Reducing teen pregnancy.

Today, I talked to a mother of girl who has been raped. It had occurred a few years ago, but the parents just learned about it. They had thought the girl was just rebelling against them. Now they are carrying a huge sense of guilt for allowing it to happen, and it is seriously affecting the whole family.

This weekend, I am aware of baby showers for two unmarried teenage mothers. One of the girls is only 15. The other girl thinks she and the father will probably get married. Schools have their own daycare centers for their students babies.

Last night there was a report on tv. about the increasing number of teen pregnancies, despite ongoing mandantory sex education classes in an effort to reduce the level. One state's sex education classes were devoted solely to teaching the kids how to use birth control products more effectively to prevent pregnancy and spread of disease. The second state focused their effort on abstinence as a means of controlling the problems. Neither program has been very successful, despite more than 20 years of trying.

Abortion was offered as a solution, but though abortions are more readily available than ever, the rate continues to climb, and many have serious problems with the concept of abortion. While I commend the mothers who try to keep their babies, I think our whole approach needs to be re-examined.

Before the Roe vs Wade decision, it was generally accepted that if a girl got pregnant, if the guy had any standards, he would marry her and give the baby a name and a home. Many did not engage in sex because they didn't want to have to take such responsibility. While there had been some abortions before Roe vs Wade, they were illegal, and most people were unwilling to take the chance.

After the Roe vs Wade decision, Abortion became legal, and the number of abortions skyrocketed. While there was a drop in birthrate, it nowhere near accounted for thde increase in abortions. The obvious inference was that people no longer worried about having to take responsibility, and thus indulged more freely in sex. Studies of attitudes since that time support the conclusion.

I believe that the current focus on preventing pregnancy has neglected a far more important issue, that of taking responsibility. Our entire society seems to be avoiding it in as many areas as possible. The idea of adopting out unwanted children is only marginally better than aborting them, and encourages the same attitude of not taking responsibility.

The old idea of marrying a girl if she got pregnant, while better than the current philosophy, Still ignored a very basic responsibility. Exodus 22:16 says "And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife." It did not matter whether she got pregnant or not, the very sex act forced them to marry. While this was the Old Testament standard, Paul says basically the same thing in I Corinthians 6:15-16. "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh." His statement is based on the description of marriage in Genesis 2:23-24.

If we were to begin to see sex as requiring responsibility, rather than as entertainment, it is probable that the incidence of sexual; behavior would decrease, resulting in a drop in pregnancy rates. Guys would not brag of their irresponsible sexual behavior, and in time, even the media would begin to be held responsible. This will entail developing a comprehensive biblical doctrine of marriage, rather than the superficial and fragmented doctrines held by many today.

I do not think it will be easy, but until we start, it will never be accomplished