WE URGENTLY NEED A Voice on Vice

A new word has been coined to describe a growing elephant in the room of vices – sexting. Sexting is sending sexually explicit messages via cell phone or instant messenger. With advances in technology to record and send photos and video, the practice of sending suggestive and explicit pictures has increased.

Last year at least two congressmen tarnished their political careers because of sexting. A joint study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and CosmoGirl

suggests that 20% of teens (13-19) and 33% of young adults (20-26), have shared nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves either via text or by posting online. The study disclosed that girls are slightly more likely to do this than boys. Furthermore, 11% of the young teen girls (ages 13-16) admitted to sending suggestive photos of themselves.

It is believed that some 51% of teen girls cite pressure from boys as a reason to send explicit messages, while only 18% of teenage boys say they were pressured by girls. A Pew Research Center poll found that 6% of Americans over 18 years of age reported having sent a nude or near-nude image of themselves to someone else. However, some 15% of adults have received sext messages.

Sexting is currently illegal under federal law. It falls under the creation, distribution and possession of child porn and is a felony offense. At the moment law enforcement officers are arresting both those producing and possessing sext messages. Based on a 1973 definition of obscenity by the Supreme Court, sexting is a crime. Sexting depicts or describes sexual conduct. Because it is not intended to reflect something artistic or scientific, it should be adjudged as obscene, and cannot be defended as a First Amendment Right.

Like pornography, sexting thrives because of prurient or lustful minds. The practice is destructive both to the individual and to the society to which he or she belongs. Lustful practices escalate and often demand more challenging and stimulating opportunities. As these debased practices become more bizarre, they resort to more sullied methods to satisfy their cravings.

Social scientists confirm that many adult rapists, child molesters and serial killers began their raunchy behaviors with pornography. What began as private fun resulted in disaster in the community. Family counselors would also confirm that persons who embrace pornography with the aim of finding sexual fulfillment in marriage, witness destruction rather than fulfillment in their marriages.  

More persons need to expose and seek to curb these destructive behaviors. It is bad enough if the practices were evident only outside the church. However, I have every reason to believe that deviant sexual behavior is also practiced in the church.

Late last year my wife and I were invited to provide leadership to a new ministry designed to address issues of value and virtue among today’s youth. As we attempted to identify some of the more specific areas of need, we felt we needed to begin among young people in our churches.

This new ministry, Love Protects, exists to expose deception and lies, to confront assumptions with logical truth-claims and to defend a biblical worldview with “grace and truth”. We intend using social media, lectures, debates, seminars, rallies, mentorship programs and training conferences to disseminate our message.

Honestly, you would be shocked to hear the stories from some of our churched young people. Many have no concept of biblical sexuality. When confronted about their behavior, many consider our approach to be out of date. Cases of abortion are as prevalent as among un-churched young people.

I must encourage you to visit our website – www.loveprotects.com. Although still under construction, you will be able to get a sense of why we do what we do. Young adults form the base of our Board of Directors. They love the Lord, understand the youth culture and are committed to change. Prior to conversion, some Board Members were victims of the culture. Now, they are determined to use every professional tool available to make a difference.

With the passing of Chuck Colson, the need for others to engage the culture is critical. We need people to pray for us - this is a battle against forces of evil. This mission requires more than analytical skills for victory.

We need financial support. With one full-time staff member providing executive leadership in a few weeks, we know there are fiscal challenges ahead. Please check our website and see how you can assist to provide a voice on vice.

By the way, if you know of anyone in need of professional help with deviant sexual behavior, please encourage them to contact Pure Life Ministries today.