The liberal and ungodly man says a message of abstinence is unrealistic. People are going to do it. The youth are going to experiment. So instead of saying, “Just say no”, the idea has become that outcomes can be managed.  Pills, condoms, abortions, and surgeries are the way to manage because abstinence is unrealistic and too limiting.  

God says to abstain. Peter wrote, “abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.”  The Proverb said, “Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.” (Prov 9:6).  We are listening too much to the world and not taking God at His Word.  His way is always the best. 

God expects us to abstain from fleshly desires that lead to sin. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;” 1 Thess 4:3ff.  This should be our daily aim. 

The world keeps flashing us.  We are disgusted with dirty old men like Donald Popadick, the Ottawa Man, who is charged for such indecent acts as exposing himself in public.  But I notice that so-called Christians, and Facebook friends, post sexually provocative photo images.  Why? Is this the will of God that we entice others by scantily clad women? Certainly it is not God’s will. 

Abstain is what you do when you make a covenant with your eyes to not look upon others with lust. We must practice self-control and we shall if we yield to the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5 says we should walk by, be led by, and live by the Spirit and His fruit will be worked in our lives.  

Abstain is what you are doing when you are walking in the Light. Abstain is what you are doing by intentionally being separate from the world. So parents, are you going to make excuses for your teens and why they are provocatively dressed or doing worse?  The message of abstinence is not Victorian, prudish,  and outdated. It’s God’s plan and it’s works. So teach your children by words and example the message of self-control and abstinence.