A CASE OF THE KETTLE CALLING THE POT BLACK

‘Don’t you dare throw stones if you live in a glass house!’

Human beings are inherently judgmental creatures. Each of us has our very strong views on what is right, what is wrong, what is acceptable behavior and what is not acceptable behavior. This is the key reason why society today has such a huge impact on some of the decisions we make as individuals. The irony however is the society is made up of individuals who are far from perfect. These very same imperfect individuals are the very first to cast a disapproving look when one fails to conform to the ‘acceptable’ societal behavior. Is it a wonder then, that we have a rotting society which we all choose to ignore in our quest to put forth an image of perfection?

Controversy is really something I tend to avoid. I just can’t handle all the drama and theatrics that controversy brings. This week however, Tuesday morning to be more specific I found myself caught up in quite a dramatic conversation that ended in my being called ‘a fanatic’, ‘a blind follower’ and ‘closed minded’. Why? You may ask... Well my dear readers, because I dared to stand in support of Mavuno Church. Now last weekend, Mavuno Church was involved in a huge controversy on social media. This was over a certain ‘explicit’ (I use this term very loosely) flyer/poster that introduces the March sermon series, Blurred Lines, at the teens’ church. The sermon series is designed to address sex among teens today relying on what the scripture says about sex.  Now I do not understand what all the media mayhem is all about because the way I see it, it’s about time the church looked around the moral decadence in our society today and did something about it.

On 20^th July 2013, Graphic Online, an online newspaper, reported that In Kenya, girls as young as 11 years are having sex in Vihiga County in exchange for cheap gifts like sanitary towels, body lotion, perfumed soap and snacks. Most of them get pregnant before their 17th birthday, with many dropping out of school to fend for themselves and their children. Further figures at Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicate that 37 per cent of girls and 44 per cent of boys aged 15-19 have already had sexual intercourse. Out of these, 13 per cent of girls and nine per cent of the boys were reported to be sexually active.

Now I don’t know about you but these statistics are a bit alarming. I mean teenagers today are getting exposed to sex and sexual content at such a tender age one would have to be a fool to ignore this blatant reality.

Sex in our society today, sells. Sex makes headlines. Sex is everywhere. So yes, we are sexual beings. Most importantly we love sex, we love to talk about sex and sex is one of the top three reasons why couples fight. Heck, Sex is even discussed at length in Holy Scripture. The Bible is clear, sex was created by God. Sex is how we procreate as beings created by God. But sex has numerous side effects especially if the timing is wrong (i.e. Pre-marital sex), If it isn't consensual (i.e. Rape and violent sexually related offenses)and if it isn't natural (i.e. bestiality, homosexuality.)

Hebrews 13:4 – “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”

“But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:2-3)

Sex among teens is a reality today. Pre-marital sex is a reality. Adultery is a reality. Call me idealistic but I simply refuse to believe that this reality defines who we are as a society. There is nothing new under the sun and i believe change is possible.

I applaud Mavuno Church therefore for being brave enough to tackle sex head on. I applaud the church in general for stepping up and not shying away from discussing these issues. We can stand back and throw stones, judge the church for talking about sex but let’s face it aren’t we engaging in the very act we are currently condemning the church from discussing. Isn’t this a classic case of the kettle calling the pot black?