Purity – is it Making a Comeback?

Observe closely and you will see that the moral pendulum has not only arced, but it is now making a slow yet definite swing back from complete moral decline. Maybe the highly publicized trials of celebrities like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are actually helping young women head in the right moral direction. There's a proverb that says, "Everyone has a purpose, even if it is only to serve as a warning."

At a recent fashion show held in a Sacramento resort club, modest fashions were featured, including casual wear, prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and even dresses for the bride-to-be. The local churches which sponsored this event also provided the teenagers who modeled the fashions. Many young women can dress in a modest fashion that adheres to their religious beliefs, leaving something to the imagination. More and more retail outlets and online stores are offering modest fashions.

In the 1990's, as a way to try and discourage premarital sex, purity rings were introduced. These rings are worn on the ring finger of the left hand to remind the wearer of their commitment to stay pure until marriage. After marriage, these rings are replaced with wedding rings. Far from plain, the rings may be embellished with crosses or gemstones and often feature the phrase "True Love Waits." Both girls and boys wear the rings either on their fingers or on chains around their necks. Approximately two decades after being introduced, purity rings are still a popular item sold in retail stores and many Christian websites.

Chastity is starting to make a comeback, despite the fact that movies and television are still using sexual imagery on a regular basis. The virtue of chastity is being instilled in our children by their parents, who have to fight against an onslaught of media influences. Kids who want to be different from their peers may find committing to celibacy is the best way to do just that, standing apart from those who are giving into sex so freely. It can also be a way to rebel at home for those children who learned of Christianity through a friend and whose parents have different views.

The movement in support of chastity, known as the "New Virginity," is for adults as well as teenagers. A lot of formerly sexually active adults have come on board in the quest for purity, and this concept is known as "secondary virginity." While it is not possible to change the past, it is feasible to commit one's life to a purer, healthier lifestyle as one waits for their perfect partner chosen by God.

One generation committed to purity and chastity could all but wipe out sexually transmitted diseases in much the same way polio was wiped out in one generation after the polio vaccine was discovered. Getting all of society to band together in support of the purity movement may take some time. Until then, put on modest clothing and encourage teenagers and young adults to wear purity rings to remind them of their commitment to lead chaste lives as Christians.