Whatsoever is pure

We continue our series on Biblical evaluation of media by looking at the word “pure” in Philippians 4:8.  It is our forth blog on this verse and topic.  If you want to review or see the others we have already covered true, honest & just.

The word “pure” in the dictionary means

not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material:

there are some clarifications in the Oxford dictionary which paint  good word pictures for this definition

• without any extraneous and unnecessary elements:

• free of any contamination: 

• wholesome and untainted by immorality, esp. that of a sexual nature:

• (of a sound) perfectly in tune and with a clear tone.

• (of an animal or plant) of unmixed origin or descent:

[ attrib. ] involving or containing nothing else but; sheer (used for emphasis):

looking at any of these should bring one thing to mind: Christ.

The bible very plainly tells us:

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1Peter 1:18-19

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27

He is an example of all that was pure.  It is foundational to Christianity that we understand this.  If Christ was not pure, we have nothing to redeem us so that we can also be pure.  

It is no wonder then that when we are told to “meditate on these things”.  By meditating on the Word of God, on Christ the spotless Lamb, our minds are drawn to a higher plane, one that Christ desires to lift us to.  If we would be like Him, our thoughts must be brought out of the mire and muck of this world and Heavenward.  

The bible tells us 

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2Corinthians 3:18

But this works both ways.  We can also be changed for evil if evil is what we behold.  

There are plenty of impure things to behold these days.  Pornography is rampant, and not surprisingly so at the end of days.  At the time when Christ is coming for His bride, it makes sense that the devil would seek to pervert the picture of a man and a woman. Pervert the image and you destroy the biblical lesson that we are supposed to be learning.  

This is like other media, skewing the images of life so that we behold them and it reshapes our biblical view, instead of looking at the bible so that we have a true picture of God.

If we would be people who would see God, people who strive in the last days to be part of the 144,000 then we must be pure.

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.  Revelation 14:4