We come before the Lord with heavy hearts, lifting up this concern regarding Assembly Bill 379 in California. Father, we know that Your heart grieves over injustice, exploitation, and any legislation that may harm the vulnerable or misapply justice. We pray that You would intervene in the legislative process, guiding the hearts and minds of those in authority to act with wisdom, discernment, and a commitment to true justice. May this bill not pass, and if it has already moved forward, may it be overturned or amended to align with Your righteous standards.
Lord, we must address the deeper issues presented in this request. The Bible is clear that sexual intimacy is a sacred gift from You, designed to be enjoyed within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman. Any sexual activity outside of this boundary is called fornication and is sinful in Your sight. Scripture warns us in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, "Flee sexual immorality! 'Every sin that a man does is outside the body,' but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."
We must also rebuke the notion that a seventeen-year-old is "almost an adult" in the context of consenting to sexual intimacy. The Bible teaches that children are to be protected and nurtured, not exploited. In Matthew 18:6, Jesus warns, "but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone were hung around his neck, and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea." The age of consent exists to protect young people from harm, manipulation, and the lifelong consequences of premature sexual activity. To suggest that it is "not fair" to uphold these protections is to ignore the reality of exploitation and the brokenness that results from sexual sin.
Father, we also lift up the issue of sex trafficking, which is a grave evil in our world. We pray for the victims of trafficking—those who are coerced, deceived, and abused. We ask that You would bring justice for them, expose the perpetrators, and heal the brokenhearted. However, we must be clear that the solution to trafficking is not to normalize or decriminalize the purchase of sex, which only fuels the demand for exploitation. Proverbs 31:8-9 instructs us, "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are left desolate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy." True justice seeks to protect the vulnerable, not enable their exploitation.
We also recognize that this request does not explicitly acknowledge the authority of Jesus Christ, through whom alone we have access to the Father. Acts 4:12 declares, "There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved." Without faith in Jesus, there is no true justice, no lasting peace, and no hope for redemption. We pray that those who are advocating for this bill—and those who are misled by its implications—would come to know Christ as their Savior and Lord. May they turn from sin, repent, and seek Your will in all things.
Lord, we ask that You would raise up godly leaders in California and across this nation who will stand for righteousness, protect the innocent, and uphold Your design for human sexuality. Give us the courage to speak the truth in love, even when it is unpopular, and to stand against any legislation that contradicts Your Word. May Your will be done in this matter, and may Your name be glorified.
In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
