AIDS by Choice

Sexual behaviour, apart from rape, is voluntary and completely with the control of the partners involved. The act is based on a free-will choice. It’s therefore a matter of AIDS by choice. Our greatest threat is self. Our real fight is with self — our personal choice.

On Monday December 1, Trinidad and Tobago joins with the rest of the world in observance of World AIDS Day. This year the United Nations has for its theme “Live and Let Live,” as they continue to tackle the problem of stigma and discrimination.

HIV/AIDS is an epidemic that has reached crisis proportions. In spite of the massive awareness campaigns, the virus continues to spread at an alarming rate. Statistics are certainly not encouraging in terms of effective control of the disease. Recent figures from the United Nations reveal that worldwide approximately 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. In the year 2003 HIV/AIDS claimed the lives of approximately 3 million. In the Caribbean alone, approximately 2-3 percent of the population between the ages of 15-49 years are living with this deadly virus. There were 30,000 to 50,000 AIDS related deaths in the region for the year 2003. It is necessary for us to take a pragmatic look at the reality of the situation, so as to effectively address the solution question.

Let’s face it, the main means by which HIV is spread is sexual contact. Sexual behaviour, apart from rape, is voluntary and completely within the control of the partners involved. The act is therefore based on a free-will choice. We certainly do not have a shortage of education as to how HIV is transmitted in terms of sexual contact. If, despite this enlightenment, one takes a decision to get involved in the act and becomes infected, then the conclusion is quite straightforward — AIDS by choice! Even where the disease is contracted by intravenous drug use, it remains a matter of choice. It’s choice, not chance. The chances or accidental cases of infection are among the minute minority. Babies of infected mothers are also usually the victims of the deadly choice of the parent(s). From creation, man’s problem has been one of choice. It began with the choice to eat of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. God says there is set before us life and death. He clearly exhorts us to “choose life” (Deut 30:19).

When the Caribbean man decides that a deputy is essential to make the living vital, he has chosen AIDS. When that young woman decides that she is giving in to the advances of her sex-hungry boyfriend, she has effectively chosen AIDS.  When that young man believes that he has scored big in seducing the “sexy babe” he met at a party that night, he has chosen AIDS. When that young man goes to do that which in itself is against nature, involving in the act of homosexuality, he has chosen AIDS. When that young woman decides that the only way to earn a dollar is to sell her body, she has chosen AIDS. Say what you like, the problem of AIDS is firmly based on man’s ungodly, unholy and immoral sexual behaviour. God created man and his (man’s) sexuality. The Creator has given clear guidance to man as it pertains to sexual conduct. He says: “Flee fornication,” (sex before marriage) — 1 Cor 6:18.  “Thou shall not commit adultery,” (Ex 20:14). “The effeminate (homosexual) shall not inherit the Kingdom of God,” (1 Cor 6:9).

God has never put an addendum to His Word stating, “If you feel you cannot obey my commandment, then use a condom.” That’s dumb! The sanctity of the marriage vow still holds. Sex is still reserved for a single partner in marriage. Life is reproduced via the sexual union. Therefore sex is as sacred as life. It’s not to be fooled around with. Any attempt to desecrate this sacred item will provoke serious consequences. The evidence of this could not be more obvious. There is nevertheless the grace factor in God through Jesus Christ. God has created an effective avenue for repentance and restoration of health and life through Jesus Christ for people who have transgressed. If they come in genuine remorse to the Lord in complete lifelong consecration and service to Him, His complete and absolute forgiveness is available. He saves, He heals, He delivers.

In such a case, there is no need for one to feel condemned or guilty. There is no need to feel that you are “paying for your deeds” or that God is angry with you because of past sins. The Bible assures us: “He that is in Christ is a new creature, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor 5:17).  The Apostle Paul also reminds us that “there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom 8:1). We must however note, and quite importantly so, that God strongly detests anyone attempting to mock His mercy or grace by deliberately entering into sinful behaviour, claiming that “merciful God” will forgive. “If we sin wilfully, after we have come to the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,” (Heb 10:26). The first step to a workable solution is self-management. Our greatest threat is self. Our real fight is with self — our personal choice.

The luxury of time is no longer on our side. We must choose to abstain from all sexual activity before marriage and maintain complete fidelity within marriage. It’s the only workable, proven and foolproof solution that is available. This is what the Church has been advocating and it has surely been working for us. A paradigm shift is necessary. Someone once said that only a mad man does the same thing continually and expects a different result. Why do we expect the same campaign that has been used to bring a different result? We must make a change to have change.