Teen Vogue published the article, “Anal Sex: What You Need to Know – How to do it the RIGHT way” this past week. It was under the heading of “A Guide to Anal Sex” (I do not recommend you click on the article). Inside this article the author encourages teenagers to know the facts because you never know with whom you want to have sex. She concludes her opening section, “This is anal 101, for teens, beginners, and all inquisitive folk.”
Who is Teen Vogue?
Teen Vogue is a magazine that is a sister publication to Vogue. The audience is primarily teenage girls or tweens, girls between ages 12-18. Founded in late 2003/early 2004, the print and online magazine includes stories about celebrities, fashion, hair, and shopping. More recently, articles deal with topics geared for teenagers such as current affairs and very liberal politics. Because of advertising costs, the magazine announced last year it would only produce a quarterly print magazine and primarily focus on online content. Your teenagers can get to Teen Vogue through Facebook, Instagram, and many other online content providers.
Many parents do not realize the danger of what is written in Teen Vogue for teenage girls. One parent of a 12-year-old girl writes:
Great magazine!!!
This is a great magazine for fashion forward tweens! My daughter loves it and it is very appropriate for her age. (12) I’ve flipped through some issues and the outfits are both cute and appropriate! There is a fair amount of advertising but they are appropriate as well. My daughter loves reading them and it encourages her to create some of her own outfits!
Overall, Common Sense Media gives the magazine 3 out of 5 stars for ages 13+.
Simply put, parents, this magazine is not a neutral, feel-good magazine for your teenage daughter who is concerned about clothes and hair. This magazine is filled with sexually explicit articles and is very liberal in its view of culture, politics, and faith.
“Anal Sex: What You Need to Know – How to do it the RIGHT way”
Concerning the guide to anal sex, the author writes a carefully worded article to encourage your teenager to try anal sex. Throughout the article, she encourages both heterosexuality and homosexuality while never referring to males or females. Instead, she describes teenage boys and teenage girls only by their anatomical parts – “with a prostate” and “without a prostate.”
The author describes anal sex as normal and safe – both of which are biblically and physiologically inaccurate. The author wrongly suggests that use of a condom and lube will protect you from physical harm. She suggest to never mind the “poop” issue because “all butts have poop.” Instead, enjoy all the good feelings you may get with anal penetration.
To be clear, this is bad advice – unwise and unhelpful for teenagers. Additionally, this is sinful advice. All intercourse for premarital couples is sin, vaginal or anal (1 Thessalonians 4). Homosexuality is also a sin (1 Corinthians 6:10-11). I’ll discuss anal sex in marriage in a future blog.
Just One Click Away
Parents, please be aware of what is available online for your children. Have an open conversation with your children related to how they surf the web. Teach them wisdom. Help them understand the biblical principles related to what they think, read, and consider. Point out the pleasures of following Christ and being transformed in Him rather than being conformed to the world’s system (Romans 12:1-2).
Furthermore, be sure you talk with your teenagers about the biblical view of sex and sexuality. Make sure that you are giving them God’s perspective from His Word, instead of letting the world system fill in the blanks.
As you talk with your children, make sure you help them understand how to deal with temptation. One picture. One tease. One tantalizing headline. Your child can potentially be trapped. You want them to understand the potential danger in every decision they make.
One other suggestion parents… try to teach your teenagers discernment as to their source of information. Teen Vogue is about outfits and hairstyles. It is about celebrities. It is about fashion. But it is much more than that too. Teen Vogue is about sex – homosexuality, heterosexuality, anal sex, oral sex, masturbation, etc. Teen Vogue is about worship. Live for self. Live for what you want. Live to feel good. Teen Vogue is about an alternative worldview than the Bible. God’s way – no way! We do not want our children maximizing one part (fashion or something similar) to the exclusion of the wicked world system behind it (godless sexuality, self worship).
Join the Conversation
What ways have you sought to teach your children wisdom as they engage the online world around them?
Pastor Kevin’s Blog | Walking together through life as friends in Christ sharing wisdom along the journey