October 2007 – Abstinence advocate Lakita Garth holds nothing back as she sounds off about the sex-saturated culture in which today’s teens are living and the impact this culture is having on those who believe the lies disguised in truth’s clothing.

In her book and abstinence curriculum titled The Naked Truth About Sex, Love and Relationships, Garth “undresses” these lies and sets the record straight for both adults and teens. In fact, she is so blunt in her approach that the contents may be startling to some.

She began writing The Naked Truth after testifying before the U.S. Senate and former U.S. Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders about teen pregnancy prevention. She was there as a representative for A.C. Green’s Athletes for Abstinence youth program, and she was astounded by the illiterate response she received from the panel.

“The senators didn’t know enough to even ask the right questions,” she said.

Plus, confusion ensued from sex-education proponents, namely Elders, who were tweaking words in their favor. Sex education incorporates abstinence with safe-sex practices.

For example, according to TeachtheFacts.org., Elders once said, “We teach our young people what to do in the front seat, but we need to start teaching them what to do in the back seat. The vows of abstinence break far more easily than a condom.”

Then months later, Garth recalled Elders talking positively about abstinence saying it should be the cornerstone of sex-ed and that it should be taught to grades K-12.

But there was more than meets the eye to Elders’ comments, which, when taken as a whole, were sending a contradictory message to the Senate. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Garth decided to use information she had collected from Elders’ office to clarify. She explained to the Senate that Elders’ definition of abstinence “is outer-course, which is everything except for intercourse.”

Garth proceeded to read to the senators a list of 20 actions defined as outer-course.

“Needless to say, I could see their faces turning red of embarrassment, not anger – embarrassment,” Garth said.

Garth’s message was strong as apparent from all the questions being directed toward her – not the doctors – following the testimonies made before the Senate.

That day, Garth realized the importance of God’s instructions to “Study to show yourself approved,” and to “Be ready in season and out of season.”

She was flabbergasted by how easily people, including those in public office, are led astray.

She was reminded how easily even intelligent lawmakers can be deceived when their thoughts are not informed by Scripture.

“And by the end of the day,” she said, “I realized it truly is God at the helm of this country.”

Undressing the need
It was clear to Garth that the naked truth needed to be told, so she set out to write a book of sexual apologetics because she believes it is important to recognize and respond to a person’s perceived need as a way of getting to his real need – Jesus.

Therefore, The Naked Truth about Sex, Love and Relationships addresses a number of topics relevant to today’s teens including the top 10 sexually transmitted diseases, the “safe sex” lie taught in public schools, renewed virginity, the AIDS epidemic in Africa, the HPV campaigns, the sexual influence of media and the consequences of premarital sex.

These are heavy issues that Garth discusses in a blunt manner through her writing and speaking.

“What parents need to understand is, particularly Christians, they’ve got to … stop isolating their children and start insulating their children,” Garth said.

In other words, Garth says teens need to be insulated with a clear understanding of sex rather than isolated from the truth.

“Many times I see Christian kids raised by parents who completely isolate them, give them no insulation … other than ‘because the Bible says so,’” she added. “And so the church has got to be relevant. It’s got to be relatable. It’s got to be real, and the perfect example of that is Jesus Christ,” Garth said.

“He was relevant; He talked about the issues of the day. He was relatable; His parables were agrarian because that was the culture that He was in. … And He was real; He was so real it disturbed the Pharisees, or the religious people in the church, …” she added.

Garth thinks those who hold to religious tradition instead of real Christianity are actually the ones “stunting what God is trying to do to free a generation of young people.”

Revealing the past
Garth knows from personal experience what it’s like to be stunted by “church-goers” after growing up in a community that Money Magazine once labeled “the most dangerous place in America to live” and “the worst place to raise kids.” Her widowed mother raised Garth and her four older brothers in a God-fearing home. Yet, there was no emphasis on a personal relationship with Christ because she and her family were never exposed to that.

“I thought church was where the hypocrites went because all my friends who were telling me I needed to go to church were the ones who were smoking weed, staying out late, sleeping around, …” she said. “I’m like great, if that’s what church does for you, I’m staying home and worshipping the NFL on Sunday.”

Garth had the reputation of the girl next door and never joined her friends in their immorality, yet at the same time never went to church.

“The Gospel would’ve carried more weight if I just saw people living what they were talking [about] to begin with,” she explained. “Here are all my friends telling me I needed to go to church, and they were living [a life of sin] the other six days of the week. So I was kind of turned off, needless to say. …”

But God had his own plan of bringing Garth to Him.

Exposing the truth
Garth was saved in her late teens after seeing and experiencing what it means to be a real Christian – or disciple, as she prefers to call it.

“When I became a Christian, I became a disciple, and I said if I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it right, and I’m not going to half-step like the majority of the people that I saw,” Garth said. “I realized that my faith has to impact the world around me.”

Garth’s opportunity to impact the world from a public forum came as a request from Amy, the praise and worship leader in her church.

“She was my hero because she just told the truth like it was. She would preach to anybody, anywhere, anytime and would have no fear of man whatsoever,” Garth explained.

Amy had lived a life of heartbreak, having had three abortions in her life before becoming a Christian. So Amy started an abstinence program and recruited Garth as a speaker.

“Amy, I don’t know if anyone’s told you this or not, but I don’t have a story,” Garth told Amy.

That was the whole reason Amy asked Garth to speak. She knew Garth’s life would be an example to others. At the time, Garth was a cheerleader at the University of Southern California and a virgin.

She didn’t marry until years later, when she was 36. She and her husband kissed for the first time during their wedding. She later started her own inspirational youth program called Club Varsity, and since then has become a media consultant and author. She is a former Miss Black California and has a role in the PBS film Final Solution. (See review here.)

But even before all of that, Amy helped Garth realize that a person’s life is either an example or a warning, and people need to hear both.

So Garth began volunteering as an abstinence speaker in middle schools and high schools. Her plans for law school changed to full-time ministry, beginning with campus ministry, before God opened the door to the entertainment industry where Garth became a professional dancer. She did some work on ESPN as well as dance numbers at awards shows and commercials for Nike and Reebok. She even danced in halftime shows at the Super Bowl.

Being in the entertainment industry, Garth quickly realized that the majority of the people in Hollywood were clueless about the Gospel and very few Christians were there sharing it. So God used Garth to lead Laker Girls, All-American dancers and others to the Lord, all while continuing to speak in schools about abstinence.

Then slowly God began to shut the doors to jobs in the entertainment industry. Because Garth was so committed to upholding her morals, “I developed the reputation as the girl who turns down jobs, …” she said.

Garth clearly remembers the words the Holy Spirit spoke to her before she began dancing: “You will be seen by the eyes of millions. Perform for an audience of One,” she said. “And I knew who that One was.”

It’s the same One who boosted her career as an outspoken abstinence advocate and ignited her passion to see young kids make better choices by exposing them to the truth, the whole truth and nothing but
the naked truth.