Proud to be a Prude!

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified (free from sin): that you should avoid sexual immorality; (4) that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, (5) not in passionate lust like the heathen (person lacking moral principles), who do not know God. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

As I watched the news channels last week report on the erratic behavior of Britney Spears, and the sudden and shocking death of Heath Ledger, I found myself pondering how people with everything externally can be so miserable internally. It also got me thinking about one of the books, which is titled “Prude”, I am currently reading to prepare for our “Choices” series. The book, by Carol Platt Liebau, documents how our nation has become a sex obsessed culture, and how this fixation is destroying girls (and America, too).

When you think of the word prude, do you attach a negative connotation to the term? Liebau writes, “Prude derives from the old French prude-femme, meaning ‘a good and virtuous woman,’ but perhaps it’s no surprise that its connotation is no longer positive. Today, as almost every girl knows, the term is often used to judge someone as sexually conservative and no fun.”

She also writes, “Like the concept of chastity itself, it seems that prude—derived from a term that used to denote honor and virtue—has almost become a badge of shame. Apparently, scarlet letters still exist in American life. But ironically, it’s now the chaste who must wear them.”

It’s unfortunate and destructive to our society when many girls would rather be labeled a slut than a prude.

Today, according to “Prude”, statistics disclose that 50% of teenage girls engage in sexual intercourse. As our teenagers use their liberty as a “right” for licentiousness, the consequences of their promiscuous lifestyle are resulting in unprepared pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, emotional instability, depression and every kind of imaginable social pathology.

Unfortunately, Britney Spears has become the paparazzi poster girl for many of these symptoms. She has salaciously flaunted her body while promulgating songs full of wanton lyrics. Now, she is in the hospital being treated for a mental illness.

I wonder if she has gained the world, but forfeited her soul (Matthew 16:26)?

Heath Ledger was a great looking guy and an actor with remarkable talent. Fame, fortune, and sex outside of the marriage covenant proved to be deadly bedfellows for this beloved celebrity.

I wonder how negatively he was impacted by the separation from his former cohabiting partner, and mother of their baby girl, Michelle Williams.

According to a January 24, 2008 article in “The Sydney Morning Herald”, the Perth model Sophie Ward, whose supermodel sister Gemma was romantically linked with Ledger during his trip home to spend Christmas with his family said, “He was anxious and distressed about his relationship breakdown and separation from Williams, but she did not believe claims he was battling drug problems.”

She believed his recent problems stemmed from those relationship issues. "He said he was going to London but was quite upset because he couldn't see his daughter as much as he'd like to," she said.

I wonder if the circumstances would be different for both Ledger and Williams if they cherished prudish attributes in their relationship.

Sarah E. Hinlicky, “Subversive Virginity”, states, “So-called sexual freedom is really just proclaiming oneself to be available for free, and therefore without value. To “choose” such freedom is tantamount to saying that one is worth nothing.”

By the recent heartbreaking and neurotic actions of Ledger and Spears, it would be prudent for girls (and America, too) to heed Hinlicky’s judiciousness.

I hate to witness people in pain. I pray for Britney to value herself and become a prude, and I pray for Ledger’s family and the relational future of every girl (and American, too).