Urgency, faith, courage, strength—these words characterize the women we have the privilege to disciple through Young Women for America (YWA). YWA is an initiative of Concerned Women for America to mentor and disciple female high-school students, college students, and young professionals in their faith. There are over 150 YWA leaders across the country. They are our daily reminders of the command in 1 Corinthians 16:13 to “stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong.” With the help of the Lord, these women are able to swim against the cultural tide telling every beautiful young woman that she should get to do with her body what she wants, when she wants, no matter who—including herself—gets hurt in the process.
This mentality is a dead-end road to fulfillment. It unfortunately characterizes the identity politics movement every American is steeped in today. This is especially true for identity politics related to gender and sexuality. How do we know? Take a look at the following statistics:
- The percentage of U.S. adults who identify as LGBTQ has doubled over the past decade, from 3.5% in 2012 to 7.1% in 2021.
Gen Z adults who identify as LGBTQ have increased from 10.5% in 2017 to 20.8% in 2021.
Millennials, ages 26 to 41, identifying as LGBTQ increased from 5.8% in 2012 to 10.5% in 2021.
- People who identify as LGBTQ could make up 10 to 15% of the adult population “in the not too distant future,” as Gen Z and millennials comprise an increasing share of the adult population.
This trend affects Gen Z and Millennials disproportionately—especially women—”Gen Z women are roughly three times more likely than men to identify as LGBTQ and Millennial women are about two times as likely than men to identify as such.”
The generational divide reveals views on sexuality that differ from the general Christian view of sexuality. Future marriage stats will inevitably reflect this variation. And if the trend holds up, more women will be affected than men.
Any arrangement besides a stable, traditional marriage—same-sex, open, divorced, abusive, and so on—inhibits the flourishing of everyone involved—man, woman, son, daughter. Government action like the so-called Respect for Marriage Act—which is an attack on people of faith with Biblical views of marriage—unnecessarily throttles us away from the only arrangement in which people will flourish. The next generation, especially the women of the next generation, will pay the price.
But the attitudes, actions, and beliefs of this constituency do not represent all Gen Z or Millennial Women.
YWA leaders in Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and Arkansas were brave enough to speak in support of Biblical marriage, while the U.S. Senate was actively considering the Respect for Marriage Act. Through social media, they encouraged their Senators who voted to support traditional marriage. This is no easy thing when the majority of women their age would rather support noncommittal sexual encounters or even just stay silent. The light of their commitment to the truth burns bright as every institution in American society continues to lean left. Right where they are in their high schools, their college campuses, and their jobs, they epitomize 1 Corinthians 16:13.
They are unlike their peers, but they are not alone. Through the YWA network, they are able to connect with one another. As an initiative within Concerned Women for America, these women also receive Titus 2 reinforcements—older Christian women mentoring younger Christian women. Whether they get credit or not, these young women are courageously doing the right thing for themselves and for their peers by speaking truth to power. They are tilling the ground for those around them to reap the rewards that come from a stable, traditional marriage and identity found only in Christ.