Stuck at home!
The current situation is something new for all of us. No school/college/university, no socialising with friends, at home with parents and siblings 24/7!
What are the difficulties/dangers we might face and what might the benefits be? How can we survive this period and how can we grow in our walk with God?
Difficulties/dangers
Anxiety – I’m sure like me, even a couple of weeks ago, you couldn’t have imagined this situation. It was… Read more.
Looking for love that will last
Most people desperately want to love and be loved.
This is no surprise since God made us in His image and God is love [1]. Sadly, we live in a society where love is often equated with sex and Satan has deceived many into thinking that giving in to sexual desires will secure love and that compromising on Biblical… Read more.
What is wrong with masturbation?
Some people claim that it is a natural response to natural desires. The Bible challenges us to think differently.
You may have heard of masturbation (self stimulation) being presented in a positive way as a normal healthy activity. It is claimed that it can help young people ease anxiety and, after or even during puberty, relieve sexual frustration. So is there anything wrong with this teaching? What is a… Read more.
‘Love has no limits, love has no labels’
I saw these words written on a banner. The message seems catchy and welcoming to all. But is it the truth or is it an attractive deception? And what is meant by love?
The Bible clearly states that true love is from God. In fact such love is so much part of God’s character that the Apostle John writes that ‘God is Love’. God’s love is shown above all in the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ to die for the sins of… Read more.
How should I relate to the opposite sex?
It is important that we think about how our motivations and behaviours impact those around us – especially when it comes to the possibility of romance.
This is a common question from young people in church youth groups who are feeling attracted to a Christian young man or young woman who might even become a godly wife or husband in the future.
Recognise others in the group as Christian brothers and sisters.
It is easy to… Read more.
Help during the challenges of puberty
3 important principles
God has designed us to go through puberty. The changes to our bodies and minds during this phase of life are no accident but are perfectly designed by God to prepare us for new opportunities, to live independently from our parents and perhaps, one day, to have a family of… Read more.
Lust: How can I stop?
What is the difference between being attracted to someone and lusting after them? And if lust is a problem, how can we stop?
Physical attraction is natural and helpful in deciding who to marry, though it shouldn’t be the main decider. Lust involves allowing our thoughts about another person to turn sexual outside of marriage [1]. Lust can be especially difficult for men because they are often easily provoked by what they see,… Read more.
Why is it wrong to identify as ‘bi’?
Claiming to be ‘bisexual’ seems to be popular at the moment. The Bible distinguishes what we desire from what we do, and who we are from what we desire.
Claiming to be ‘bisexual’ seems to be popular at the moment. It can mean different things to different people. To some it means being sexually attracted to both sexes. To others it means wanting to be or being in a sexual relationship with both sexes. Sometimes it is not only… Read more.
Pornography (part 3): Effects on behaviour and mental health
Pornography gives unrealistic expectations of what people should look like. It can lead both girls and boys to have anxieties and feel under pressure to have a certain body image.
Pornography can change the way you think about people.
An emphasis on physical appearance is prevalent in today’s culture: in films, magazines and advertising. Such an emphasis will make it harder to establish good relationships and to treat the opposite sex with love and respect.
Pornography gives unrealistic expectations of… Read more.
Is consent enough?
It’s important to have a full understanding of what consent truly is – but when is it right to give such consent?
A young woman in her mid-twenties looks back…
I was fourteen when I started going out with my first serious boyfriend. He was older than me and he went to a different school, and just seemed more mature. He was quite charming – he was nice to me.
After two… Read more.
Pornography (part 2): Spoiling future relationships
When we separate the act of sex from real people and real relationships, it can distort and confuse our minds and affect how we relate to others.
Using pornography makes it harder to form a good relationship.
Pornography cuts up a person by separating the object of lust from the reality of the person – their lives, thoughts, needs and situation. When we separate the act of sex from real people and real relationships, it can distort… Read more.