Purity

How do you relate to your community of believers in purity? Rev Alvin Ngo gives us practical handles on the topic.

Our calling in Christ and our mission in the world mandates and includes a calling to live a chaste life—a life of purity. Life in a community can be complicated. Our intentions can be misunderstood if we are not careful and do not observe certain guidelines, especially in relationships with the opposite sex or different generations.

While a pure mind, body, and soul are essential to a life of happiness and peace, the concept of purity is closely linked to the idea of holiness, which is being “set apart” for God. Purity will lead to holiness. Despite the obstacles placed by weakening moral standards in society today, building a culture of purity in His community is possible.

So often when Christians talk about purity, it is usually limited to the sense of avoiding sexual immorality. In the Old Testament, the Israelites as God’s people were instructed about:

•           Food they cannot consume (Leviticus 11, 17).

•           Standard of cleanliness (Leviticus 12-15)

•           Relationships they cannot pursue (Leviticus 18)

•           Practices they can’t engage in (Leviticus 19)

Clearly, God wants to set His people “apart” (holy) from the rest of the world. It is their “purity” that sets them apart from the rest. Yet, if God’s people live like the rest of the world, how can they tell the difference?

The New Testament has passages that talk about how to relate with purity for the relationships in God’s community.

A) In Words

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29)

“Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God… For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:4-8)

“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” (2 Timothy 2:16)

“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.” (Titus 3:9)

B) In Deed

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” (Ephesians 5:3)

“For… It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable.” (1 Thessalonians 4:2-4)

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18)

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

C) For Various Relationships

“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” (1 Timothy 5:1-2)

Scripture cannot be clearer than this on how we should treat different relationships in God’s community across gender and generations.

How then do we maintain purity in communal relationships?

1. Seek purity in yourself.

We have to know what are the standards of purity God holds us to (as revealed in His Word) and make it a habit to choose God’s will over our own daily. Commit to saying “yes” to God and “no” to any choices that would interfere with you fulfilling God’s purposes for your life. Focus on trusting God to meet your needs. Treat your body (which is a temple of the Holy Spirit) with respect and use it to honor God.

2. Pursue purity in the mind.

Most of our struggles begin with our mind. How and what we think greatly influence how we behave. We have to watch what we feed our minds. “Finally… whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

We have to learn to meditate on the Bible and pray for the Holy Spirit to renew our mind with the right perspective and the truth. “We… take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

3. Choose wisely who you spend time with.

Not only do you have to watch yourself, and what you expose yourself to, you also have to watch the company you are in. “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Choose your friends wisely. Accept advice only from friends whose relationships with Jesus you trust and respect. Don’t hesitate to end any unhealthy friendships in your life. Choose to forgive them, pray for them, and maintain healthy boundaries to protect yourself.

It’s never an easy journey but it is possible to have and maintain purity in our relating to God’s community. It is also God’s desire “that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” (Philippians 2:15)