Wanting It Both Ways      by Carl McMurray

Lately, in celebrity circles, I’ve been hearing things like, “I don’t attend church, but I consider myself very spiritual” or “I don’t think of myself as religious, but I’m a very spiritual person.” Some of those mouthing these mindless platitudes grew up in rural, southern, conservative, RELIGIOUS homes. Many of them were taken to Bible class every Sunday by mothers and grandmothers who cared about them. Those same mothers and grandmothers (like Eunice and Lois of New Testament fame) would be embarrassed to hear their little sons and grandsons slouch on camera and voice such theological silliness! I don’t worship the way God wants, or fellowship His children, or serve Him the way He asked, but I think I’m very spiritual. Well, whoop de do! You have to be really impressed with oneself to think that God cares what WE think about our own spirituality

 

I was listening last week to a young man who fronts a national organization of young people (Teen Media Industries) that is standing up to the over sexualization of American youth. A young lady was arguing with him that it was impossible to teach young people to restrain themselves, therefore we should be training them with even more of the useless sex education that they have been receiving over the past few decades. He made an interesting point, that we can train our dogs to be housebroken but we can’t train our children to behave? But I digress. What made me sit up and holler was the young lady’s response to the man’s plea for purity She said, quoting as closely as I can remember, “I think it’s a strange standard that equates purity with refraining from sexual intercourse.” WHAT?

 

It is actually a strange standard that says one can REMAIN PURE before marriage while ENGAGING in sexual intimacy. Restraint in this area at this time of life actually IS the definition of purity. Sounds like the celebrity doubletalk above. I can have sex before marriage and remain pure. I can ignore God’s instructions and be spiritual. You can also think you’re sane and be absolutely out of your mind!

 

This is nothing more than people wanting to be thought of as moral while actually being morally bankrupt. Everyone wants to be well thought of and admired for their character. It appears however that the politically correct generation has finally graduated and gone to work. Those kids in school who got passed on without doing passing work. The ones who got trophies along with everyone else on the team, although they put little effort into the game. The ones whose self-image was more important than being told “no”, or “you’re wrong”, or “you’ve made a mistake.” They are the ones now who want character, and nobility, and a reputation for integrity and purity, but don’t want to walk the walk that makes those things part of an individual’s life. Sorry, you can’t have it both ways. To be pure demands restraint and to be spiritual demands submission to The Eternal Spirit. If you want others to think you’re that way, then be that way!