Interesting. I looked for statistics on African exposure and I couldn't find anything that covered a distinction between married and unmarried. Would you be so kind as to link the source of evidence for your statement?
That aside, it doesn't address the issue of abstinence before marriage and faithfulness during marriage. I don't believe that the assertion by cameronw was that marriage in and of itself i.e. the
ceremony prevents AIDS or heals and infected person, but what the corresponding and presumed behavior that marriage is SUPPOSE to mean. The irony of you mentioning that we do not live in a perfect world for one practice and ignoring the same application to the other practice is note worthy.
Just like it being impossible to force people to adhere to what abstinence and marriage is supposed to mean, it would equally be impossible to force people to consistently use some form prevention device taught in sex education or that training and provision of such equates adherence. I find such duplicity in objection and assertion common in this discussion.
Now, generally speaking:
As for discussing this topic on a Christian forum, it is well known that the Christian teaching on
fornication and
adultery is being against such immorality. The fact is that sin, while
forgivable if repented, still has
consequences; although, one should always leave room for God to move in His miraculous ways.
Disbelief and doubt may rob oneself of a blessing.
Is abstinence what the world wants? No, it is offensive the the world and the unbeliever is driven by his/her desires. Should a Christian embrace abstinence? Most certainly, to do otherwise would be to have another master.
John 3:16-21
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
1 Peter 2:11
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
2 Peter 1:4
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
1 John 2:17
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
I find it a shame that instead of carrying out the Great Commission of preaching
repentance and forgiveness, some that call themselves Christian embrace the
pseudo-intellectual world's philosophy of hopelessness, slavery to sin and declare it is impossible to live pure, so "here" is how one can be disobedient to God and attempt to remove the consequences of sin.
OK, go to the U.N. and set up funding for your Wanton Sex in the Face of AIDS Foundation. That way you and those that think condoms fix all problems can transport and distribute condoms throughout an entire continent from now until the Second Coming. After all, you can't have your plan failing because the person must decide how they are to even acquire food, water, clothing and shelter, but miraculously has money for all the condoms they want and it is sold right next to the rock down the footpath.
