Do Not Consent

Young people today face relentless pressure from a culture where nearly every message, whether from advertising, entertainment, or peers, pushes them toward compromising their purity. Sexuality has been stripped of its sacred context and marketed as casual, expected, and consequence-free, yet the results tell a different story: children raised by children, uncertain paternity, and rising rates of heartbreak and regret. Much of this is learned behavior, passed down from parents whose own lack of self-control modeled exactly the pattern their children now repeat. Solomon's counsel to his son remains as relevant today as ever: "If sinners entice you, do not consent." Resisting the crowd requires conviction, but Scripture is clear that popularity is never proof of righteousness. Moses warned against following a crowd to do evil (Exodus 23:2), and Jesus described the road to destruction as broad and heavily traveled, while the road to life is narrow and walked by few (Matthew 7:13-14).

Young people especially need to hear that sex is not the measure of genuine love, and anyone who claims otherwise is asking for something that ultimately serves themselves rather than the person they claim to love. If someone truly loves you, they will not pressure you into a decision that could burden you with lifelong consequences. Like Joshua, every person faces a daily choice about whom they will serve (Joshua 24:15), and that choice must be made deliberately, not by drifting along with whatever the crowd is doing. Doing right is never out of season, no matter how outnumbered it may feel. Teach the young people in your life to value self-control, purity, and conviction over popularity, and to walk in wisdom rather than being swept along by a culture eager to lead them astray.