Please don't let the title of this blog fool you about me.
I was reading in 1st Corinthians this morning and chapter 1 verse 18 Paul says
"For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (niv)
Now I haven't finished the passage, and maybe I should wait before I post about it. But I was stuck on that verse this morning. I didn't read any further. It spoke to me.
I have been working here at Overhills High School since July. Basketball season has started and the basketball boys like to come and sit in the training room for a little while since their practice is later in the evening. One boy imparticular has been in here for an ankle injury.
One day he was in here and decided to ask a series of questions that struck me as humorous but at the same time I didn't think this young man would mean it as a way to gain information into my personal life. These questions regarded college life as far as partying, drinking and sex. The few topics on the minds of these high schoolers I come in contact everyday.
Well the conversation took a turn to my and Lawrence who I will be married to in May (hey baby ;) ) The question was asked if me and my fiance had ever had sex. I responded with No. and they responded with a why?
I responded with that we wanted to wait till we were married to do that. That we were both Christians and believed in the Bible and Gods teachings of waiting to have sex till after marriage.
This answer was received but the response was "what's if he's not good?"
I had to laugh, The thought had never crossed my mind and it still doesn't. I said "Im not worried about whether he's good or not, I love this man and he if the man God made for me to spend the rest of my life with. And that's all I need."
But still to my basketball boys this answer was not something they themselves could accept. They did however, respect my opinion.
Now the conversation came up again and I stood by the same answer. I tried to reason with two of these young boys that waiting brings a multitude of benefits. I mean the obvious...no pregnancy, especially while they are in high school, no STDs...and no hassles...no one getting the wrong idea. They agreed with me in the sense of the obvious issues, but when it came to a religious perspective they didn't have anything to say back, or just didnt seem to be interested in that point of view.
To me sex was always viewed as something sacred and shared between two people after they are married. I was raised to believe that and as I got older was able to see God's take on it and his instructions. I was raised to believe that if you have sex before marriage it was something to be ashamed of and the whole Scarlet letter thing. It wasn't something you did before marriage as one of the things to consider before you married someone.
It seems to me that in this generation kids are having sex as part of the relationship. The "next level" has extended beyond becoming boyfriend and girlfriend, and making out or whatever but sex is either the next level or just something that's equal to making out. And that bothers me. Especially when I see 14, 15 and 16 year girls and boys being parents and trying to be a teenager at the same time
So noticing that my mention of God and following His standers on the subject seemed to have no affect on these young men. This equally bothered me. I wasn't looking for anything special, I just noticed that they seemed immune to my mention of God, i was expecting questions, but got none. Which is ok, by me mentioning Christ I hope that I aroused some courosity in them.
But reading the verse talking about those who are perishing, i realized I am surrounded daily by those who are perishing, those who are not saved, those who do not have Christ as a personal savior. So my message of the Cross, being the message of why I want to wait to have sex until after I am married is foolish to them, or rather silly....why? B/c of the lack of Christ in their hearts and minds.
God really spoke to me through Scripture this morning and helped me to understand why my reasoning for waiting seemed crazy to a two teenage boys.
My heart aches for the message of the Cross to be the power of God to these young adults here at OHS. I just pray that my life and the things I stand for and my honesty about Christ will stand out above society standers, and above the pressure. And maybe someone will see a different life filled with continual love and no more empty sexual relationships.
It is my prayer that the wisdom of God will fill this place and catch like a wildfire and spread through this schools of lost foolish souls looking for answers in foolish places. I pray that the power of God be the way for these High School athletes I see everyday and not just a foolish message.
