“AN OPEN LETTER TO
COUPLES ‘LIVING TOGETHER’”

By Dr. Hoyt W. Allen, Jr.

Many things can shock a parent as they raise a child, some are:
1) Receiving a poor report card 2) A note from the teacher or principal to come for a session concerning one’s child 3) The police chief calling and stating that your child has been picked up again for speeding, or stealing, or selling dope, etc. 4) Them informing you that they have flunked out of college, due to drink, drugs, and laziness 5) A child declaring that you are going to be a grandparent, prior to their marriage. And, as many parents know “on and on” it can go!

These are all very disturbing words for a parent to receive, but possibly the most hurtful words for a parent or grandparent to hear from the children who they have raised are, “Mom and dad, my lover and I are moving in together”.

Immediately one thinks, where have I gone wrong? How can they do this to me, as they think of the shame, which will be brought upon you. How can they just toss aside all of the moral and Scriptural teachings that we have attempted to instill in them. They seemingly just do not care that they are slapping in the face their parents, their Sunday School Teachers, and preachers. These who are commiting “Open Immorality” should understand that their children and grandchildren will never be able to have respect for them. Sin will blind a person and cause a person to become immoral. They seemingly cannot see the hurt which will come from illegitimate children, venereal diseases and one being labeled as a whore or a whoremonger. Surveys have revealed that if a couple "lives together", they have done so previously with others and will do likewise with others in the future! That is, of course, unless they accept God as their Creator and His Son Jesus Christ as their Lord. By doing so, they can be forgiven and be "born again" and start anew. Some of God's most profitable servants have once lived apart from His Will, but have turned to God's ways.

In the past, Bible believers have contended that the fires of eternal hell await the immoral and even if "living together" has been accepted by many today, the Bible still is true. The key word to those living together is "Repent"! This means that one must turn from known sin in one's life if eternal salvation is desired here and now as well as in eternity. If one is not walking with God here in this life there is no promise of spending eternity with Him in heaven. Accepting Jesus Christ as Savior also calls for one to not only be baptized in water, but to repent and to be faithful to God's ways (Acts 14:22; Revelation 2:10), and to be active in His church (Acts 2:47)..

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