Relax: it’s as wrong as it’s ever been. And it still happens, even to those who were brought up in strong moral homes and should have known better.

This is not a sin that God refuses to forgive. Many marriages have started off badly like this, without being forever ruined.

I’ve known good solid families in our church before, every bit as respected as any other, and realized what I had forgotten: that that particular marriage had begun with a pregnant bride.

I knew at least one boy of about 12 years of age who one day realized that his age at his birthday was greater than the number of years his parents had been married. I was quite surprised, since I would never have imagined it of them.

It doesn’t do much good to fret about what can’t be undone. And pregnancy really can’t be undone.

When Joseph was betrothed to Mary and found her pregnant, he of course assumed she had committed fornication. But rather than see her publicly humiliated or embarrassed, he thought to dissolve the pending marriage quietly. Why? According to the Bible, because he was a “just man, and mot willing to make her a public example.” Even in the days when fornication was taken very seriously, there was nothing immoral about showing compassion.

As politics goes, though, this is basically a dog-bites-man story. Hardly earth-shattering.

Another victory for abstinence only sex education and no contraception.

When will you jesus people ever learn that this doesn’t work?

Xolom on September 1, 2008 at 3:01 PM

So if someone falls down, that’s proof that teaching about gravity just doesn’t work?

If she’d been abstinent, I’m pretty sure she would still not be pregnant.

What really doesn’t work is teaching birth control rather than abstinence. Those so “educated” think they can do whatever they want, as long as they use a condom. That leads to many more teen pregnancies than abstinence education.

Are you really sure you’re qualified to instruct us “Jesus people?”

Hint: birth control is not always effective, and the more you have sex, the greater the chance that birth control will one day fail you.

I’m not here to be a jerk, really, I am not. I’m merely here to speak the truth as I understand it from Scripture.

Send_Me on September 2, 2008 at 12:34 AM

Do you understand the part that speaks of forgiveness? Or the part that says “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?” (hint – that includes me and you)

Computer problem?

Send_Me on September 2, 2008 at 8:27 PM

As was mine. As is my son and his wife (his 2nd wife – with 7 children of their own) plus 2 from a disastrous 1st marriage (toooo young). Home school, read scriptures together every morning, teach the children that service to others is paramount, that Christ is the center of their life, pray together, play together. I pray daily that they will all turn out to be God fearing and loving and kind and every other thing you would wish for them. It will break my heart if one strays.
But if one does, I will not blame their parents who have dedicated their lives to their children.
This is way too much personal information to get into, but I do want to say that he went on to graduate from law school and his wife is a nurse.

You can try and put them in a bubble, you keep them locked in their room, you can keep them away from tv and in the house.

Thanks for the reply. This is an interesting topic. While environment and shaping influences play a role in a child’s development, they are not assuring of whether a child will turn out well or not. If I may, I’ll quote a portion of Tedd Tripp’s book, “Shepherding a Child’s Heart”:
“Determinism makes parents conclude that good shaping influences will automatically produce good children. This often bears bitter fruit later in life. Parents who have an unruly and troublesome teenager or young adult conclude that the problem is the shaping influences they provided. They think if they had made a little better home, things would have turned out okay. They forget that the child is never determined solely by the shaping influences of life. Remember that Proverbs 4:23 instructs you that the heart is the fountain from which life flows. Your child’s heart determines how he responds to your parenting.”
Practically speaking, my goal is for my wife and I to be the first to introduce our children to “the world.” For example, our goal is to talk with our children, as their maturity dictates, about sex before their friends do. We’ll explain, first and foremost, the proper context for it, then, as their maturity grows, explain more and more, based upon their questions and inevitable exposure to the world. The key is communication and focus on the heart, not the prevention of bad behavior.

However, there comes a time when they will make up their own mind.

I agree wholeheartedly. Some kids check out of the home by age 11, which is tragic, but mostly preventable I’d argue. Like I say, if we try to only manage the environment and offer reward/punishments without affecting the child’s heart, then we’ll fail.

The girl could have gone to an abortion clinic and her parents would never have to know. You know our government. She didn’t. I hope God blesses them and the family, because I know how hard it’s going to be and how much help and moral support the family has to give. I wish no one had to face it.

I agree. She could have made two wrongs, but she didn’t. I pray her folks pray take heed to Galatians 6 and are successful in bringing her back into the fold. I also agree that I wish no one sinned, including myself, but I do and hate it. As someone once said: “Sin = Self-inflicted nonsense.” I pray Miss Palin discovers for herself that the Bible is true and that its teachings work. Later in life, she’ll have quite a testimony to share. I pray nothing but the best for her.

I hope, with all your preaching, that when you raise those precious little souls that they always do what is right.
Bambi on September 2, 2008 at 8:59 AM

My prayer and mission in life in regards to my children is this: (1) That they will love the Lord with all of their heart, mind and soul. (2) That they will love their neighbors as themselves. (3) If they do the first two, then the rest will fall into place in terms of behavior. If they fail, I will rebuke them, discipline them, train them, and forgive them, loving them by, with, and through each of those steps.

chsw

My parents were the best parents, strong & disciplined, yet loving – married for almost 47 years, and my mom didn’t have sex until marriage (so the perfect example). They had 2 daughters.

My sister had sex w/her boyfriend in high school. I waited until 27 y.o. (w/my husband).

Anyone who claims to be the ‘perfect’ parent care to comment on that? Same parents, same upbringing, completely different results.

WHY? Different teenagers, that’s WHY! My sister thought she was ‘in love’, while I knew I was too young to know what that was at 16.

I was an old soul at 4, so wasn’t a typical teenager to begin with…that’s why I think I avoided what many don’t.

Looking back now, I realize how hard my parents fought for my sister.

Bristol, though, is stepping up and realizing the responsibilities from her errors. I’ve known older women who’ve been less adult in their decisions, and I respect Bristol and her boyfriend for doing the right thing.

The Palins may have been stern to their child (like my mom would’ve been had I done this) by making it clear that by getting pregnant she now had to follow through on her ‘adult’ behavior by getting married and carrying the child to term. That is what adults do, is take responsibility for their actions, and I applaud the Palins for living their policies. I would do the same.

Yeah, I don’t really know Palin at all, so all I see is a pretty woman. When I saw people like Jeanne Kirkpatrick and Margaret Thatcher, I saw capable politicians first, and women only much later. Anyway, let’s hope for the best.

JiangxiDad on September 2, 2008 at 10:15 AM

… so if you don’t know Palin at all, why would you comment before getting to know her? It seems to me you’ve made a foolish rush to judgment (something with which I have altogether too much experience). Why not get to know her before deciding whether or not she is a good choice?

It didn’t matter that this man was not only married, but was the father of an infant son by his wife — who was again pregnant with their second child.

It did not bother this young lady with this small detail, because she promptly became pregnant with this man’s child.

This woman-child was seventeen and unmarried when she conceived. The father is married with children.

The young lady of whom I am referring; the young lady who was three months with child before marrying the never-divorced father of her child — is, of course, Ann Dunham — the mother of Barack Obama.