Thursday, February 24, 2011

Spotlight on PURITY

Growing up in a Christian community, the message is given pretty loud and clear that we need to wait to have sex til marriage. There are the talks given and ceremonies held where we pledge our bodies to the Lord and wait for future spouse. We're told to guard ourselves against physical transgressions and be wise in the way we interact with the opposite gender. Pretty soon, we're operating on a long list of 'don't- Don't do this, don't do that. We pinpoint all the things we are not supposed to do and operate with a mindset of can't, don't, won't.
Is this purity? The lines we carefully draw in the bounds of male and female interaction? To keep within the bounds of technicality to stay on one side of a line?

Pure: Definition-
unmixed with any other matter, free from taint.
Free from what weakens or pollutes
The definition of Purity appears to be about what is contained inside. It's not just an external thing. So if your guide is simply in regards to external activities, is that true purity?
In Matthew 5, Jesus addresses the Jewish people on the subject of the law that they have been following for generation upon generation. When he gets to the subject of adultery he says this:
"You have heard the law of Moses says, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
The heart. Jesus was saying this: It's a matter of the heart. What's going on inside of you? It's not about containing the thoughts we have and stopping things from coming out of us... it's about purity where the thoughts start.
What is in your heart?
Our deeds are an overflow of what we have going on inside of us. If you are containing the things of the Lord in your heart, the things of the Lord will be in what you do. If your heart is engaged with things that are impure, and being filled up with thoughts of lust and the flesh... it will be harder and harder to stop that from coming out.
So what do we do? How do we have true purity and avoid temptation and falling into the flesh?
Psalm 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.
The heart work. The Psalmist has maintained a pure life by seeking the Lord with all his heart. He spends time with the Lord, and fills his heart with the word of God. This is where we hit the tough stuff. Purity isn't about just hedging up one area of your life and maintaining a physical boundary. Purity is about the WHOLE heart. In order to live and maintain a walk with Christ that is successfully pure, we need to be willing to address every area of life. How are we doin in that? How's your heart work going?
Here's the cool thing- when you let Jesus work in your heart and take over everything, obedience to the guidelines of purity that are in His word- will be something you want to do. You will want to love Him actively. You will desire obedience instead of satisfying the flesh. So turn it over- give your WHOLE heart to Him. Surrender it. Because to live on a list of "don't" as your guide to holy living is not wholly living. Do- live in Christ. Dwell in the Lord and He will dwell in you.