Purity

I've posted about purity before in my blog, but this time I really want to focus on something that's been bugging me for a while.

I'll start with defining Purity.

pu·ri·ty
noun

1. the condition or quality of being pure; freedom from anything that debases, contaminates, pollutes,etc.: the purity of drinking water.
2. freedom from any admixture or modifying addition.
3. ceremonial or ritual cleanness.
4. freedom from guilt or evil; innocence.
5. physical chastity; virginity.

The kind of purity that I'm thinking about is more about the mind than the body. Jesus said in Matthew 15:10-11:

"When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

We're called above all else, to keep our mouths clean. Yet, I've seen people get mocked for attempting this by fellow Christians. Moreover, I've seen people criticized and downplayed when they try to encourage others not to speak crass or rudely.

Let me stop here for a second and explain exactly what I mean when I'm talking about an unclean mouth. I'm not talking about "swear" words. I'm referring to derogatory, sexually perverse, base speech.

I'm also not trying to sell some kind of legalistic law here either. Rather I'm trying to express my concerns of the spirit of the law itself. That we attack people, laugh at people, downplay individuals who try to keep their thoughts or their mouths clean.

I think the reason that we do this (I say we because what is most distressing about this subject for me is my own violation of it) because we associate Purity/Innocent with Naivety. As if, to choose to think filthy or perverse thought opposed to a pure or innocent thought on a subject, is better because it shows knowledge.

It's that whole knowledge of "good and evil" thing biting us straight in the bum. It's not necessarily that people (I think) disagree with purity but rather that they find the notion rather naive. As if we could live in a sinned filled world and not be corrupted by its culture and customs.

Yet, Paul warns us in Romans 12:2:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

If I'm honest. When I hear someone I would otherwise find to live a life of purity, or whom I respect, speak perversely or in a base manner. It breaks my heart. I hate it. Not that I'm upset at the person, but that this world continually assaults our purity and righteousness. And we SELL OUT FOR SO CHEAP. As if we don't even understand the value placed on our purity. Like we don't see the pearls we're just casting to the swine.

We give our innocence away for promises of knowledge or understanding that we previously didn't have. As if obtaining that perverse information somehow will "better" us. We TRADE THE PROMISES OF GOD FOR A LIE (Romans 1:25). Frankly it breaks my heart. Every single time.

Even though I still make those same mistakes, even though I sell out for so cheap. That heart break just encourages me every time to take a little bit wider steps in the direction of purity and makes me think twice about giving an inch back. I desperately wish our generation could grasp how amazing, how beautiful, and how life changing it truly is to live pure. Not just physically (although that's important too!) but really to fight the battle mentally.