What a great concept! A nationally recognized Day of Purity celebrated each year during the week of Valentines. It’s a positive alternative to the bombardment we get telling us that purity until marriage and fidelity within marriage are old-fashioned and essentially impossible and that experimenting with sexual preferences is absolutely normal. Above all, the message we hear in all this is that God’s commandments are really just suggestions and breaking them has no consequences.

Our young people are especially targeted, whether they are in public schools, private schools, or Christian schools. I’m not convinced that those who are home-educated are even exempt. It’s virtually impossible to shield kids from this dastardly message. You don’t have to read a questionable book or watch a PG rated movie. All it takes is shopping at a mall, or reading a newspaper or magazine article or ad, seeing a billboard, or hearing a radio message. It’s everywhere. And the message is destroying our young people.

Since 2004, Mat Staver’s Liberty Counsel has sponsored the nationwide Day of Purity as an effort to let our “nation’s youth make a public demonstration of their commitment to remain sexually pure in mind and actions.” As the Day of Purity web site says, “When the youth of America stand up for sexual purity they send a message to parents, churches, communities, legislators and the media that they want a different America.” That’s a powerful and an important statement.

This year the Day of Purity is on Wednesday, February 14. The Family Research Institute of Wisconsin has been and is again this year a proud sponsor of this proactive day.

Some might allege that we don’t need a Day of Purity. After all, so the argument goes, it’s my life and my body. I can do what I want. It’s my choice and my right to do as I want. It’s not hurting you. Oh, really? What about the following statistics?

According to the Day of Purity web site, each day in American 8000 teens will be infected with a sexually transmitted disease. Two-thirds of the 10 million new cases of STDs this year will be among the 14-25 year-old age group. Over 1 million teenage girls will become pregnant this year, which is a 430% increase since 1960. As a result of those pregnancies, 20% of the 1.3 to 1.5 million abortions in America each year are performed on teenagers.

What about the future spouses of those who a sexually transmitted disease? Do you suppose they care? What about the families of the 14-25 year olds with STDs? Do you think they are hurting and struggling to handle the situation? What about the babies who are aborted? And what about the babies who are born? And who pays for all the medical costs involved? Who pays for the publicly funded day cares in high schools?

All of this goes straight to the core of the Day of Purity message. Young people need to know that there is an alternative to impurity—that abstinence until marriage is totally possible, that purity of mind and body is the very best way to ensure that their futures remain bright and unblemished.

The Day of Purity has a Purity Pledge young people can sign and carry as a reminder of their commitment. A Day of Purity wristband is embossed with the words “LIVEPURE” and I Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love and in faith and in purity.”

As the Day of Purity organizers say, the Day of Purity is not just for public school students. It’s for America. In a society that is saturated with and virtually condones promiscuity, we all need this message. Purity of mind and body isn’t just for the young. It’s for all of us, especially for those of us who are Christians.

Over the past couple of years, over 30 groups in Wisconsin have participated in some way in the Day of Purity. That’s a good beginning. But surely there are many others out there who can and should be part of this pro-active, pro-life, pro-family, pro-youth day. To find out how your youth group, Christian school, public school abstinence group, or organization can participate, visit www.dayofpurity.org, that’s d-a-y-o-f-p-u-r-i-t-y.o-r-g. Or call 1-800-671-1776, 1-800-671-1776.

The Family Research Institute of Wisconsin salutes Liberty Counsel and the Day of Purity—and all our Wisconsin young people who understand that purity is in everyone’s best interest and that God’s commandments aren’t suggestions and that breaking them can have heartbreaking consequences.

This is Julaine Appling for The Family Research Institute of Wisconsin reminding you the Prophet Hosea said, “ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. ”