Our governor, Janet Napolitano, plans to turn down federal money for abstinence-only education. She believes that teaching only abstinence in high school is a mistake. She believes that, since abstinence education doesn't seem to be working, teaching only abstinence would be a disservice to the kids. Since they are going to engage in sexual activity, we also need to teach them how to do that safely.
This isn't new thinking. It was the line of reasoning that pushed schools into handing out condoms to kids and clinics into handing out needles to addicts. We can't stop them -- why not teach them to do it safely? No one really seems to question the wisdom of teaching the right thing. Abstinence until marriage is better. Not having sex while you're in school is better. Not doing drugs is better. No one doubts any of this. The question, however, steps off the theoretical ("We know these things are better") to the practical ("But they will do them anyway"). Encouraging the right thing is good, but the truth is that it doesn't always work. And it is irrefutable that abstinence-only education isn't working. Kids are still having sex.
And why would we expect that teaching high school kids to avoid sex before marriage would work? Picture that lone voice on the street corner: "The end is near!" You're surrounded by a myriad of voices that say, "Oh, shut up! The end isn't near." Which do you believe ... the lone voice or the myriad? Even if that lone voice is right, which will people believe? Kids today (and I mean kids of all ages) are inundated with a myriad of voices telling them to have sex. It's on their televisions. It's playing on their iPods. It's on the radio. It's coming from their peers. Much of the time it's coming from their families ... maybe even their own homes. A lone teacher will stand up in front of them and say, "It's best to abstain from sex until you get married" and someone will say, "But, what does the guy (or girl) you're living with think of that?" Is it any wonder that abstinence-only education isn't working?
There is a problem with the logic, however. "It doesn't work" is the logic that demands that we give them ways to have sex safely. Try that line of reasoning on other things. Try the known: "Drug addicts still take drugs, so let's give them clean needles. That way when they fry their brains, drain their cash, and kill themselves, they can do it safely." Yeah, that works. Try the unconsidered: "It's best if gang members didn't drive by and shoot people (especially innocent bystanders), but they will do it anyway. Let's give them classes in safe driving and teach them to shoot from moving vehicles so they'll hit fewer innocent bystanders." See? That's not working.
"Oh," you say, "sex outside of marriage isn't the same as drug use or drive-by shooting. Those things kill you; sex doesn't." And now we're back to the reason why abstinence-only education doesn't work. It's a failure to comprehend. It's a lack of understanding about the significance of the effects and purpose of sexual relations. Our culture -- in fact most of our world -- has moved "sex" from a beautiful joining of two married people for the purpose of procreation to the dull, base world of "recreational activity." It's just something we do to have fun. Why make a big deal about it? And my suggestion that it's something more is marginalized as being "Puritanical" and "overly religious." "Hey," they'll tell me, "this isn't Sunday School, you know." Unfortunately, just because they don't believe in the consequences of illicit abuse of sex doesn't mean they won't suffer the long-term consequences.
I have to be honest here. We don't need abstinence-only sex education in schools. It's a band aid on a slashed throat. If our society doesn't wake up and recognize the glory and beauty of the sexual relationship in marriage as God intended it, we will continue to reap the consequences. The consequences of unwanted pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases are certainly consequences to be considered, but the larger consequences are suffered in declining marriage, damaged marriages, and an inability to comprehend or enjoy the union that God intended marriage to be. We don't need education; we need a fundamental change. The only way that change will occur is if we who know the truth preach the Gospel and let our lights so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify God in heaven. Better education, better rules, and finger wagging aren't going to help this one. This problem requires an act of God.
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