The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1963-10-11
CHI, eA,'. s.; an! '. = ~,
Lesson for October 10, 1868

Lesson Tor october IL, 1858
The word purity has almost
lost its meaning. When a man
is recommended for position
many questions are asked, but a
question about his purity
would be puzZling to many. Such
is the degradation of the world
in which we live, that there is
very little notion of purity out
side the Christian church. It is
otherwise with other virtues and
qualities. Last week in this
space we thought about har-
mony. Everybody whether
Christian or pagan knows
what you mean by that, even if
he does not know harmony on
the Christian level, or does not
know that harmony at its deep
est and best is not to be found
outside the Christian faith. But
purity what's that?
The Christian View Of Sex
If your denomination has a
bookstore. as most denomina-
tons do, you can buy from it
one or more books recommended
by leaders in your church on
the subject of the Christian view
Of sex. There is no room here
even to review any Of these,
only to say that there is more
guidance available than you
might have thought possible
Some basic elements in the
Christian view will now be men
toned.
First of all, as we understand
the New Testament, sex Is not
sinful in itself. If it were, all
marriages would be wicked, and
we should have to blame God
for making the human race
male and female. Sex is neither
bestial necessity nor an end
in itself The Christian ideal is
that sex finds its rightful ex-
preston in marriage. and that
before marriage virginty is
Gods ideal both for man and
women. The notion that purity
is strictly female virtue is pa
gan, not Christian)
Christian Motives Again
There are many arguments
for chastity. Margaret C. Ban
ming wrote an article in which
she makes the point that even
from the standpoint of personal
satisfaction and happiness, chas-
tity is the ideal. But the Chris.
tian view goes farther than this
The New Testament teaches
that each persons body, once
Gods Spirit. and that fornica-
ton or adultery is a proclamation
and a sin. for that reason if fol-
no others.
About the turn of the century
there was young Austrian who
had been lifetime member OF
the church. yet whose life was
a constant series of sins against
the Seventh Commandment. He
did not believe that chastity was
either possible or desirable
Then in Gods providence he
was led to make the acquain-
lance of two young priests about
his own age. He discovered
somewhat against his will, be.
cause at first he could not be
lleve they were genuine. that
these men lived lives that tC
him were continuous miracle
How can this be? he asked
himself. He finally came to I'm
derstand that h tity, like
every Christian virtue, is super,
natural. 1t is not possible jus,
as love in the Christian sense is
not possible without the Holy
Spirit. This discovery was the
turning point in his lifetime.
The sin Of mchastity. or sins
for they have many forms
are like all sins, against what'
Against marriage. against the
love that is life's greatest hui
man JOY. against oneself. an(
against society. But the impor
that fact is deeper. When JOSEPH
was tempted by Potiphar's wife
he might have said, How car
l sin against you?" for the lady
was really asking him to com
nit crime against her. He
might have said. How can l sir
against my employer agains
loyalty a aims t friendship:
How can l break the law o.
the land?" for the Egyptians
knew we'll that adultery was
wrong or How can l sully my
famlly's high ideals, and my
oWn?" Joseph said something
that must have sounded a.
strange to Potiphar's wife as i
would to many ears today. How
can l sin against God?'
Joseph was not a monk. he was
a highly practical and brainy
young man who later had {
happy marriage. Yet it was no
the future marriage which LAY
on his mind and heart: it wa.
not Just a family ideal 1t wa;
God who was more real to hin
at that moment than any WON
an there or in the future. Tho
practice of the presence o.
Cnds &c tho & !, !. q ! or,,, =,