What Does Purity Mean for Christians Today?

You’ve probably noticed it.

• Your youth pastor recommends an R-rated movie because “it has a good redemption arc.”
• You overhear a group of Christians discussing a new show that’s full of obscenities and nudity.
• You watch a comedy filled with dirty jokes because you “just need a laugh.”

Purity seems to have been reduced to something optional in our modern idea of Christianity. But is it?

When you think about purity in the Bible, your mind might jump straight to sexual purity. However, the Bible has a lot to say about the purity God calls us to in our hearts, minds, and lives, too:

• “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. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving” (Eph. 5:3-4).
• “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10).
• “Finally, brothers and sisters, 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” (Phil. 4:8).

Think back over the podcasts, songs, YouTube videos, shows, and movies you consumed this past week. Were they characterized by what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8)? Or was there “even a hint” of sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking (Eph. 5:3-4)?

Are you feeling uncomfortable yet? I am.

My hope in writing this is to remind us that Jesus wants to transform every area of our lives—including what we allow into our minds and hearts through media.

You might be thinking, “Well, the shows I watch are relatively clean.”

Sadly, many of us have been desensitized to sin through our many previous exposures to it in various media. Let’s strive to be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and correction from the Bible.

“But isn’t this legalism?” you might be asking. I am not suggesting that watching an R-rated movie is going to jeopardize your salvation. But it is an important issue generally overlooked in modern Christianity.

Let’s measure the media we consume against God’s Word. I invite us all to be radical about giving God access to all spheres of our lives, including what we watch or listen to for entertainment.

My prayer is that each of us will be intentional about living a life of purity before God.