{"id":13897,"date":"2005-10-24T14:04:17","date_gmt":"2005-10-24T19:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=13897"},"modified":"2024-12-09T16:10:53","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T22:10:53","slug":"should-kids-swim-with-the-opposite-sex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-kids-swim-with-the-opposite-sex\/","title":{"rendered":"Should kids swim with the opposite sex?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

Question:<\/h2>\n

I want to ask why mixed swimming wasn’t discussed in your article, “Proper Attire<\/a>“? To me, wearing any bathing suit is as close to being naked as you can get. There is nothing <\/strong>left to anyone’s imagination. Even if a person is clothed from head to toe, going to a public swimming pool or the lake would not be an appropriate activity for a child of God. There are others in that setting that are as worldly as they come, and viewing others in swimming attire would entice one to lust. I believe most congregation’s leaders are ignoring this and other issues of immodesty. I have grandchildren who are allowed to go to school proms and mixed swimming. It breaks my heart because I have given them everything to read on these subjects (with the scriptures included) and have instructed them myself, but of course, their parents (my daughter and two of the kids’ stepfathers) are in favor of all this activity. My daughter says she wants to “pick the battles” with the kids so as not to go overboard and say no to every issue that comes up. I am totally amazed at that philosophy! The parents refuse to listen to the word of God or any wise counsel on these issues. I am very discouraged concerning these issues and, in general, with the height of members’ worldliness in the church.<\/p>\n

I didn’t come from the best of families, nor did my husband. We made many <\/b>mistakes with our three children. It is being proved in our case that personal example speaks louder than words. My husband was working long hours, and therefore, I was the one left alone with the kids most of the time. I did not make a good “single parent,” so to speak. My husband had more of a “relaxed” attitude toward some issues with the kids.\u00a0He also smoked cigarettes (began\u00a0after\u00a0<\/strong>our first child was born), and at that time, we also went to public swimming places, as did the other members of the church. Public swimming by members of the church was something we both grew up with. I don’t recall the time frame when I learned how wrong mixed swimming was, but I think it was sometime in the 1990s. I believe I have always known it was wrong, but all those years before, I thought it was because I was shy and didn’t have much self-esteem, etc. Now I realize it was because I did not feel comfortable having so little clothing on my body, especially when males were present. I ignored my inner voice, and since I had always swum in public and the church had not given any instruction about it, it continued on with my own children.<\/p>\n

I believe my kids received mixed messages from us all those years, so none of them are strong Christians today. Parents may not be the only example their children have, but they had better be the best ones! My family is living proof of that, and it will probably cause me much heartache until the day I pass from this earth.<\/p>\n\t

Answer:<\/h3>\n

You are right that the issue of mixed swimming is important to address and it should be taught more often. When I originally wrote this book, I mistakenly thought that the issue was a clear application of the principles brought out. Given the questions I received, I realized that I needed to spell out the issue more clearly. I just recently wrote an article on it, which you can read by clicking on “Is It Okay for Boys and Girls to Swim Together?<\/a>“<\/p>\n

Thank you for sharing your concerns with the younger generation. I hope they will learn from your experiences. Concerning the need for consistency in expectations of children’s behavior, may I recommend the lesson “When I Grow Up<\/a>“?<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Question: I want to ask why mixed swimming wasn’t discussed in your article, “Proper Attire“? To me, wearing any bathing suit is as close to being naked as you can get. There is nothing left to anyone’s imagination. Even if a person is clothed from head to toe, going to a public swimming pool or…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1033,1028,1032,1034],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adolescence","category-parenting","category-preteen","category-teenager"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":24475,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-mixed-swimming-right-or-wrong\/","url_meta":{"origin":13897,"position":0},"title":"Is mixed swimming right or wrong?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 10, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I was reading\u00a0your sermons on modesty. What I want to know is why do\u00a0you say mixed swimming is wrong, but in the article labeled \"Emphasizing the Physical\", mixed bathing is not considered wrong, but people make it a rule? I'm a little confused. Answer: People love to make rules,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2745,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-wrong-with-mixed-swimming\/","url_meta":{"origin":13897,"position":1},"title":"What is Wrong with Mixed Swimming?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 7, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: Ephesians 4:17-24 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s first define the issue. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is not whether boys and girls can participate in the same activity. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There are plenty of sports and other activities where both men and women participate. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Often, as adolescence is reached, boys and girls will separate, mostly because men and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":50858,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/your-article-on-mixed-swimming-is-just-how-my-daddy-taught-me\/","url_meta":{"origin":13897,"position":2},"title":"Your article on mixed swimming is just how my daddy taught me","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Your article on \"What Is Wrong with Mixed Swimming?\" is just how my daddy taught me and my twin!\u00a0Awesome article! Answer: Glad you found the information useful.","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2742,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-long-were-the-priests-breeches\/","url_meta":{"origin":13897,"position":3},"title":"How long were the priests’ breeches?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 14, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In one of your articles, you mentioned that\u00a0Exodus 28:42\u00a0means from the waist to and including the thighs. What is your source for this interpretation? Answer: \"And you shall make for them linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs\" (Exodus 28:42). This\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28923,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-christian-use-a-sauna\/","url_meta":{"origin":13897,"position":4},"title":"Can a Christian use a sauna?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Can a Christian use a sauna? If a Swede or Scandinavian becomes a Christian, should they stop going to the sauna, even in a case that it isn't sexual? Answer: While saunas are popular in Sweden and Scandinavia, they are not limited to those countries so I will just\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1436,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-okay-for-boys-and-girls-to-swim-together\/","url_meta":{"origin":13897,"position":5},"title":"Is it okay for boys and girls to swim together?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 20, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My friend wants to know if it is ok to go swimming where there are boys. I asked Daddy and he says he did not think that was right, and I do not do that. I told my friend, but she still does. Answer: To answer your question, we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13897"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13897\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}