We didn't give our daughters purity rings. We taught them about purity and did everything we could to make sure that they were well-educated in sex and marriage the way God intended it to be. They did go to a purity camp and they both committed themselves to purity before marriage.
As you know, the Bates have a television show. I watch it and the Duggar's show. I enjoy watching families who desire more than anything to do things God's ways. This past episode, Gil Bates, the father, gave his daughter a purity ring. The parents have decided to do this when their daughters get around the age that they notice members of the opposite sex.
The mother went out and bought a beautiful dress for Carlin and flowers were delivered to her; the ninth child out of nineteen. Then the mother and father took her to a nice restaurant. The father took the ring and said these words to her ~
Being pure until you are married, saving yourself for your husband alone, that's God's design; one man, one woman, for life. You've already lived such a godly life. I'm so happy. So this is a little gift we got you. It's valuable but what you are is way more valuable than any gift we could give you. What God's given you is a wholesome, pure life and I want you to keep it until the day that I hand you off to some fine young man and he'll begin to take care of you. We love you." {They both were shedding tears at this point.}
In the background was a song being played by Tyrone Wells called, Always Love You. Some of the words were, "I will guard your innocence. All I ask in recompense is to know the Truth inside your Father's heart...I will always love you..." It was a beautiful song and a very touching scene. I wish you all could have seen it.
Therefore, mothers, whether you do a fancy event to give your daughters a purity ring or simply make sure you speak often to them about purity, it is very important in this evil society that we live in. You don't want them learning about sex and marriage from the world, but from God's Word and God wants you to teach your children in His ways. If they learn it from the world instead, it will put them straight on the path to destruction. Also, make sure they know how very much the Lord loves and values them. Help them to find their worth in Christ, know who they are in Christ, and not to look for their identity in things of this world.
For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
that you abstain from sexual immorality;
that each one of you know how to control
his own body in holiness and honor,
not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.
I Thessalonians 4:3-5
Diana · 526 weeks ago
By the way, your website does not like me putting in my email or website - it always comes up with "invalid." Thus, if you just see my name, you'll know why! :)
Diana
Lori Alexander 122p · 526 weeks ago
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Lindsay Harold · 526 weeks ago
In some ways, the purity ring ceremony is good, but mostly because you're having your child make a commitment to stay pure. Wearing the ring is more of a fad and less useful, in my opinion. It can even cause confusion (like maybe a young man will think she's already engaged and not pursue her). So I'm not sure we will do the purity ring thing with our girls.
I do think it's important to choose our words carefully, whether we do purity rings or not. The goal isn't to stay pure until marriage. Purity is a way of life that should stay with us, even after marriage. Purity before marriage means refraining from sex. Purity after marriage means wholeheartedly engaging in sex with our spouse and never with anyone else. The problem with purity rings is that it can lead girls to think that their virginity is the most important thing about them or that sex is impure. This can lead to problems in marriage as they see sex, even with their husband, as dirty or unclean.
It's important that we teach our children what sex is supposed to be in marriage and why it's wrong and harmful outside marriage. They need a comprehensive understanding of sex and it's proper place, not just a prohibition or a one-time promise to wait for marriage. If a purity ring can help them remember what's right, great. But what will work far better than any ring is parents who teach the Biblical view of sex consistently and thoroughly.
Lori Alexander 122p · 526 weeks ago
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