10 ways Christian teens can maintain their purity
Christian teens should conduct themselves according to God’s commandments and strive to maintain sexual purity until marriage. Image: Priscilla Du Preez|Unsplash
Many of today’s Christian teens face immense obstacles in distancing themselves from worldly desires and maintaining their sexual purity until their wedding night. Now, purity is not an exclusive expectation among teenage female Christians but young Christian males.
It’s becoming harder for teens, whether Christians or not, to resist carnal temptations since the internet has made explicit content accessible with just a few taps and clicks on electronic devices. However, this doesn’t mean it’s impossible to keep oneself sexually pure until marriage.
Here are 10 ways how Christian teens can overcome carnal urges and maintain their sexual purity:
1 Don’t hesitate to ask your parents questions about sex
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teenagers rely heavily on their parents to make informed decisions on sexual matters. While talks about sex can be frowned upon, especially in Christian homes, they should be discussed to educate teens.
If you don’t want to end up making wrong choices on sexual matters and ending up pregnant or getting someone pregnant, then prepare to talk openly about your sexual concerns with your parents.
2 Avoid the company of promiscuous teens
They say that you are the company you keep, which could mean you could become promiscuous if you spend time with fellow teens who are sexually liberated.
While you may think staying away from such kids is impossible because you need to be friends with everyone, including fellow teens engaging in premarital sex, you have control over the kinds of people you hang out with.
So, instead of being with promiscuous kids, choose to be with fellow Christian teens and tread the path to purity together.
3 Dress modestly
While some argue that dressing provocatively is not an invitation to sex, you must accept that someone out there can be easily tempted to sexually assault you if you show skin.
Avoid wearing tight-fitting dresses that hug your body too much or expose (even if slightly) your private parts. Instead, choose a modest cut and design clothing, even if the other kids tease you.
4 Avoid consuming pornographic materials
Sexually explicit materials are too many and easy to consume, especially in smut publications, smartphones, and fast internet connectivity. While it’s normal to be physically attracted to other people or have sexual urges, you would only push yourself into having sex eventually if you consume porn.
So, even if they are easily within your reach, fight the urge to watch or read sexually charged content. Avoid sexual stimuli, and maintaining your sexual purity will be easier.
Remember that purity doesn’t just mean abstinence from having sexual intercourse but consuming materials showing it. Call it purity of mind and body.
5 Read the Bible
The Bible has plenty of verses that have practical uses, including about helping you keep your sexual innocence. 1 Timothy 5:22 states, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.”
When you read the Scriptures regularly, you’ll find them full of advice for Christians on sexual chastity and obeying God’s command to maintain your purity as a Christian teen.
6 Be active in the church
Christian churches have endless activities for teens wishing to get actively involved. Whether it’s weekend volunteerism to do outreach work in depressed communities or regular involvement in youth ministry as a member or leader, active participation in church events is one way to avoid sexual thoughts and adventurism.
7 Make a purity pledge
While there’s an ongoing debate on whether purity vows or purity pledges are still relevant today, one would assume that many Christian families still believe it’s essential. Christian father-and-daughter pairs across the U.S. even started “purity balls,” where girls vowed to remain sexually pure until marriage.
Suppose you’re on the side of those favoring sexual abstinence until your wedding night. In that case, you should consider making a purity pledge with someone you love and trust — a fellow Christian teen, your mom, your father, yourself, or God. Whomever you choose to pledge to, make sure you mean it.
8 Surround yourself with ‘accountability friends’
You should choose to be with trusted friends who would not hesitate to correct you if you do things that are not Christianlike, like watching sexually explicit content or engaging in sexual activities.
Consider such friends as your external moral compasses who would give a gentle tug to keep you awake and aware of your purity quest.
9 Trust that God called you based on His purpose
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
If you place your absolute trust in God’s calling of you to serve His purpose, you’d be amazed at how He would help you see the wisdom behind keeping yourself pure. It’s a tough order that would thoroughly test your Christian faith, but your love of God and trust in His will would help you overcome it.
10 ‘Pray without ceasing’
According to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing.”
When you make it your daily habit to pray to ask for God’s guidance and mercy, you’ll discover that it’s easier to escape compromising situations. With God’s guidance through prayers, you will feel secure that you’ll be ‘led not into temptations, but delivered from evil,’ as Matthew 6:9-13 clearly says.
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