celibacy versus abstinence before we move on we need to draw clear distinction between celibacy and abstinence most people think they're the same thing they're not abstinence is simply refraining from sex it's the absence of something with no greater meaning behind it to us celibacy is refraining from sex because of a vow or faith it's stance with a purpose you might abstain from sex involuntarily because you're not in a relationship celibacy is never involuntary it's always the result of a conscious deliberate Choice that's an important distinction in the Wade we're going to talk about celibacy because to us celibacy is something you go into with your eyes open fully expecting to gain something from the experience it's about saying I'm becoming on the other hand in our culture abstinance is something grudging something forced upon young people for example by well-meaning parents or well-meaning Ministries it's about saying you will not but there's not always purpose or learning associated with it that can be dangerous consider the news story in the spring of 2015 about a small High School in Texas with an abstinence only sex education program that experienced a widespread outbreak of clidia a sexually transmitted infection that's one tiny piece of proof that just saying no to sex or pretending the sex drive doesn't exist isn't an adequate defense against pregnancy disease or worse when we talk about celibacy the last thing we're doing is telling you to ignore sex just the opposite we are suggesting that you acknowledge its power and your own desire that way if you choose to go without sex you'll do so with your eyes open understanding the realities and risks of having sex and not having it celibacy and the weight complement each other