I think you misunderstand me. I am not advocating that someone who has lost their virginity outside of wedlock CONTINUE to engage in fornication. And just because one has indeed forfeited their virginity outside of wedlock does not doom them to do so again and again and again. To say such would be to deny the power of Christ in someone's life, to deny that indeed, Christ makes us a new creation.
I came back to Christ almost 4 years ago. The number of times I have had the opportunity to fornicate since then? MANY. The number of times I have done so? ZERO.
The wages of sin is death, according to the apostle Paul. I see no disclaimers stating that, "Well, if you lie about something, God will forgive that. But if you commit adultery, you are definitely unforgiven." In fact, I seem to recall Christ showing no condemnation to an adulteress who was ashamed of her sin and fearful of her impending judgment.
Yahweh is HOLY. Sin is sin is sin. It is only in CHRIST can our shameful, sinful selves be in the presence of His Holiness. In light of God's holiness, sin is sin. Period.
Oh, I have no qualms with the statement. I have qualms with how some people hold their virginity like a trophy, when we are to be casting our crowns at Christ's feet. It can be said in the correct way, absolutely, but far too often, THIS is what the world sees from virgin Christians who hold up their virginity as a trophy:
Two people went up to the temple to pray, one a virgin, and one not. The virgin stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I thank you that I am not like other men - fornicators, adulterers, or even like this man who I knew once lived with a woman he wasn't married to. I continue to save myself for marriage, and won't even associate with a man or woman who had sex out of wedlock." And the one who was not a virgin, standing afar off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"
When we speak with people in the world, people lost in sin, even young Christians who are just learning to turn from the ways of the world, we must make sure that we speak with LOVE. It easy to believe that one might be glorifying God when boasting about how they've NEVER done THIS sin, or THAT sin, but the world (as well as young Christians who are just coming away from the world) may only hear, "Look how much better I am than YOU! Look how much I did right, and you did WRONG! That's because of God, sure, but see how I did things right? And you did things wrong. Too bad you can't go back and undo them. Oh well! You can't be like me! Too bad!"
Your intent may be to glorify God, but there are other ways to glorify Him than boasting about our own accomplishments. Know your audience, for the world you try to save may only feel condemnation and shame, instead of LOVE and FORGIVENESS.
Again, I am going to say THAT I AM NOT AGAINST REMAINING A VIRGIN, AND THAT I HAVE MANY POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT IT, WHICH I WILL GET TO LATER. I am against holding your own virginity up as a trophy and boasting about it, as if you are somehow superior to others who have not done so. Pride is the most dangerous thing a Christian can ever allow to take root.
