Love, Honor, and Virtue {Review}

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I’m not sure there is a more relevant book in today’s culture. On an almost daily basis I have conversations with moms and wives about struggles their husbands and sons are having with pornography. I haven’t met a woman yet whose life hasn’t been touched in some way by this beast.  Hal and Melanie Young of Great Waters Press (and one of my favorite speakers at the Homeschool Convention) has written this book Love, Honor, and Virtue: Gaining or Regaining a Biblical Attitude Toward Sexuality. 

This book is written for the teenage son, and although we don’t feel that our son is quite ready for such a candid conversation, both my husband and I read it so that we have the tools we need in having those open conversations with him. Because Let’s face it- Talking about Sex isn’t nearly as enjoyable as having it… {wait- did I really just say that?}

With our oldest that conversation came pretty naturally. She had questions and we answered them. That’s the approach I always wanted to take with our children, I haaaaaate  awkward conversations. But then my son came along… and well, does he ever think about anything but Fortnight and food? Girls still annoy him and he hasn’t shown any interest- so headed into seventh grade, he is forcing us into “The Talk” The kid isn’t giving us anything to work with!

There’s a war going on for the souls of men, and for the souls of young men in particular

Table of Contents

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Chapter 1 opens with Sex Was God’s Idea. From the get go the authors want young men to understand that sex was God’s original design and that God created the act. I appreciate that Hal and Melanie want to open the eyes of young men to the fact that sex is good when it happens as it was intended.

“He provides clear guidelines and guardrails which allows us to enjoy this gift without guilt or shame”

While I’m not going to summarize each chapter, I did find chapter 2 to be very helpful in having that awkward discussion with our son. Because this book is intended for the teenage boy it speaks to him in a way that is appropriate and easy to read. The authors don’t assume anything and because of that, chapter 2 takes a scientific approach in explaining the differences between men and women, how a boy becomes a man- with very explicit explanations to the things that happen to a boys body as it changes. It also gives mention to what happens in a girls body as well. And then you find yourself right in the middle of “the talk.” I think this chapter sets the tone of the rest of book with it’s casual conversational tone and real answers. And it gave my husband and I a real helpful way to have that conversation with our son.

A Peek at the Table of Contents:

1. To the Young Men on the Battlefield
2. Sex was God’s Idea
3. It’s all Connected
4. The Enemy Perverts God’s Design
5. How Can a Young Man Keep His Way Pure?
6. Recovering From a Fall
7. Guys and Girls
8. The Road Ahead

Throughout the book the authors touch on tough topics such as gender bending, pornography, sexting, masturbation, temptation, relationships and fighting for purity. Each chapter ends with a summary to further highlight the main ideas. 

This is a short and quick read and I feel that every parent with a son headed into their teen years needs to grab a hold of this book. Read it themselves, and then when appropriate pass it on for their sons to read. We are living in a time {as the book notes} where we are at war with our culture and the hearts and minds of our husbands and fathers are being perverted by an unbiblical understanding of sex and love.

Get in the Battle 

 

You can find Great Waters online @

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