SEX -- 5% and 41%

5%.  That was the percentage of unmarried mothers when I grew up in the 1960s.  Remember that was in the atmosphere of "free love", drugs and rock 'n' roll.  It was a time when you knew everyone had a  bellybutton and everyone's bellybutton was on display – – hip hugger jeans and halter tops were the fashion of the day. And yet, only 5% of children were born to unmarried mothers. That was due, in large part, to the belief that sex was to be saved for marriage.

Fast forward to 2015. 41%. That is now the percentage of unmarried mothers in our "more enlightened" culture today. Some ethnic groups have a number that is as high as 77%. That is due, in large part, to the belief that sex is just physical, it's just an activity for you to enjoy when ever you want! So is that philosophy really good for our culture and the next generation of children and families?  How is the philosophy "I can do whatever I want with my body" working?

Consider the results of a recent government study on the subject:

Children born to unmarried mothers are more likely to grow up in a single-parent household, experience instable living arrangements, live in poverty, and have socio-emotional problems.  As these children reach adolescence, they are more likely to have low educational attainment, engage in sex at a younger age, and have a birth outside of marriage.  As young adults, children born outside of marriage are more likely to be idle (neither in school nor employed), have lower occupational status and income, and have more troubled marriages and more divorces than those born to married parents.

Women who give birth outside of marriage tend to be more disadvantaged than their married counterparts, both before and after the birth. Unmarried mothers generally have lower incomes, lower education levels, and are more likely to be dependent on welfare assistance compared with married mothers. Women who have a nonmarital birth also tend to fare worse than childless single women; for example, they have reduced marriage prospects compared with single women without children.

A majority of unmarried births now occur to cohabiting parents. Between 2006 and 2010, 58 percent of unmarried births were to cohabiting parents: in 2002, the proportion was 40 percent. Children born to cohabiting parents are more likely to see their parents eventually marry than are those born to non-co-residential parents.  Nevertheless, children born to cohabiting parents experience higher levels of socioeconomic disadvantage, and fare worse across a range of behavioral and emotional outcomes than those born to married parents.

What does a loving God have to say about this "three letter" subject? "What you believe about sex isn't working!" Come this weekend and you'll learn more about Jesus' love for you in this important area of your life.  Remember you matter and you are dearly loved!

Resources:

- See more at: http://www.childtrends.org/?indicators=births-to-unmarried-women#sthash.ReEchZDi.xpoUa9Gn.dpuf