I'd like to think sexual purity CONTINUES into marriage i.e. that you stay emotionally, romantically, sexually faithful to your spouse and you do not defile the marriage bed. You don't turn to porn. You don't turn to Mills & Boon. You don't turn to other people for sexual satisfaction other than your spouse.
And there's so much more to purity than just sexual purity. This is what Jesus had to say about purity:Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. (ESV)Hebrews 13:4
I don't want to make light of the rings. Maybe it works well in the American context? But it is lacking in so many ways.And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (ESV, Empasis mine)Matthew 15:10-20
The heart is shaped by what you feed it. My brain is diverting here. I had a think about whether or not I would go and see The Ugly Truth at the movies. It won't be edifying.
ReplyDelete"whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Philippians 4:7-9