Being a teenager is no picnic and it is certainly full of issues and competing demands. More often than not, teens find themselves asking the same old question: Should I do ‘this’ or not?

In a significant number of instances, there is either no one to ask for advice or the persons available are unable to understand and identify with the issue involved. As though this isn’t bad enough, teen in addition have to deal with the pressure from friends, mates, the media and may be even adults around them.

Now there are numerous things teens are pressured with and some of them include: use of drugs or controlled substances, casual sex, sex in a relationship, heavy going on excessive alcohol consumption, use of foul or unwholesome language, looking overly skinny going on painfully thin, lack of courtesy or courteous behaviour and a host of other bad or unacceptable habits. Admittedly, it’s a whole lot to contend with or better still it’s a whole lot to rise above, but it is possible to rise above it all.

Because there are numerous things with which a teen has to contend with and undoubtedly, there are many varying circumstances, it is safe to say that no human can answer all your questions and even if anyone could, they most probably could not answer totally and wholesomely correctly. But thankfully we have the Bible which provides us with guidance and basic principles which determine and inform our decisions and decision making processes.

Having said that, let’s go on to establish some basic truths as are found in the Bible concerning a limited number of these issues.

Casual sex and or engaging in sexual relations in a romantic relationship

The disturbing thing about this subject-matter is that the ‘general’ opinion or position is that it is OK and not just ok, but that it is much needed if a teen is to hold some good social standing or reputation. As a teen, regardless of gender, casual sex and or sexual relations are considered as almost part of your growth and development chart in a manner of speaking.

It is important to establish what the Bible says about this. If we look at various passages it is clear that as Christians we are encouraged to save sexual relations for marriage. (1 Cor. 7 v 2 Acts 15 v 20 Galatians 5 v 19 and Hebrews 13 v 4). These are the bench marks and it is important that we understand this important subject because it will help us better appreciate what is expected from us. The Bible gives us this high standard for good reasons and these reasons are more for our benefits and protection than anything else.

So essentially, as a Christian teen who has decided to live by the teachings of the Bible, you find yourself swimming against the tide so to speak and so the temptation to just go with the flow is strong because it promises to be much easier. But that is far from the truth, because going with the flow has its hurdles and dangers.