PREMARITAL SEX:
HOW SHOULD CHRISTIAN
PARENTS REACT?
BY SHERI BELL
Teri looked at her husband, Kenton,
her face distraught. Just minutes
before, their daughter had dropped the
bombshell that she and her college
boyfriend were having sex. When her
parents had voiced their disapproval,
Renee had burst into tears and run from
the room.
“What are we going to do?” Teri asked
Kenton.
Kenton looked at his wife in surprise.
“Don’t you mean what is Renee going to
do? Keep sleeping with this guy or honor
God’s word on premarital sex, like we
taught her!”
“But if we push her too hard, we might
end up losing her!” Teri replied. “She
says she loves him.”
Kenton put his hands on his hips, clearly
angry. “Teri, we have to take a united
stand on this. It’s wrong—and you know
it.”
Teri wrung her hands. “But if they do
love each other, who are we to say they
shouldn’t at some point be together?”
Kenton’s eyes widened. “Are you saying
that you think it’s okay for them to sleep
together, Teri, just because they think
they’re in love?”
“Well…if they eventually get married…”
Teri blew out a haggard breath. “Yes, I
Solutions • 55