Relationship and sex education in schools has been a subject of concern for fogeys in recent times. Criticism has been aimed particularly on the delivery of the topic and kids’s exposure to inappropriate content.
Christian charity Lovewise seeks to help parents, youth groups and schools by providing resources on marriage, sex and relationships from a Christian perspective.
Julie Maxwell, Deputy Director of Lovewise, opened the organisation’s recent conference recalling her disbelief at what her children, now of their 20s, were taught in school: “I used to be shocked by the graphic nature of the fabric. Even more disturbing was the shortage of teaching on marriage.”
She continued: “The overarching message of what they were being taught was sex was something that grown-ups do after they love one another and as long as everyone was consenting, that is all positive.”
Maxwell said she had attempted to challenge what was being taught but to no avail, and decided to take her children out of sex education lessons. Other children, she said, were also taken out.
“I began in search of alternatives at which point I discovered Lovewise,” she said.
The right to withdraw children from sex education currently stays in place in primary and secondary schools in England while relationship education is mandatory.
Professor Stuart Burgess, of the University of Bristol, led a chat on following God’s perfect design for marriage during which he said it was “incredibly well designed”.
“What happens before marriage has huge consequences and that’s the main focus of Lovewise,” he said.
“Abstinence before marriage is way safer, and abstinence is much more more likely to result in romantic fulfilment.”
He continued: “I even have heard of Christians saying it is simply too difficult to abstain and there isn’t a point in trying. It is a ridiculous objection because all of God’s commands are really difficult. It is tough to not steal, it is tough to maintain the Lord’s day however it doesn’t mean we just hand over.”
He added, “There are more warnings on sexual immorality than there are on another topic within the Bible.”
Professor Burgess went on to share that the Bible outlines “guarantees to support marriage”, stating “he who finds a wife finds an excellent thing and obtains favour from the Lord” and that marriage is “healthy for society”.
He continued: “If we return 100 years people would only court in the event that they were fascinated about marriage, but today people court for fun. The purpose of courtship was to research marriage.
“Even within the Church today we’re beginning to see young people having relationships for fun not because they’re necessarily fascinated about marriage.”
He added, “I very much think that Lovewise has a significant ministry not simply to Christians within the church but additionally to society.”
