12_PHR122-1_73-78.pdf. I’d believe 60% or 80% but 95% sounds a little too high.

  2. Gene Redlin December 21, 2006 at 12:39 am

    I guess I believe the data. We Christians have reached a new depth of irrelevance.
    We have no impact on our culture whatsoever.
    Why do we even bother?
    We are inert.
    I’m very pessimistic.

  3. Nathan Petty December 21, 2006 at 9:15 am

    John said “but we sure could use some very serious teaching on spiritual formation, holy abstinence and godly self-discipline.”
    Let me summarize my first 18 years in a SBC church (1950s-1960s): much activity, sincere adults doing what they thought was right and (drumroll, please) virtually no “spiritual formation”. My conclusion is that we had so little spiritual formation because there was almost no living by and in the reality of the Spirit. We lived in another version of a secular society but we (sadly) entertained the same thoughts, fell sway to the same sins, and by the time we were adults we were indistinguishable to the rest of the world. Of my four closest church friends I am the only one married to his first wife (and no credit to me for that).
    To my brother Gene (who I think to be not so pessimistic as he says): You are not inert (I visited your site!). I know John is not inert. I have the opportunity to be alive in Christ.
    My daughter-in-law, married to my unbelieving son, is coming alive to the reality of a risen, indwelling Christ and God is using me in the process.
    No, I am not pessimistic. I am very optimistic. I am full of joy, and I thank God on this day for His life and His gift.
    My favorite bible teacher (93 years old) reminded me last week that we are not approaching a “holiday”, rather we who have the Son are in the midst of an ongoing CELEBRATION.
    John, thanks for your post. I often am quiet sarcastic (and pessimistic), but your ministry often spurs me to think about who I really am, and that the Body is not limited to my experience or my opinion.
    Brothers and Sisters, we are the Body, and I look forward to you and I being used of God for His glory and our benefit in the years to come. If I don’t believe this then I don’t believe.
    I leave you with this closing from our brother Paul some two millenia ago:
    “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen”

  4. Emmanuel Viray December 21, 2006 at 5:03 pm

    I think one way we can teach our people morality is by reminding them that all action has an effect on a person- physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Our actions shape us just as much as who we are is reflected in our actions. It is a cycle.
    On the issue of sexuality, if we start treating relationships as disposable, then we will become people who are unable to commit. This will lead to a profound sense of alienation.
    Sex is the most unitive act between two persons. It powerfully unites two person’s souls. If a person can engages in this unitive act but takes his soul out of it, then he will find himself unable to give himself to the other. He will also find himself unable to receive the heartfelt self-giving that the sex act signifies.

  5. Christian T May 7, 2008 at 7:05 am

    Good topic! I didn’t check the credibility of the data myself but CJ laid it out well…95% is too high. Irregardless, I doubt anyone would argue the percentage is acceptable.
    “the moral teaching of the Christian Church is virtually ignored by those who profess faith and obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord”
    Why though? Thats the question…why do we not do what we know we ought to do? Lack of fear? Lack of obedience? Lack of love? Jesus described those who love Him are those that obey His commands. So why is it we have so many “Christians” profess their love and devotion for Christ yet so few that truly love Him?
    I don’t have the answers myself, but from what I’ve observed in my life, an authentic love and passion to walk with Jesus is as rare as diamonds. I guess the only thing that comes to mind is Matt 7:13-14
    “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

  6. Rob May 7, 2008 at 7:07 am

    Good topic! I didn’t check the credibility of the data myself but CJ laid it out well…95% is too high. Irregardless, I doubt anyone would argue the percentage is acceptable.
    “the moral teaching of the Christian Church is virtually ignored by those who profess faith and obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord”
    Why though? Thats the question…why do we not do what we know we ought to do? Lack of fear? Lack of obedience? Lack of love? Jesus described those who love Him are those that obey His commands. So why is it we have so many “Christians” profess their love and devotion for Christ yet so few that truly love Him?
    I don’t have the answers myself, but from what I’ve observed in my life, an authentic love and passion to walk with Jesus is as rare as diamonds. I guess the only thing that comes to mind is Matt 7:13-14
    “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

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