sexually transmitted diseases – La Vista Church of Christ

Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 17:38:15 +0000

by Alan Williamson
via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 4, 31 December 1991

In this case: Who's afraid of the AIDS virus?

With news of the infection of basketball superstar Magic Johnson, a new warning has arisen relative to the dangers of the HIV virus. "Anybody can get it!" is the new watch cry. Young people who formerly thought themselves to be "safe" because they were not in a "high risk" category (homosexual or intravenous drug user) have been awakened to the risk of promiscuous "straight" sex. A new wave of concern is sweeping the nation.
Renewed calls are expected for more education, more information, more public service announcements, more fundraisers, more documentaries, more spokespeople to speak, and more tax dollars to pay for it all. People will be bolstered in their demand that a "cure" be found for AIDS --- and found now!

What is lost in all the rhetoric is the fact that a solution to the AIDS epidemic has already been discovered! It is known that the HIV virus is spread primarily through behavior that is either immoral or unlawful or both. Stop the behavior and stop the disease. It is that simple. But, that is a message that the homosexual community, the users of drugs (needle sharers), and now, the promiscuous promoters of "free sex" in the heterosexual community do not want to hear!

False information abounds in the effort to quiet the fears of the public. Programs to distribute "free condoms" and "clean needles" have been implemented. Many schools now have mandatory "AIDS Education" programs in place. The impression is left that all one has to do is use a condom when engaging in "high-risk" behavior, and you will be safe. This is simply not true! While condom use may "slow down" the spread of the virus, it is by no means a "safe" mechanism in the truest sense of the word (safe). Mention is seldom made of the high "failure rate" of condoms. And all it takes is one failure to permit the infection of the person who has been misled to depend on it for their safety. As for the effectiveness of distributing "clean needles," one might ask, "What happens after it has been used once?" Not only has a "crime" been committed, but the free needle now becomes the vessel for further infection when it is used a second time.

There is only one foolproof means of protecting yourself from AIDS, if you are intent on being sexually active, and that is to practice monogamy. The wedding ring and the faithful execution of the marriage vows will protect the uninfected. A man and a woman who are faithful in their marriage to each other need have no fear of the AIDS virus. In the absence of marriage, celibacy is the answer for the single person. Chastity may not be popular, but it is truly safe! "Anybody can get it," they say. Not so! (Ordinarily, with profound apologies to Kimberly Bergalis and others who have contracted the disease innocently.)

This message will not be popular among those who have set their hearts to do wrong, but it is true. If you would be free from the fear of "getting AIDS," abstain from sharing needles with drug addicts and refrain from sharing beds with fornicators (I Corinthians 6:18; Hebrews 13:4).

Challenges for the Year

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 20:59:18 +0000

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Challenges-for-the-Year.mp3

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton

Text: Romans 1:28-32

I. Toward the end of each year, people tend to review the year and record the trends that are evident

A. I’ve been collecting several articles in the last few months dealing with moral trends

B. We are not of the world, but we must live in it - John 17:15-16; I Corinthians 5:9-10

1. What happens in the world ends up creeping into our lives and the lives of those we know.

C. I would like to spend a few moments discussing these trends and what God says about such matters.

II. Changes in marriage and divorce rates

A. It might seem odd at first, but divorce rates have been declining of late.

1. The overall divorce rate in the United States dropped

a. 1990: 18.95 divorces per 1,000 marriages

b. 2009: 17.92 divorces per 1,000 marriages

c. 2019: 15.50 divorces per 1,000 marriages

d. 2021: 14.00 divorces per 1,000 marriages

2. “The U.S. divorce rate fell from 9.7 new divorces per 1,000 women age 15 and over in 2009 to 7.6 in 2019" [Lydia Anderson, “See How Marriage and Divorce Rates in Your State Stack Up”, United States Census Bureau, 7 December 2020].

3. It isn’t that people are getting better at being married

4. People are increasingly not bothering to get married

a. “There were 16.3 new marriages for every 1,000 women age 15 and over in the United States, down from 17.6 in 2009" [Lydia Anderson, “See How Marriage and Divorce Rates in Your State Stack Up”, United States Census Bureau, 7 December 2020].

b. “The number of American parents who live together without marrying has increased twelve-fold since 1970.” [“Parents cohabit rather than wed, Omaha World-Herald, 2011]

c. Only 51% of adult Americans are married in 2010. That is compared to 72% in 1960. [“Wedding bell blues: Only 51% are married,” Omaha World-Herald, 12/15/2011]. It was down to 47.3% in 2021.

d. Worse, “Just 20% of adults 18 to 29 are married, compared with 59 percent in 1960.” [“Wedding bell blues: Only 51% are married,” Omaha World-Herald, 12/15/2011]

B. But at the same time, divorce among people 50 to 64 has increased from 6.9 divorces per 1,000 marriages in 1990 to 12.6 divorces per 1,000 marriages in 2009. [Jeff Kunerth, “Boomers boost divorce rate among older adults,” Omaha World-Herald, December 2011]

1. “Now one in four people getting divorced is over the age of 50. In 1990 it was less than one in 10.” [Jeff Kunerth, “Boomers boost divorce rate among older adults,” Omaha World-Herald, December 2011]

2. What is happening is that the older generation that viewed marriage as permanent is dying off.

a. A young generation that still emphasized marriage is growing up, but they are more willing to divorce.

b. A telling statement: “The divorce rate for aging boomers is twice as high for those who were previously divorced than those who were on their first marriage.” [Jeff Kunerth, “Boomers boost divorce rate among older adults,” Omaha World-Herald, December 2011]

c. I Corinthians 7:10-11

d. They are being followed by a generation that isn’t even bothering to get married. “Families that would be unstable anyway are just skipping marriage.” [Sheela Kennedy, Minnesota Population Center]

e. The few that do are among those who see marriage as permanent.

C. Hebrews 13:4

D. The shift is affecting children and future generations

1. “42% of children have lived with cohabiting parents by age 12, far more than the 24% whose parents have divorced” [“Parents cohabit rather than wed, Omaha World-Herald, 2011]

III. Sexual behavior

A. Unwed sex

1. One statistic is that percent of unmarried births by teenagers versus all births has declined from 52% in 1975 to 21% in 2009 to 15.% in 2020.

2. Sexual intercourse in high school has decreased [Youth Risk Behavior Report]

a. 1991: 54.1%

b. 2007: 47.8%

c. 2017: 39.5%

d. 2019: 38.4%

3. Sounds good until you learn that the percent of unmarried births is rising

a. 1980: 18.4%

b. 1995: 32.2%

c. 2009: 41%

d. 2020: 40.5%

4. What that means is unmarried teen births are decreasing, but unmarried births to non-teens are rising, Thus, premarital sex after high school has been increasing.

5. I Corinthians 6:9-10

B. Sexual disease

1. 17% of all new HIV/AIDS cases involve people under the age of 24.

a. “During 1997--2006, the rate of AIDS diagnoses reported among males aged 15--19 years nearly doubled, from 1.3 cases per 100,000 population in 1997 to 2.5 cases per 100,000 population in 2006" [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5806a1.htm]

2. 53% of all STD reported involve people ages 15-24. [CDC]

3. While intercourse is decreasing, other forms of sex are increasing

a. Oral sex in 2005

(1) 71% of 18-19 year olds

(2) 43% of 15-17 year olds

b. “A nearly 30% increase in these reportable STDs between 2015 and 2019.” The highest contributing populations are homosexuals and young people between ages 15 and 24. [https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/p0413-stds.html]

4. There is a reason why God warned about disease (wounds) - Proverbs 6:32-33

IV. Drugs

A. Alcohol

1. From 1991 to 2011, “the proportion of eight-graders who said the used alcohol in the past 30 days has declined by half, to 13%.” 40% of high school seniors used alcohol in the past 30 days. [“Teen alcohol, cig use down; pot up,” Omaha World-Herald, December 2011].

2. Binge drinking by high school seniors dropped from 41% in 1981 to 22% in 2011. [“Teen alcohol, cig use down; pot up,” Omaha World-Herald, December 2011]

3. “By the 12th grade, more than 2/3 of students have tried alcohol.” [https://americanaddictioncenters.org/blog/statistics-of-drug-use-in-high-school]

B. Cigarettes

1. 12.8 % of high school students smoked in the last 30 days in 2010 compared to 11.7% in 2011. [“Teen alcohol, cig use down; pot up,” Omaha World-Herald, December 2011]

2. It is now down to 2% smoked in the last 30 days in 2022 but e-cigarettes are at 14.1%. 16.5% of high school students report using some form of tobacco product in the last 30 days. [https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm]

C. Marijuana

1. 22% of 12 to 17 year olds have smoked marijuana in the last month in 2019 [https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects/teens.html]

2. “Teens generally don’t think of marijuana as dangerous” [“Teen alcohol, cig use down; pot up,” Omaha World-Herald, December 2011]

3. As more state legalize medical marijuana, the rate of marijuana use has increased. No surprise there. Disturbing is that I can’t find recent statistics.

D. Romans 13:13-14 - Behave properly - not like the world

V. In describing the warnings given to declining Roman Empire - Revelation 9:1-11

A. Satan, the angel of destruction, rose up.

1. He released smoke to obscure the sun – he blocked people from seeing the light of God’s wisdom

2. He waged spiritual warfare against his own followers, non-Christians who did not have the mark of God, causing them pain and torment

3. Yet he could not affect those whom God marked.

B. We often think of Satan looking to bring Christians down, but he is a destroyer and he destroys his own followers

C. Misery is in their lives and they don’t even realize it comes from their own sins.

D. But in God there is something that the world can never offer - Philippians 4:6-7

E. There is an opportunity to gain peace this day.

Should I tell my husband I have herpes?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 01:44:00 +0000

Question:

I am a Christian in the Lord's Church and been baptized since I was 14. However, during my Army days, when I was in my early 20's, I strayed and committed sin. While in the world, I contracted an STD (herpes). I was only 23 at the time and that was the worst experience in my life and even now, it's still hard to grasp.

I ended up meeting someone, getting married, and have been for about five years. Before we were married, I ended up pregnant and through testing found out I had chlamydia from him. While looking through his medical file, I found out that he had this once before I met him. I also found an old medication in his room one day in which I forget the name of it, but I remember hearing of it before and realized that it's used to treat warts of some type. I confronted him about it and he said he a bump on his privates and that it came and left with the medication. But either way, we stayed together. We ended up getting married a year later.

Since we have been married, I have re-dedicated my life to Christ and have been growing faithfully in obedience. The thing is I never told my hubby that I had herpes. I was then, and now, too embarrassed. I was in denial so long, and I just couldn't believe that I had this junk, especially since I didn't have many sex partners when I was out in the world. Plus the realization of how being in the world and not following God is a slap in the face. I know I turned around, but I must deal with the consequence of my actions, even though I have repented of the past sins.

Here I am today, and I'm taking a course in teaching others the gospel. I am learning a lot and it has opened my mind up to more. I wanted to know if never mentioning to my hubby about herpes is an act of deceiving someone. I would have never known about the wart thing had I not found the empty medicine bottle or the chlamydia had I not gotten tested, but yet I forgave him and we ended up married. But I want to make sure my conscience is right. I know herpes doesn't kill, and I thank God as it could've easily been something worst like HIV/AIDS. But I questioned if it was me on the other end, would I have wanted to know? So it bothers me.

I know the thing I have learned from this is when you are in the world anything is liable to happen. I wish a million times I would've had done right but years have passed and there's no point in looking back now. I'm trying to continue to grow closer to God so that I can have a hope of Heaven one day.

We currently have multiple children and both work full-time. He also is a member of the Lord's church. At the time when we first met, he wasn't faithful either. We both now attend, although he's not as faithful, I'm trying to help get him right. So I would like to know your thoughts on the situation, please.

Thanks for your response.

Answer:

The problem of hiding this disease is that you put another person at risk of contracting it without their knowing it. Yes, the symptoms of herpes are fairly mild for healthy adults. The biggest risk is with newborn children, so each time you become pregnant, your doctor needs to know so the proper precautions to prevent passing the virus on to your child.

Neither you nor your husband was virgins when you came together. Both of you had multiple sex partners. Since you had chlamydia, I assume your husband was also treated; otherwise, there is a possibility of continuing to pass it back and forth between the two of you. The HPV (genital wart) problem means you need to get PAP smear tests regularly because HPV is associated with cervical cancer in women. A specific examination for genital warts for both you and your husband might be the safest route. Unlike herpes, genital warts can be dealt with.

Regarding the herpes, it is highly likely that you've already passed on the disease to your husband since you didn't take any precautions. Still, it is better to tell him than for him to find out later he has herpes. Be clear that you're sorry that you hid it for so long, but you've come to realize that you weren't showing respect for him by keeping it hidden. He also needs to know that you've had this for a long time and did not pick this up recently. If he is concerned, have him tested for the virus and talk to the doctor about living with it.

"Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; he who does so destroys his own soul. Wounds and dishonor he will get, and his reproach will not be wiped away" (Proverbs 6:32-33).

Will God cure us of herpes?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:16:00 +0000

Question:

Hi,

I have made a lot of mistakes in my life and just one time in my life I felt like killing myself. I knew God existed all the while, but I never obeyed him.

I have this long-distance boyfriend, and I visit him on vacation. The first time we had sex it was great, I fell in love, and we still are. The next I went to visit, we had sex again. I got a surprise from him -- I caught herpes. I cried and I started to dislike my boyfriend because I thought he cheated on me. He told me he didn't know he had it. He said he didn't get any symptoms. I got all the symptoms. I cried. I wanted to die. I couldn't believe this happened to me. I trusted so much and I'm not a person who sleeps around.

I decided no one can help me but God, so I sought Him. I struggled but when I started reading my Bible, going to church, and listening to His words, all those suicidal feelings and hate went away. I felt like a new person. I thank Him every day for pushing me through this. No one could help me but Him.

I told my boyfriend that I want to be a Christian, and he was OK with it. He said he also wants to be a Christain. Sometimes my problem is that I blame him for everything bad that has happened to me. I didn't really forgive him for what happened to me. I kept bringing it up and he told me sorry so many times and begged me to stay with him. I decided I got to forgive him. Because of my boyfriend, I came to know God. We are still together, and he says he wants to marry me. We love each other so much.

What I'm asking is: can God heal both of us of this disease? I tell myself even if He doesn't heal us, I would never abandon Him because He took me out the worse and put me back on track. I can't live without God. So I'm asking God for healing for both of us. I also told my boyfriend we can't have sex before marriage, and he agreed. That was surprising.

Answer:

Can God heal diseases? Of course. But will He change the way His world works for you and your boyfriend? I don't think it is likely. Many times we need reminders that God is correct when He gives us instruction. Sometimes we need reminders that we need God. "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (II Corinthians 12:7-10).

Though you did not know God at the time, you did do things that you knew were wrong. You considered yourself a woman who did not sleep around, yet you did have sex with one man and then suffered consequences because of it. Right now men do not have a cure for herpes. The best we are able to do is put it into remission. Perhaps God will permit a cure to be found one day, but meanwhile, you'll have to learn to live with it. At least if you do decide to marry this man, you don't have to worry about spreading the disease to anyone else.

Yes, it is possible to have herpes and not be aware of it. Some people don't have noticeable symptoms. The fact that he has herpes means he had sex with someone else who had herpes, but it doesn't tell you when he contracted the disease.

Yes, you do need to forgive him. You ended up with herpes because you decided to commit fornication. He was a contributing factor, but it was also your decision, so fairness says you both were equally guilty. Besides your own salvation rests on being able to forgive others. "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15).

I'm glad to hear that both of you have given up fornication. If you do decide to marry this man, I pray that you two have a joyful life together as you serve the Lord.

Can a wife be divorced for fornication if she gave her husband an STD?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 03:26:00 +0000

Question:

If a husband suspects his wife of cheating but never caught her, nor did she ever admit to it even after giving her husband an STD. Can the husband divorce his wife and remarry?

Answer:

Generally getting a sexually transmitted disease from your spouse would be evidence that the spouse had been having sex with someone else. However, there are some things that need to be considered. First, some STD's can be transmitted in none sexual ways. For example, it is thought possible to pick up HPV (genital warts) from the environment. A second consideration is how long the spouse had the STD. It is possible for someone to get an STD before marriage and the symptoms do not show up until later. Both cases would be unusual, rare, and dependent on the type of disease under consideration.

Given that there is suspicion due to other events plus the evidence of the STD, that would probably be enough to say that adultery was occurring.

Question:

Ok, thanks for the clarification. I asked this question because some people make it seem as if you have to have hard evidence (i.e. photos, statements, etc.) in order to be allowed to remarry after divorcing your spouse for infidelity.

Answer:

What people are trying to avoid is a claim of divorcing for fornication on a mere accusation. The marriage covenant needs to be treated more seriously than this. An STD would be hard evidence, but not always conclusive evidence. But you don't have to catch the adulterer in bed to know it is going on. For example, Joseph was going to put Mary away because she was pregnant. That was hard but indirect evidence (Matthew 1:18-19). And it is an example of an extremely rare case of coming to the wrong conclusion. This is why important decisions ought to be based on multiple witnesses.

I laugh at your excuses that marriage is important in reference to the prevention of a sexually transmitted disease

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:12:28 +0000

Question:

I laugh at your excuses that marriage is important in reference to the prevention of a sexually transmitted disease. You obviously do not understand the nature of a disease or infection. When speaking of sexually transmitted diseases, you stated, "This is just one of many reasons why sex should not take place outside of marriage." I abhor your misleading falsification of information. Marriage does not inhibit, nor remove a sexually transmitted disease. Therefore, if a man or woman married a person with a sexually transmitted disease, they will also contract the disease if intercourse is initiated without proper precautions. Therefore it can be reasoned that marriage has no value in the prevention of contracting a sexually transmitted disease and that the previously stated "proper precautions" could be used between non-married couples with the same effect as couples who are married. Please stop misleading people.

Answer:

How interesting. Let's first start with a basic fact. You did not find a statement on this web site that said: "Marriage inhibits or removes a sexually transmitted disease." Thus, you start by arguing against a false statement that you supplied. From this, you came to the false conclusion that I do not understand the nature of diseases and their transmission.

What is taught is that if people followed God's teaching where they waited until marriage for sex and each husband and wife only had sex with their spouse, then the problem of sexually transmitted diseases would rapidly decay. It would never completely go away since some diseases are transmitted in more ways than just sexually. The reasoning is simple enough for you to understand. If you never had sex before your marriage, you would not have had a chance to contract a sexually transmitted disease. If you married someone who never had sex before her marriage, she would not have had a chance to contract a sexually transmitted disease. Thus, you and your spouse's sexual relationship will remain free of these types of diseases for the rest of your marriage so long as both of you remain faithful to your marriage covenant. Not hard is it?

In your own example, you talk about a person marrying someone who already has a sexually transmitted disease. That means the partner has been having sex prior to marriage. Because the partner has violated God's law regarding sexual relations, not only is she suffering because of the consequence of her sin, she puts her husband at risk as well.

For secular articles supporting this obvious conclusion, see:

Anti-abstinence sex-ed policy fails to prevent STD explosion in California: "California has insisted on teaching contraceptive-based sex education in their schools all along. They expect teens to be sexually active. They don’t raise the health standard to abstinence… It's clear California supports sexually active teens, and STI rates will naturally explode with these policies." ... "Sexually transmitted infections soared in the British Isles when Plan B was made available without prescription in 2000. California was one of the first states to permit the sale of Plan B over-the-counter without an age limit."

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD's): "When someone has a sexually transmitted disease, anyone who has sex with that person stands a good chance of becoming infected. Thus, having sex with multiple partners carries a greater risk of disease than staying faithful to a spouse or long-term partner."

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: "The likelihood of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) is very high today when one engages in illicit sex. This fact must be seriously considered when a partner or one preparing for marriage has engaged in sexual sin, especially in its effect on the spouse or sexual partner."

MICROBIOLOGY 101/102 INTERNET TEXT: CHAPTER XVI: SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES "Abstinence, after some consideration, is really about protecting you and your significant other from emotional setbacks (possibly for some people) and disease. HIV could be stopped if everyone in the world accepted and practiced abstinence before marriage."

Can you get an STD from anal sex without a condom?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 02:55:31 +0000

Question:

I have a quick and silly question, but I want to be safe. I'm not a virgin but the girl I'm seeing is. I've had sexual intercourse with two other girls who are clean. Now my question is if I'm having anal intercourse with my girlfriend at the moment, is it necessary to use a condom to prevent getting an STD? Or is it not possible, since STDs are spread only if that particular person has them.

Can you get an STD from anal sex without using a condom?

Answer:

I'm glad you are somewhat concerned about the physical consequences of fornication (sex that takes place outside of marriage), but I fear that you are completely ignoring the spiritual consequences as you plan your sin.

Let's start with your basic question: can you catch an STD from anal sex with a virgin? First, you are assuming she actually is a virgin. Some claim to be a virgin, knowing that this makes them more attractive in a man's eyes. Others claim to be a virgin because vaginal intercourse had not taken place even though they had participated in oral sex, anal sex, or mutual masturbation. But these are still forms of sex which can spread STD's. Thus, it is possible for a woman who has an intact hymen to still have an STD.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases are just a class of diseases that don't readily spread except in sexual situations. But these are not the only diseases in the world and other diseases can be spread during sex (as well as through other means). Anal sex is very prone to spreading disease. Would you consider spreading feces on your genitals? Then why would a man consider putting his penis in the part of the body where feces come from? The colon of a person contains a large number of bacteria. The skin on your penis is very thin and your blood vessels are just below the surface. A bacteria doesn't have to travel far to enter your bloodstream.

In addition, the rectum is not designed to accommodate an object as large in circumference as an erect penis. Forcing the penis in through the rectum can cause damage to the muscles in this area. Movement of the penis can cause small tears in the large intestine. Not only does this expose you to the blood of the person being victimized by you, but it also exposes the victim's bloodstream to an environment filled with diseases.

Anal sex is just a perverted form of sexual intercourse that men engage in to avoid getting a woman pregnant. It is much riskier in spreading disease, but what you are ignoring is that it is still sinful. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9-10).

On top of this, you call this woman your girlfriend, but you are planning to lead her into sin, expose her to disease, and possibly injure her all so that you can get a few moments of sexual gratification. And it is a form of sex where you will experience the gratification and she will not get much of her own. This is not friendship, let alone love, this is a selfish male using a woman as an object to relieve his sexual urges. You're a human being, but you want to act like a dog. "But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption" (II Peter 2:12).

"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, they shall be cast down," says the LORD" (Jeremiah 6:15).

Question:

Thanks for your opinion. What you said was very powerful and deep. I'm a Muslim and I should've known that it was a sin. I guess I'm being selfish and trying to gain those few minutes of sexual gratification. I wish I had more positive influences around me. I hope you can accept my letters, and I hope I can come to you with any problem and you could help me with open arms.

Answer:

It takes the courage of a man to admit he is wrong, and I'm glad you were persuaded out of sinning against God and this woman. You are welcome to talk to me about any problem you are facing. My answers will be Bible-based because that is my duty as a preacher. "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen" (I Peter 4:11). If you are comfortable with that, we can have long and friendly talks.

I don't know your age or how close you are to marrying, but God has given us a beautiful gift of sex that is to be enjoyed between a husband and his wife. Don't destroy that gift by misusing it.

"My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion, and your lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of hell. Lest you ponder her path of life - her ways are unstable; you do not know them. Therefore hear me now, my children, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.

"Remove your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one; lest aliens be filled with your wealth, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner; and you mourn at last, when your flesh and your body are consumed, and say: "How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised correction! I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me! I was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation."

"Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be only your own, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and always be enraptured with her love. For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms of a seductress?

"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray" (Proverbs 5:1-23).

I have bumps on my genitals that are annoying

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 02:42:09 +0000

Question:

I have been sexually active for 7 years now with about 11 different women. I am currently married and I stay active with my spouse. This problem slightly worries both my wife and myself. I have had this problem before I was married. I am worried about some of the growths that have formed on the bottom part of the shaft of my penis. A few years back, I noticed the little raised dark wart-like bumps formed. I questioned their appearance there but never really got an answer. Since then, the number of them has grown a little. I have a small section with about four tightly grouped together, then a couple here and there in the immediately surrounding area. Also between the thigh and the scrotum. I believe I have skin tags based on previous questions you've answered. I am worried because it is on one side of my penis on the bottom part of the shaft. They seem to keep coming. they start out skin color, then dark then resort after about a month or so back to skin color. However, they are raised and annoying.

Answer:

The only reliable way to find out what you have is to go and see a dermatologist, who specializes in the skin. Skin tags stick out, but raised bumps with a rough surface is more likely to be genital warts. I found a page that has several pictures of genital warts on men of different skin tones, so you can get a rough idea about what genital warts look like. If they are genital warts, they need to be removed as they are associated with cancer later in life. Even if they are skin tags, a dermatologist can remove them for you so that they won't bother you.