This is encouraging. I do wonder, however, what intrinsic 'goodness' virginity holds. Why is virginity even a point of discussion at all with regards to pleasing God? Why is it valued in the Church? I'm 24, and I am still a virgin. I have often felt the heavy weight of opinions of people who are having great sex (and very few who are not) explaining to me how my virginity pleases God. Why? (these aren't rhetorical, I'd really like to know) Also, it's just weird to have folks thinking more about whether or not I'm having sex than I do. I don't know. It worries me that the people are suffering because God's people are doing little in the world, but I am pressured to reassure friends and family that my boyfriend and I are not having sex, so they can sleep at night. I'm jus' sayin'!

It is hard. This is true. But if the message stops here, it also makes the choice of abstinence into something it is not, or should not be.

If we measure God by this standard then ur it's great error. If ur married then how can u be pure n holy as virgin? Celibacy n virginity in physical is not biblical in imitating Christ as single that many misquoted this verse by apostle Paul: “I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.” (1 Cor. 3:8) The unmarried n widows are those virgin in Spirit means they prepared single of saying ur in Christ but ur in the bed of Satan of intercoursing w/ his false doctrine/ teachings. The 5 wise virgin (spiritual) who kept them selves pure by having the light in der soul while d 5 foolish never kept der purity of no light but darkness when they face God n judge them (Mt 25:1-13).

Thank you for sharing. But sorry to say being a virgin, a top athlete never please God rather He pls faith in Christ new covenant as the true virgin of God. If we measure God by this standard then ur in great error. If ur married then how can u be pure n holy as virgin? Celibacy n virginity in physical is not biblical in imitating Christ as single that many misquoted this verse by apostle Paul: “I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.” (1 Cor. 3:8) The unmarried n widows are those virgin in Spirit means they prepared single of saying ur in Christ but ur in the bed of Satan of intercoursing w/ his false doctrine. Teachings n knowledge as adultery n fornication. Christ parables of ten virgins are d 5 foolish virgin (physical) n 5 wise talk about this true meaning of “virgin”. The 5 wise virgin (spiritual) who kept them selves pure by having the light in der soul while d 5 foolish never kept der purity of no light but darkness when they face God n judge them (Mt 25:1-13).

This is true. But if the message stops here, it also makes the choice of abstinence into something it is not, or should not be.

I am a 47 y.o. single who is a second-time virgin, meaning I've abstained from sex after being sexually active. Not just sex, but kissing and holding hands, too. It's been 17 yrs. and it has really stunk sometimes. It is difficult. The world focuses on sex, and I have to look away from men who raise my pulse rate (guys aren't the only ones who have to guard their eyes and should also think about modesty on the beach.) It wasn't my choice to stop living the life I was in, but God my FATHER who said, "No more. I'm not going to allow this anymore." The first 3 yrs I was really ticked off at God - not even a lousy date! But then I stopped fighting and God healed me - 10 yrs of healing and changing me and my perceptions. I would still like to be married - have a partner, companion, friend, lover, and be part of a we/us/they/them/our. Church is actually more difficult than the world, because it is ALL ABOUT THE FAMILY! There are whole websites dedicated to the engaged couple, married couple, and couple with children. There are cruises and conferences and sermons dedicated to uplifting and supporting, acknowledging and praising the marriage/family...and singles are usually thought to be college-aged people who will be part of a couple before too long. To those who are about 35 and older, we get the sermon on the spot from older, younger, and same aged Christians who were married and couldn't resist throwing in "Maybe it's not God's will for you to be married." and "Singleness is a gift, you know." Yeah, whatever - you're obviously the authority on this. Good for Tim and Lolo, and grace and strength to them as the onslaught of criticizms and pedestals are thrust at them. I pray they each find a godly spouse in God's timing, because that is what each desires.

Good point on the Lolo Jones internet image search. Not someone I will be having my daughters look to as a Christian role model in sexual modesty. She has bought hook line and sinker into the feminist culture of "the men should have self control and females have no responsibility in how males react to their body". Can't question whether or not she knows the Lord as that is between her and the Lord but she does not show "Fruits" in her behaviour that would indicate she has learned about Christian modesty and sexuality.

Just to bolster the Family position which seems to be taking a bit of a beating here.My wife and I have been called by God to raise children taught in Gods Word. The comments that Family is becoming an idol in Evangelical America (Canada) are a bit over the top since the Church falls into the same statistics as secular society when it comes to divorce and they have just passed the 50% mark. We are not doing enough to reinforce the healthy Christian family in our Church's. Our well being as a human race depends on raising children and as such God has given us a great responsibility to teach them about him. One of the unfortunate and great deceptions forced on the Church in our western culture is that children are a great cost and that less children equals more time for ourselves! Children are a blessing and should be considered more important for those parents to raise in Christs Love than any other Church activities including missions! For those called to missions thats great and they had better obey God but those called to raise Christian children had better obey God as well. Don't pawn them off on schools, churchs or governments to raise get your hands dirty and spend time with them. We may need to recognize the calling in God of single persons but that does not diminish the huge role that the Family needs to be as the core of our society in Christ. Those single people should all have been raised in healthy Christian families and benefited from the blessings that came from God because of their parents faithfullness.

Holy marriage is the will of God...so be obedient to accept the blessing of Lord Jesus...honor God in all your being!

"Lolo Jones needs to quit whining about how hard it is to be a virgin a get married! Shes 29 for gosh sakes!" Well, it's not that easy to just get married. Sometimes the right person just isn't there. Are we just supposed to stop, drop, and breed with just any old person? As for her age, what is 29? I'm 46, so I guess I'm just useless, huh? (I'm not stupid enough to believe that.) Personally, I think these athletes making a big issue out of their viriginity actually distracts from the message of the Gospel. What does the public hear, that they're Christian or that they're virgins?