I believe it’s safe to say that many, if not all of us, have heard a misled interpretation of what Christian living is. I have been told and implied that we are prudes, stiffed neck fools that deny ourselves the true pleasures of life. This clearly shows what the common Christian impression is. Many Christians may think, “Well, that’s their ridiculous opinion about something they know nothing about.” Maybe so, but whose fault is it that the Worldly either do not know or have received such a misleading idea? I believe that most of the fault can be traced back to Christians themselves but regardless, we need to correct this idea to better serve the Lord.
The main issues within this misunderstanding are morality and purity. It’s automatically assumed with most that if a person becomes a Christian, he or she must live a pure, moral life. Why? The most common reply is, “because God commands it.” True, but why? Many Christians try to live moral lives because of cultural ties. It is taught that God commands many rules and regulations for Christians adhere to. Therefore, do NOT sin. In turn, many follow this idea because it is what they have always known, not because it is what God intends. We sinful beings can look at this in many ways, but one particular method is this: Commands are nothing but commands unless we understand why they are commanded.
As I begin my writing classes each semester, the first thing that I explain is the importance of the course. Academic writing isn’t a pleasurable pastime for most, so it’s essential to understand why it’s taught. If a person understands why he or she does certain chores, goes to certain classes, follows certain rules and guidelines, it is easier for him or her to apply it all to life and have a closer bond to it. Morality and purity are in no way exempt. A good understanding of Godly morals will erase what most consider “obligations” or “chains” and bring appreciation as to why they are so relevant in our lives. God has a purpose for these virtues, and a misunderstanding can only lead us away from him.
Christ proclaims in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” This verse gives all that we need to see the importance of purity in Christ. Of course it is commanded throughout the Bible to strive for moral purity, but the purpose is not to create mere separation between us and the rest of the world or to hold us back from the things we wish for. It is for our own good. These commands of purity and morality are not negative repercussion of being a Christian. They are tools that can turn our lives from sorrow to joy.
The greatest analogy I’ve come across concerning morality is given by C. S. Lewis in what later became Mere Christianity. Lewis explains that we work like machines. God gives us the virtues of morality and purity to help the machine work in the manner it’s made for. When we practice moral righteousness, we care for the machine as was intended by God and keep breakdowns from occurring. When we reject these virtues, we lose harmony, breakdowns occur, and the machine suffers which ultimately can lead to a distancing between God and his children. I believe this is a great idea of how morality and purity are important to our Christian lives. God doesn’t give us these as rules to cause problems because he simply doesn’t approve of certain actions we tend to like. Righteousness will help us. It’s intended to keep us away from the worldly things that will destroy us.
The best part of this is that we have the power to influence and share Christ’s love. Those who struggle without him, struggle for nothing. Christians don’t work alone in morality. Christ lives in us and his Spirit works through us to reach others, so we know that it’s not what we do in this world; it’s what God does through us. So we see that purity doesn’t only help our personal relationship with God. It also illuminates like a light that many can see, and it will touch others.
Jesus Christ did not close himself off from others; he was open to all and gave all his love. It’s our Christian duty to spread Christ’s love to non-believers. By living impure lives, not only do we weaken our relationship with him and drift from our faith, we lead others away from him. It’s not an issue of social freedom and being held back from the things that we enjoy; it’s a matter of bringing others to Christ. Every action and thought we have is tied directly to our faith in God. Allow yourself to turn to him for this step in life. While some may feel that morality is a mindset for anyone, we know that it is empty and useless without Christ. Only through him can we accomplish anything pure in our existence.
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I have been told many times (especially by men) that I am too old-fashioned. They say this because of how I behave morally. "I'm sorry, but I want to wait for marriage," is not in their vocabulary. People simply don't understand why we behave the way we behave. Without being saved I do not think they will ever fully understand. I really like what you said here, "It also illuminates like a light that many can see, and it will touch others." It is easy to forget how our actions influence other people, we need to remember that society watches us under a microscope. If they see us act like everyone else, what will set us apart?
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