Being the father of two daughters is a beautiful thing. Having a son is incredible as well - but something about daughters REALLY seems to bring the protective part of dad out. That protective part came out a little bit today. I guess it's no longer possible to take one's daughter to the doctor for a routine physical without them wanting to "talk privately" with your child - which happened with my 14 year old today where she was asked among other things: "Do you like boys or girls?" "Are you sexually active."
While I realize those questions are born of a perverse and morally bankrupt culture - they were asked of my daughter because we declined the HPV vaccine for cervical cancer that they are trying to give all girls age 9-14 today. (Typically this shot is given in anticipation that the young lady will be sexually active with multiple partners before marriage - that's basically what leads to cervical cancer). What's the big deal with getting the shot you ask?
When you treat young people like animals that have no control over their urges - that's exactly what you are going to get. I remind my kids all the time that God gave them a brain - make sure you use it.
Our culture, meanwhile, is doing its best to protect itself from the high price of sin - but they have forgotten that there is no inoculation for your conscience. Some schools refuse to teach abstinence (however abstinence taught without some of the why, why and why behind it loses it's power) and when they do it's alongside of the "be careful" curriculum which is an absolute joke. The lack of high moral standards for our children seems to encourage them to go ahead and 'drive the car' - and by the way, here's the keys - just be careful.
On the CBS news site I found an article with the following: "Some health officials had girded themselves for arguments from religious conservatives and others that vaccinating youngsters against the sexually transmitted virus might make them more likely to have sex. But the controversy never materialized in the panel's public meetings. "
Interesting. They 'girded themselves' for a debate that never came. How sad. Where is the church on this issue of sexual purity? Better yet - where are Bible believing born-again Christians on this issue? It would seem that too many professing believers have been sucked into the cultural black hole that wants to enjoy its sin and then be protected from the consequences of the sin. Jesus taught us to pray "deliver us from evil", not "deliver us from the consequences of evil as we compromise with it".
Parenting teens is hard work and I completely understand that sometimes good kids mess up. But I'm convinced that children well trained and raised to live the Word of God and serve Jesus Christ, and are taught DAILY that there is nothing more important in their entire lives than serving Jesus Christ - will indeed more often than not make the right decisions in these areas.
Any other Christian parents feeling this today?
As I've talked with those who have gone through similar experiences as your daughter for declining a vaccination I'm repulsed by degradation of culture and how vaccinations are so very popularized now through popular medium (TV, internet, etc) that have not had a sufficient testing time to see what side effects come to pass.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for guarding against cervical cancer, but as you mention, the best way to protect against it is for both man and wife to be faithful to each other and use self-control.
Amen to that!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that we need to teach our students to exercise self control and not be sexually active...
ReplyDeleteHowever, some parents are opting FOR the HPV vaccine, not in anticipation of their daughter having multiple sex partners, but in case of sexual assault.
No one wants to think of this happening to their kids - but tragically, it does happen. And I am all for parents wanting to protect their daughter from the additional trauma of contracting cervical cancer from a sexually transmitted virus for something that was absolutely not their fault!!!
(Again, I realize this is not the reason MOST people are getting the vaccine...just a point I have heard brought up in this debate!)
Hi Leanne - You make a great point about the sexual assault - and that would certainly be a valid reason to get the shot.
ReplyDeleteI guess what hit me wrong on that particular day was that the doctor approached it strictly from the side of - "teens mess around sexually you know" perspective.
Thanks for your comment.
The only reason I would allow my daughter to receive this shot would be to protect her in the case of sexual assult. However, as much as we can teach our kids to use self control and not have sex until they are married - we cannot be naive to the fact that it may happen. On the other side of this though, my grandmother died of cervical cancer which could have possibly been protected by this type of vaccination. I'd rather not think about her sexual history but I am sure it only included my grandfather. But I tend to agree with Pastor Eric on the approach that doctors tend to take with this shot.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm all for fighting against cervical cancer - my point was the reasoning for the shot as you mention. I also know that a girl could be infected by just one time with one person who's had multiple partners.
ReplyDeleteSome big problems with the vaccine though. There are multiple variations of the HPV infections that it fights against, just like most other viruses and bacteria some are resistant to some of the vaccines ALREADY!!! It's more of a hope and pray that they get the right one.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand. Oklahoma actually has a great abstinence program available free of charge to schools. K.E.E.P (Kids Eagerly Endorsing Purity). I am priveleged to be a presenter with the organization and have presented the program in one of the OKC public High Schools and hope to do more of it in my local area. Check out the Oklahoma Family Policy Council. Google them and you'll find their site.
thanks for that info Will. We seem to be lacking some good abstinence programs here in my neck of the woods...
ReplyDeleteK.E.E.P. is actually funded through a federal grant. Well at least in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City Metro Areas.
ReplyDeleteOf course, with the above line of thinking - getting the vaccine with the thought that they could be sexually assaulted at some point - then why not get a hepatitis shot, and go on birth control, etc., from puberty on then for the same reasons?
ReplyDeleteI suppose if someone wants to live in fear of things like that - the sky is the limit on the vaccinations and precautions one could take.
Good point PE - once again you have changed my mind about the way I see things. Hmmmmm. THANKS! I am not convinced that my daughter should be "one less" as the advertisement says.
ReplyDeleteI actually must give Juli credit for that thought and statement ;^)
ReplyDeleteAs a parent I do wonder how I ought to prepare my sons for this culture. God has providentially set us down in this time and in this land, so I know he has a plan for standing strong amidst cultural evils.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post.
By the way, Covenant Eyes has recently started a Facebook cause, "Fighting Internet Pornography," to raise awareness about the power and importance of accountability when using the Internet. Check it out at www.Causes.com/FightPorn
Peace,
Luke Gilkerson
Covenant Eyes Blogger