Words for True Love Waits

The following are words I shared at Wednesday's True Love Waits ceremony. 10 students made first time commitments and 12 students renewed their commitments. The True Love Waits program is one the ecumenical activities of Little River's Congregational, Catholic, and United Methodist churches. Thanks to Holy Trinity Catholic Church for your leadership!

"Dirty," "used," "regretful," "empty," "disgusted," "ashamed," "duped" and "abused."

What do all these words have in common? These are the responses given by college students who reported what it was like to have a one-night stand “hook-up.”

In an article that appeared just this week on the Wall Street Journal online, Donna Freitas conducted a national college study with over 2,500 students about their attitudes and actions about sex.

When it comes to attitudes, 45% of students at Catholic schools and 36% of students at nonreligious private and public schools say that their peers are too casual about sex. Not a single person at these schools said that their peers valued saving sex for marriage.

When it comes to sex, the world says loud and clear, “If it feels right, do it.” But after they do it, 41% of college students reported that are profoundly upset with their hook up behavior. Profoundly upset.

Dear friends, the decisions you make about your body have a profound impact on your heart and mind. It’s for this reason, the Apostle Paul teaches us in 1 Thessalonians 4:

3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Now those are strong words. But they are words of life. To you who are recommitting yourselves tonight, here’s what you’re saying, “Lord, I again declare that I trust in you and I will follow you—for you are a God who protects and provides.”

In a world does not view sex as holy and sacred, you need to remind yourself of God’s truth over and over and over.

And when you complete practicing true love waits, when you get married, these are the words you will use:

"Wow." "Wonderful." "Right." "No guilt." "No regrets."