Sex, and Alcohol.

One of this week's more sensational stories concerned the Romanian girl who, in Spain, gave birth to her first child - while the mother was only ten years of age!  One report stated that: "The birth has shocked Spaniards and created an international sensation. The girl's mother told reporters earlier this week that she was delighted to have a new granddaughter, and does not understand the fuss the birth has caused. She said the baby's father is a 13-year-old boy who is still in Romania.  She also said since they are Romanian Gypsies, or Roma, it is their custom to marry very young."

I suppose that it's all to do with sex.  Sadly, it's actually to do with the abuse of sex!  And there are even more serious consequences of the latter.  A report from the Centre for Disease Control (in the U.S.of A.) reported, this week, that 87% of all reportable disease is sexually transmitted!  We certainly know about the effects of HIV/AIDS.  According toWorldwide HIV & AIDS Statistics, more than 25 million people have died from AIDS since it became prominent in 1981.  A further 33.4 million were recorded as living with HIV/AIDS in 2008 (the latest year for which figures would appear to be available).  And, of course, there are all of the other sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, and chlamydia - all of which can have more severe consequences that many (particularly young) people seem to realise!

Of course, there is an answer!  It's to be found in the Maker's Handbook - the Bible.  The seventh of the Ten Words (the 10 Commandments) instructs us not to commit adultery.  I mentioned on a post of many months ago, that if I were to have sexual intercourse with a woman other than my wife - or if I had indulged in that activity before we were married to one another - then I would, by proxy, be having a sexual encounter with evey other male with whom she had been involved; every other woman with whom each of them had been involved; and so on!  That could add up to a very large number of people!

Unfortunately, the perceived wisdom of mankind is simply what is referred to as "safe sex" rather than behavioural change.  Just ensure that you use a condom, and all will be well - with no apparent consideration of the less than 100% certainty of a condom's effectiveness; the straightforward desire for some - especially the males - to have 'unprotected' sex; and the simple fact that so much of the sexual activity that goes on is performed when both parties are under the influence of alcohol, and unlikely to be considering how 'safe' their sexual act might be.

And alcohol is a much abused substance.  In spite of the awareness of its contribution to crime, violence, liver disease, traffic accidents, etc., so many - even among many of my former pupils, if their Facebook comments are anything to go by! - feel that they can only have had "a good night" if they have managed to end up drunk (and incapable?).

Sex is good!  It must be - it was God Who invented it!  But He designed it to be between a man and a woman (not two men, or two women), within the bonds of a committed relationship, and to the exclusion of all others.  Even alcohol is not, per se, a bad thing.  Jesus was willing to provide the finest wine at a wedding feast (John 2:1-11); and Paul instructed Timothy to take some wine for medicinal purposes - with the underlying assumption that there was some to hand (I Tim.5:23).  But, in the Bible, drunkenness is always frowned upon.

Sex, and alcohol.  Both extremely potent.  Both requiring to be "Handled with Care", and with due regard to the Word of God. 

It's an interesting thought that most of the violence, crime, and disease that plagues so much of mankind, would be done away with in just one generation - if the Maker's instructions were followed!