By Sylvia Cochran - Christian Parenting
There is an interesting study that measures the number of STD cases in teens.
An alarming number of (supposedly) abstinent teens also tested positive. Assuming for a moment that they did not ‘catch something’ from a toilet seat, who taught them to lead a double life?
The Washington Times ran the story outlining that 10 percent of self-identified sexually abstinent teens tested positive for STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). Adjusting the data for false positive screenings, improperly done tests and perhaps even the one case of picking up a virus from a toilet seat, this nevertheless still poses some uncomfortable questions.
In a somewhat involuntarily funny twist, researchers attempted to explain the incongruous findings with the notion that “the reasonable explanations for why such a significant number of abstinent youth acquired an STD are that they forgot they had intercourse or they did not tell the truth about their sexual histories.”
Really?
There is a good chance that a fair number of these teens were leading a double life. Where did they learn how to do so? Is it possible that their parents are leading a double life?
What about you; do you live a double life?
The Bible recognizes that a righteous (wo)man lives in a certain manner that is apparent to those around (Genesis 6:9). By extrapolation, this requires a legally and spiritually sound walk with respect to the law, Christian duty, at work, at school and in all other situations. Psalm 15 outlines a lifestyle of integrity, morality and an overall clean conscience.
As a Christian parent, you may find that you are leading a double life if:
- Christianity is reserved for Sunday morning; during the rest of the week you pay homage to yourself, your wants, desires and needs.
- You lack spiritual sensitivity. A beggar does not generate compassion and you are quick to give in to racial or social stereotyping.
- Sin is not quickly confessed; instead, you find the notion of confessing sins to be juvenile and believe that “it’s just between you and God.”
- You have a hard time admitting mistakes and an even harder time apologizing for them (especially when they involve your children).
- You worry about different people finding out different things; your boss might discover that you took long breaks, your spouse may notice that you spent more money than you agreed to and your children may find out that you forgot to pencil in their special days on your calendar.
Make no mistake; the parent who leads a double life does not go unnoticed. In fact, it is fair to say that children are hypocrisy detectors. While you will hide your double life from them for a short while, in the long run you will lose out on the blessing promised in Psalm 112:1-2 and doom them to their own dubious versions of a double life.
Source
Washington Times: “'Abstinent' teens test positive for STDs” at http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/3/abstinent-teens-test-positive-stds/?page=1 (retrieved January 20, 2011)
