PBS will be airing a documentary in June about a girl from Lubbock, Texas, who is fighting for comprehensive sex education.  This in and of itself is not anything extraordinary, but what caught the attention of the producers is the fact that the young lady, Shelby Knox, is a virgin and has made a commitment to stay that way until she is married.  Not to mention that Shelby was raised in a conservative, Christian home and is still part of the church community.

"I was 15 when I pledged sexual purity.  It was the thing to do if you're a good Southern Baptist girl," says Shelby.

If her decision was made because it was "the thing to do," then the value of saving sex for marriage obviously does not run deep with Shelby.  That "good Southern Baptist girl" now fights for comprehensive sex education in public schools -- education that includes instruction on birth control and condom usage.  Once she saw the rates of teen pregnancy in her city of Lubbock, Shelby decided teaching abstinence was not enough.  She is now in college, but even during her high school days, Shelby battled against the administration's abstinence-only sex education policy.  Her reasons and views are the highlight of the documentary, which will air later this summer, titled "The Education of Shelby Knox."

After reading the information on the PBS website, I am struck by two specific aspects of the documentary.  First, I can’t help but comment on some of what was said by producers, Rose Rosenblatt and Marion Lipschutz during an interview.  Second, I must specifically address the faith that Shelby professes, and how that should play a part in every Christian’s view of what is taught.

Here are some snippets from an interview with the producers (with my own comments added in italics):

[W]e had Shelby's coming of age story, her struggles as she moved from being a conservative Christian to a liberal Christian. But we hadn't banked on the dimension that her parents would offer to this transformation. Although at the end of the story they disagree with a fair number of Shelby's political points, they remain a loving family and deeply supportive of their daughter, which is a message of wholeness and healing.

[S]omehow all that extremism would get neutralized and the viewer would identify with this family…

The other big surprise we discovered in filming was Superintendent Clemmons. I mean, we had no idea that in the end it would turn out he was having an affair with his secretary the whole while that Shelby and the Youth Commission were lobbying him for better sex ed. You know, while he was saying, "no, we can't give these kids sex ed because that will lead to more sexual behavior." That was just the perfect payoff, and it's every filmmaker's dream because when you go into making a film you have no idea what your ending's going to be…. We did debate whether or not to include Superintendent Clemmons' affair at the end of the film. It was like a gift from the gods, how couldn't we? But we debated it for a couple of reasons. Was it a cheap shot? It's obviously funny.

While Shelby battles on as a "liberal Christian," I must say that it breaks my heart to see Christians using the methods of this world, rather than using God’s ways, to try to bring about change.  Though I am glad she has chosen to lead an abstinent lifestyle until marriage, her fight for comprehensive sex education is robbing future generations of the message that sex is something beautiful and virginity something worth treasuring.

As a Christian (and a teacher of God’s plan for sex), it troubles me when I see other followers of Christ try to save the world on their own. I do not give presentations and speak to teenagers about sex and the joys and freedom of saving it for marriage merely in order to see the teen pregnancy rates or STD rates fall.  I do not do it with the hopes that statistics will show "our" way (abstinence-only) as the most effective way.  I do it to serve my Savior and risen Lord.  His Word is the truth, and we are called to speak it.

There is no doubt that if the world began to do things the way God commands us in Scriptures, teen pregnancy rates and STD rates would fall dramatically.  However, His Word also makes it clear that some people will refuse to listen.  Still, our job remains the same -- teach His Word.

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (II Timothy 4:2-5)

Though the world may not listen, we cannot stop speaking His truth.  God’s plan for sex is between a man and a woman committed to each other in the beauty of marriage.  We must cling to His promises still knowing that it is not we who change the hearts of man  (I Corinthians 3:6-7).

He promises that His Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11), and as long as I have breath in me, I will depend on that promise as I continue the work He has placed me here to do.