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Faizan
Christian teens are as sexually active as their non-Christian peers, according to a survey released September 28, 2011, by the Barna Group, a nonpartisan, nondenominational research organization that studies faith and spirituality in America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that the teen pregnancy rate for 2010 is 34.2 births per 1,000. This means some Christian families will deal with a teen pregnancy and will seek to do so from a Christian perspective.
Sexual Abstinence
Many Christian teens hear a message about sexual abstinence from parents and at church, and the teen could intend to remain celibate until marriage. However, teens also need to know about pregnancy prevention so they have the knowledge and resources to take proper precautions if they decide to have sex. Teens need to know that contraception methods can fail, but they should know what methods are available to them and which options offer the safest and most reliable results. When communicating that information, you should also assure your child that you will continue to love and care for her, even if she makes a choice that results in pregnancy.
Responsibility
Many Christian families believe that part of taking responsibility for mistakes and errors in judgment includes confessing those errors. Christian teens can take responsibility for their actions by honestly admitting to sex outside of marriage and the pregnancy. A teen should know that his parents will listen and offer advice and support if a pregnancy occurs. The pregnant teen couple, parents and those the families feel can provide information regarding the available options can come together to provide counsel. Nothing is solved in berating the teens or wishing the problem would go away.
Pro-Life Options
Most Christians will encourage the pregnant teen couple to consider pro-life options to the pregnancy. This includes carrying the baby to term and placing it for adoption with a loving couple, allowing a family member to adopt the baby or the pregnant teens’ decision to parent the baby. Many Christians believe that abortion is not an option and that it ends a life. Teens can consult a crisis pregnancy center to discover options if the teen mom doesn’t want to remain at home during the pregnancy and plans to place the baby for adoption. Parents of the teens should express support and love for whatever option the teens choose, even if they wouldn’t choose that option for themselves.
Parental Response
Many Christian teens express concern that their parents would be angry, disappointed or embarrassed if they had to admit that they were involved in a teen pregnancy. While those emotions are certainly possible and probable as a first reaction, Christian parents need to assure teens that parental love is unconditional, just as God loves his children unconditionally. The situation is not one most parents wish for their teens, but a loving and supportive response can bring the family relationship closer and give teens the benefit of parental wisdom and encouragement to make a loving and responsible choice for the baby and the pregnant couple.
Sexual AbstinenceMany Christian teens hear a message about sexual abstinence from parents and at church, and the teen could intend to remain celibate until marriage. However, teens also need to know about pregnancy prevention so they have the knowledge and resources to take proper precautions if they decide to have sex. Teens need to know that contraception methods can fail, but they should know what methods are available to them and which options offer the safest and most reliable results. When communicating that information, you should also assure your child that you will continue to love and care for her, even if she makes a choice that results in pregnancy.
Responsibility
Many Christian families believe that part of taking responsibility for mistakes and errors in judgment includes confessing those errors. Christian teens can take responsibility for their actions by honestly admitting to sex outside of marriage and the pregnancy. A teen should know that his parents will listen and offer advice and support if a pregnancy occurs. The pregnant teen couple, parents and those the families feel can provide information regarding the available options can come together to provide counsel. Nothing is solved in berating the teens or wishing the problem would go away.
Pro-Life Options
Most Christians will encourage the pregnant teen couple to consider pro-life options to the pregnancy. This includes carrying the baby to term and placing it for adoption with a loving couple, allowing a family member to adopt the baby or the pregnant teens’ decision to parent the baby. Many Christians believe that abortion is not an option and that it ends a life. Teens can consult a crisis pregnancy center to discover options if the teen mom doesn’t want to remain at home during the pregnancy and plans to place the baby for adoption. Parents of the teens should express support and love for whatever option the teens choose, even if they wouldn’t choose that option for themselves.
Parental Response
Many Christian teens express concern that their parents would be angry, disappointed or embarrassed if they had to admit that they were involved in a teen pregnancy. While those emotions are certainly possible and probable as a first reaction, Christian parents need to assure teens that parental love is unconditional, just as God loves his children unconditionally. The situation is not one most parents wish for their teens, but a loving and supportive response can bring the family relationship closer and give teens the benefit of parental wisdom and encouragement to make a loving and responsible choice for the baby and the pregnant couple.
Posted in: Teen Dating & Sex
