Especially today. From sitcoms to music videos to those scandalous myspace ads chilling on the top of your computer screen--our culture has made every effort to convince us that our sexuality is a form of stature, that by being "sexy" (portraying ourselves as always willing to have sex) we somehow become successful.

Choosing to lead a life of chastity isn't necessarily the hard part. Holding on to that decision though, trying to remember who we are in Christ while being tackled with waves of media that only encourage an already sinful nature, that can get tough. But tough isn't always bad. God often allows us to experience tough, so that we can learn faith, obedience, and the true love of Christ.

In the Christian view, chastity by no means signifies rejection of human sexuality or lack of esteem for it; rather it signifies spiritual energy capable of defending love from the perils of selfishness and aggressiveness, and able to advance it towards its full realization. (FC #32; cf., GS, #51)

The world tells us that sex is awesome and marriage irrelevant, so have sex whenever you want to. God also tells us that sex is awesome (He created it!). But unlike the world, God reminds us that the awesomeness of sex is meant for a man and woman in the sacrament of marriage. Why? Because sex is never just physical, it was created to join two people, a man and his wife, into one, and to allow that couple the chance to join in God's song of creation with reproduction.

If you’re a follower of Jesus, then you should live by this truth. If you've chosen Christ, then you have also chosen chastity.