by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

Proverbs 4:1
Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, and give attention that you may gain understanding.

A number of years ago a friend told me how his dad talked to him about sex. Evidently his mom wanted his father to have a "birds and bees" talk with him. So his dad came home from work one evening and said, "Tomorrow, Son, after school I want you to put on your Sunday clothes. We're going to town."

The next afternoon they drove two hours to the "big" city of West Helena, Arkansas. The father took his son into a bar and ordered dinner. Above them on a stage, a woman came out and proceeded to strip. The young man and his father sat there throughout the entire meal, not saying a word.

They drove home for two hours in darkness. When they arrived, the father walked in the front door, turned to the mother and declared, "There, I've done it. Now, I'm going to bed."

That was this young man's sex education.

How did you find out about sex? Was it through parents or peers? A book? School? A brother or sister giving you the scoop?

If there ever has been an era when parents need to have a game plan for educating kids in human sexuality, it is today. In a recent survey, 16- and 17-year-olds were asked, "Where have you learned about sex?"

22 percent: Parents

37 percent: Friends

15 percent: School

18 percent: Entertainment

I hope you caught that: Only 22 percent learned from their parents. The problem today with parents in the Christian community is there has been a conspiracy of silence on this subject.

We, of all people as Christians, ought to have a good, firm grip on the truth because our God created human sexuality in the first place. As my mentor and friend from Dallas Theological Seminary, Dr. Howard Hendricks, reminds us, "We should not be ashamed to discuss that which God was not ashamed to create."

Prayer:

For God's favor as you talk to your children about human sexuality.

Discuss: How did you learn about sex? What was good and bad about your sex education?

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