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What does God say about having children outside of marriage and becoming a single parent on a whim?
In 2008, 17 girls at the same high school in Gloucester, Massachusetts, got pregnant around the same time. Some blamed it on a pact between the girls; others blamed it on the rising trend of celebrity single parents (Russell Goldman and Elisa Roupenian, "17 Pregnancies a 'Coincidence,' Says Teen," ABCNews.go.com, June 24, 2008). Whatever the motivation, the impact is extreme on the resulting babies and the fathers who now-married or not, job or not-bear the legal obligation to support the mother and child for years to come.
What does God say about having children outside of marriage and becoming a single parent on a whim?
God condemns sex outside of marriage in his law, whether adultery or premarital sex (Exodus 20:14; Galatians 5:19). He does this for our good and for the health of society. Strong, intact families help produce emotionally healthy and stable people.
Getting pregnant outside marriage by intent (or accident) is irresponsible and sinful. That new little life will have many struggles without the benefit of a mom and dad who are deeply in love, committed in marriage and anxiously awaiting his or her arrival to lovingly guide him or her through life.
Celebrity single parents have millions of dollars and a staff of nannies and assistants to help with the day-to-day realities of parenting. Entertainment magazines and websites are full of images of glamorous movie stars or other media idols having children out of wedlock or adopting cute babies from around the world. Their young lives seem ideal, but no one ever thinks of asking those children if they are really happy. Indeed, no amount of money can buy a happy family-which really comes through living according to laws God has laid down.
God expects us to behave responsibly and respectfully toward Him by obeying His law. In doing so, we will behave responsibly toward other people. Keep this in mind when sorting through the trends that surface in our society. If it breaks God's law, no matter how popular it might be, it's still wrong.
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