How many of those teenagers just slap the title of "Christian" onto their reputation without giving it a thought? For that matter, how many of us have a bunch of titles that we take just for the heck of it?

While it seems to be smart to get married for the child's sake, it honestly doesn't make mush sense.  It is what my parents did though (I came a bit earlier than expected...born 5 months after the wedding), but my parents had been dating for nearly four years by that point.  When you have been with the person for several years that, than it makes a lot more sense than if you go off and have a one night stand and get married to the guy.  That may be a little extreme, but still, if you have not talked with the guy about a serious lifelong relationship and you get pregnant.....you should still consider the lifelong relationship part very seriously.  In some cases, it may be better for the child to have a single parent than two parents who cannot get along at all and end up divorcing and causing distress to the young child.

this I really think should be a shift in perspective...

the girl really shouldn't cuz considering the guy was dumb enough not to play it smart and get a girl pregnant clearly shows a lack of responsibility on his end and in turn made the girl a victim... granted it is mutual responsibility... but really though... if the dood is dumb enough to not play it smart... would he be a good choice for life?

that is, unless he mans up and takes some serious responsibility and makes up for his mistakes and grow some cahonies and take care of the kid...

more or less... I'm gonna have to say no she should not marry him for the same reason she got knocked up in the first place, the dood is a scuz unless he grows some and mans up...

now if it was a mistake and the guy is a credible guy... she can...

but if the guy is a fool, then I personally wouldn't marry a boy like that... even if he can shave...

Being as I know this scenario first hand (single mom @ 20), I was not opposed to getting married when I found out I was pregnant.  My boyfriend, however, did not want that to be the only reason we got married.  For us, we were young, stupid and basically fell into a relationship we weren't ready for.  Looking back (my son is 12), it actually was the right decision for us.  Long term, we were not compatible.  I don't say that this is the right decision for every couple...sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  I've seen it both ways - I know one couple that married because she was pregnant and they've been happily married for almost 10 years.  Another couple I know that got married because she was pregnant, their marriage only lasted five years.  Of course, the ideal is a child to be born into a two parent household.  The reality in this day & age is that even if you are married years before you have a child does not guarantee that your child will not have to endure a single parent household.  I would have to say that it would depend on the couple, their maturity in the situation and whether there is anything else to substantiate a marriage.  Getting married for the sole reason of a pregnancy, in my opinion, is not enough.  There has to be more to make that marriage a good solid relationship.

Just because you are Christian doesn't mean you don't stray from what you know is right.  That would be me.  Having my son helped me return to my Christian life and to re-dedicate my life to God. 

how is it sensible to marry someone just because of a child?  i grew up in a single-parent household and absolutely loved it.

First off, I'm having trouble with the title of this post: referring to pregnancy as being "knocked up." What are we saying about God's ordained way to create life when we use such a phrase? Please let's not resort to the world's ways of talking about the miracle of new life growing inside a mother's womb.

If your only reason for marrying is to look good to others, that's not a good reason, and I would venture to say, probably a very poor reason. There must be a sense you are in God's will. Sometimes by marrying, I believe people think, "Oh, I blew it, but now I'll make things right by marrying," but that's not a good reason for marrying. And I also don't think there's one set answer we can give such a couple about whether they should marry or not. But we can trust that for those who are in Christ, God can redeem our sins and mistakes and bring much blessing in spite of ourselves. This is what happened in my life regarding an unplanned pregnancy.

When I was in high school, I wasn't a Christian and I became pregnant. (And it does take two to tango, @leadworshipper82. There's equal responsibility there.)

By the grace of God (even though I as I said, I did not know Him yet) and through the support and encouragement of family and friends, I gave birth to a wonderful daughter. I did occasionally think I wanted to marry her father, but he and I both decided we would not marry at that time since we were young and had school, etc. ahead of us. We thought perhaps we would marry after college, but in the meantime, our relationship ended.

Years later when I was in graduate school (another story there about how God got me there--I was not yet a believer then either), I met the man I would soon marry. He was a Christian but I wasn't, but some time after meeting him I became a believer.

Now here's the story behind our engagement. We did both acknowledge we liked each other and were spending lots of time together. One night he had been looking at a picture of my daughter and me I had up on the wall of my apartment and became impressed that he wasn't just supposed to marry me but to be my daughter's father as well. (And he hadn't even met my daughter at that point since she was living with my family in another city!) Anyhow, that was the night he asked me to marry him, 26 years ago this November. God provided the perfect husband for me in His perfect time.

Instead of asking this hypothetical marriage question, I think a better question any unmarried Christian men and women out there should be asking is: "What steps can I take to keep myself pure and undefiled until the day I am married?" And then to be praying that you might be fully satisfied in Christ (for He alone is truly the One who satisfied) and for His strength to help you remain chaste so long as you are not married.

if i got knocked up i would be furious, and i definitely wouldn't marry the guy...more like give him a black eye! LOL there wouldn't be a point in getting married, 'cuz i'd be responsible and give the kid up for adoption to someone who is desperate for a child and financially ready for kids. 3 people in my close family were adopted and it worked out well! :)

Okey , call me a prude right now but this discussion would not take place if we follow the " old ' and "traditional" christian belief of no sex outside marriage . I mean , we are all discussing  this in terms of christian values but the point is if we really call ourselves christians then sex should not be happening among  people not married to each other , right ?   

while some can last, but i totally never seen any successful marriage after the pregnancy/child's birth. i am one of them. when we became pregnant, i was all for being on my own with his help if he was interested.

until one situation came up i felt hopeless and lost, when he demanded we got married and gave in. our marriage was NOT great. we ended up totally seperated parents that my children never got good impression of parenting.

eventually we got divorced. my best friend got married when she discovered having her lover's baby, but now six years later is filing divorce. her mother was  the same way.

a lot of people i knew are that way.

but like you said, unless they been dating for a long time and knew they wanted to be married to each other, it is likely to last.

i am totally against people marrying for the sake of their child. they need to think in a long run. which is better, being a single mother and do well on raising the child or being married and be horrible at each other and giving children wrong example of marriage?

@gefforyt@xanga - didn't I say that???

@gefforyt@xanga - well... in general and statistically... most boys tend to force themselves upon a girl... either through manipulative means or by coercive force... but there IS a mutuality to it... then run off once the girl gets pregnant...

isn't that victimization in essence?

there are several thoughts i have to go through before answering this question.
1. i wouldn't get pregnant, i use birth control.
2. if i would get pregnant, i have 12 weeks to have a legal abortion. that's 3 months, anyone would notice by then.
3. i would never marry anyone i don't love.

my ex told me he'd marry his gf because she's pregnant with his child. he's 27, she's 19. he wanted to break up with her a month prior to her getting pregnant, he even cheated on her. (she cheated as well, but months before.) but she convinced him to stay. anyone surprised that she get pregnant right away?

i would never do this to a child. i feel like a divorce is way worse for a child than growing up with parents that aren't together, but happy and there for the kid. it's pathetic to think a child will fix a relationship.