Pursuing Our Destiny, Part 11—The Discipline of Chastity

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4).

C. S. Lewis wrote that “Chastity is the most unpopular of the Christian virtues.”  If Lewis’ assessment was on target in his day, he would be doubly correct in our generation!  Even the thought of pursuing chastity in our culture is considered a bit “stuffy” and often completely disregarded, even in Christian circles.

Several years ago, during the time of their big stadium events, PromiseKeepers polled the men attending those events.  More than 50% of the men in attendance admitted some kind of unchaste behavior in the last year.  When we factor in that most of the men attending those weekend rallies were professing Christians, we can come to only one conclusion:  the American male, Christian or not, has a problem with sexual purity.

Chastity is so foreign to many of us, that I sense the necessity to provide a clear definition of the term.  As I understand it, chastity is the practice of sexual purity whether married or not.  For the unmarried, chastity includes celibacy.  But, the issue is not just abstinence from sex; it is living with a commitment to moral purity in our minds, hearts, and bodies.

We all need to hear God’s Word on this issue, too:

The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord (1 Cor. 6:13, ESV).

Flee from sexual immorality.  Every other sin a person commits is outside the        body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.  Or do you not            know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you whom you have       from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So glorify           God in your body (1 Cor. 6:18-20, ESV).

We must not engage in sexual immorality . . . (1 Cor. 10:8, ESV).

As simply as I know how to put it, those who want to pursue their destiny, i.e., to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29) cannot avoid the spiritual discipline of chastity.  Choosing to pursue purity is not only a discipline; it’s also a virtue.  Lauren Winner, writing for Focus on the Family said it this way:  . . . the most essential truth of chastity is that in turning away from certain expressions of sexuality and romanticism, we can allow ourselves to focus on God in a particular way that would otherwise not be possible. 

She goes on to say that we pursue purity, modesty, and moral integrity so that we can focus on our truest Lover, the Lord.  Practice chastity because, in the words of the 6^th-century monk John Climacus, “Chastity makes us familiar with God.”

All of us need to be reminded of the words in Hebrews about our Lord Jesus.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15, ESV).  The very best reason for all of us to pursue chastity is to become more like Jesus.  He endured the same temptations all of us experience, and he didn’t sin.  Allowing this spiritual discipline to have its work in our lives leads us on the transformation, the renewing of our minds; that will make us more like our Savior. – Pastor John Strain is a weekly Freedom Fighter blogger

Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 54-56; Acts 21:1-17

Quote of the day: The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home. Augustine

Verse to Memorize: Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. Troubles and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight. Psalm 119:142-143