Over the years, purity in our culture has changed dramatically. Whether it be from how one dresses, what one watches on television, reads, and listens to — acceptable standards have changed. Back when our parents were growing up one would never have to worry about their children turning on the television and seeing someone on network TV not properly covered. A recent example of just how far our culture has fallen in regards to pure standards is from the recent Grammy Awards. The week prior to the awards ceremony, show executives sent an email to all artists and managers giving specific guidelines as to how the artist should be dressed, and gave certain areas that needed to be covered. Sadly, these guidelines should have been obvious to most, but in our culture today a lot of people do not care for the majority of their body to be exposed. Unfortunately, that has become a standard that is widely accepted. This trend can also be seen in stores and advertisements every where. Our culture is filled with messages of impurity. It is filled with messages that cause women to feel inferior if they do not look like the latest model in Sports Illustrated, or young girls who don’t feel attractive if their latest outfit is not showing off their body.
Another example of how purity has changed in our culture over the years is through relationships. It is not the normal standard to remain sexually pure until you get married, and marriages that exist only between a man and a woman are no longer honored. Instead of being a culture that is promoting pure standards in life and relationships, we have become a culture that encourages the mindset of “It is okay as long as it makes you feel good.” I recently read a quote by Tauler that states, “A pure heart is one to which all that is not of God is strange and jarring.” After reading this, I immediately realized that in today’s society not a lot seems to be strange or jarring anymore because our culture does not deem Godly standards and a lifestyle of purity to be important. It was humbling for me to read, and made me think about the kind of example I want to be to those around me and to the younger generation. It challenged me think about all the areas of my life from the way that I dress, speak, act, as well as what I watch, read, and listen to. It forced me to ask myself am I living a lifestyle of purity that would bring glory and honor to Christ or a lifestyle that reflects the impure culture that we live in.
Romans 12:2 states, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” As Christians, we cannot instantly change the standards in our culture, but we can start by being an example in how we choose to live. Even though society may be falling away from Biblical standards does not mean we have to. It can be so easy to fall into the mindset of “Well that’s not so bad,” but that is exactly what we need to be on guard against. We should strive in every area to live a life that is holy and pleasing to God, and not allow ourselves to get comfortable with sin. One way we can do this is by asking God to show us ways in our life that we are not pure.
Some questions to ask ourselves are:
- Are we dressing in a way that would honor Christ?
- Are we practicing purity in our dating relationships?
- Are we practicing purity and being an example of Christ in our speech?
- Are we guarding what put into our minds with what we watch, read, and listen to? Karina, touched on this yesterday in her post “Purity in the Media.” Check it out here.
I encourage you to take some time today to pray about this and ask God to show you ways you can be a better example for Him in the culture around you, and to give you the courage to be bold for Him.
Good point Amelia. Even though most people don’t think of it, I think modesty applies to guys as well as girls. But as you noted, our culture has taken a downward spiral. When I was a teenager back in the 1970s, it was assumed that couples were pure on their wedding nights. Now a days, I don’t think so. Here’s something to think about that takes the word “irony” to a whole new level. Even though I am one at 52, if I mentioned the word “virginity” in a crowd today, I’d be confronted with security or law enforcement within minutes. – and charged with obscene conduct. In other words, what was right has become wrong – and what was wrong has become right. Take a look at Phillipians 4:8.