To Pledge or Not to Pledge? That is my Question of the Day!

**********Lets discuss the Purity Vow**********

Growing up as a teen I heard and seen numerous evangelists and youth leaders encourage young adults and teens to take the purity pledge and wear a promise ring. Fast forward to today, more than fifteen years later I question the validity of such pledges. I do not believe they are scriptural and practical.


Scriptures:
Ecclesiastes 5:4-7

“When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.”(Making a vow is serious business!)

Matthew 5:33-37

“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. “Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.

Psalm 119:9-11

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

The statistics sited in the Mathematica Study supports my belief. It states for the most part that the purity vows are often broken. Why is that?

In my opinion, many of the pledges may have been made on an emotional basis without a strong spiritual foundation and many tweens, teens, and young adults are not fully armed with the word of God thereby not able to guard their hearts properly. Therefore when many trials and situations arise they fall to the way side, the pledge, and their convictions are out the window because they were not equipped to face the situation at hand (Matthew 13).

Many teens in America are dating at the age of 14, engaging in various sexual activities or watching provocative materials at a very young age. They encounter a lot and a pledge is not a sufficient tool to discourage fornication. What teens need to know is God’s view point about sexual immorality, how to deal and end unhealthy friendships, and how to walk away from negative situations they may be placed in…basically what tweens, teens, and young adults need is to be taught Wisdom, (Proverbs 24:14). Also we all need to constantly have the word of God imprinted on our minds so that they are able to withstand the wiles of Satan, (Ephesians 6:11)

I am against pledging but I am all for making your yes’ yes and your no’s be no. Whatever you commit to do to please God in the beginning of your christian walk, you are totally able to accomplish it as you gain wisdom, discipline, and continually renew your mind. God does not seek perfection because as it is written our righteousness is as dirty rags, (Isaiah 64:6). He loves us, and whatever was done in the past is dead and gone when we make Jesus the Lord of our lives. We are pure through Jesus Christ alone. (Colossians 1:21-23) .