The Church of Pentecost has taken a stand on recent comment by an Elder of The Church of Pentecost (COP) on sex and condom usage among teenagers and the youth.

Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, General Secretary, on behalf of the Church of Pentecost has issued a statement to react to a counselor of the church claiming that teenagers who can’t control their libido be allowed to have safe sex using condom.

“We wish to offer the following comments: Sexuality has been abused over the years by man due to the fall. God in His own wisdom has restricted sex to married couples.”

According to him, sex outside marriage is regarded as sin in the sight of God (1 Corinthians 6:13-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:2-8), whether it is engaged in with condoms on or not.

He noted that for Christians therefore, using condoms for sex outside marriage to prevent pregnancy or diseases is not a biblical option.

“The church will always encourage and advocate bringing up our children and youth to live according to biblical principles of abstinence and fidelity, and would not teach on what ways could be found to avoid the harmful consequences of engaging in things that God forbids us to do in His word.” However, Elder Nii Armah Hammond in his opinion stated, safe sex is the best means of preventing teenage pregnancy and its associated complications and other ramification including bringing otherwise bright future of the victims to ruins.

He believes that too much is at stake when young teenagers get pregnant. In his view not only the individual suffers but the collateral damage to the family and the country are equally damming .

As he puts it, the stigma associated with teenage pregnancy affects the family concerned long after the act and in most cases making the products of such pregnancy liabilities for the nation.