The Blushing Bride - The Christian Online Magazine

The Christian Online Magazine -

To people who are pure, all things are pure. But to those who have twisted minds

and don't believe, nothing is pure. In fact, their minds and their sense

of what is right and wrong are twisted. Titus 1:15 (NIRV)

Do you still blush? Do you ever see something or hear something that brings that rush of heat to your face as you realize how wrong it is for that to be in public hearing or seeing? Have you ever opened a magazine, flipping mindlessly through the pages, and stumbled upon an ad for an innocent item which uses a very sexual picture to sell it? How sensitive are you to the things around you that make our God blush? Have we all become so deceived and hardened that it appears normal and never bothers us?

It is not embarrassing for me to admit that I still blush. Yes, even though I am a mother and a grandmother, I still blush at my age. Things embarrass me. It used to embarrass me that I was embarrassed but over the years, the closer I have gotten to my God, the more the things of the world make me blush. The more time I spend in His Word, feeding and growing, learning and leaning, the more I see around me that gives me cause to blush. At times, those around me have made comments about me blushing over something that has that “off-color” tinge or is definitely in the wrong. But the comments never bother me because all that I want is for God to be happy with my heart.

The traditional catch-phrase, “the blushing bride” is familiar to us all, and June is the month for brides and weddings. Yet how many brides actually have cause to blush as they walk down the aisle? It used to be that the knowledge–or the lack thereof–gave a bride cause to blush, but not anymore. Nowadays, nearly everyone knows too much in the wrong context and at the wrong time. How are we raising our children in a culture that is filled with the rawness and openness of a society bent on exposing all to everyone? And most importantly, how do we stay pure with all of the garbage that swirls around us?

Purity of mind, word, and deed are not easily found today, even among believers. The word “pure” is used many times in God’s Word in relation to believers, their lives and hearts. In the Hebrew, it is defined as “free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt” or “blameless, innocent, unstained with the guilt of anything.” It only takes the merest touch or drop of something to stain or damage a garment or other item and the same is true of us.

Recently I moved and after arriving home from work, I decided to clean the fridge. Quickly grabbing a bottle in which I had a mixture of bleach and water, I sprayed down the inside of my fridge which had been in storage for two years. In my vigorous cleaning, I got two drops on my shirt. Now this wasn’t a “cleaning house shirt,” and it was only two drops. It was one of my favorite purple shirts which I wear to work and only two drops ruined it completely. Even though there were only two tiny spots, they were pure white and so visible that I couldn’t wear the shirt anymore. I was so disappointed and upset with myself. What about our hearts? Proverbs 22:11 says, “God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken; good leaders also delight in their friendship.” (MSG) God loves the pure hearted. He loves the hearts that are blameless and innocent, unstained.

Matthew 5:8 says, “God blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see Him!” (CEV) So He not only loves the pure-hearted, but He blesses them and they see Him. That’s a really wonderful reward that’s promised for the pure in heart. So how do we obtain purity? How do we stay pure? Obviously God’s Word is the first place to start so we can become skilled at discerning what He sees as pure. But for me personally, there are a few tests I apply in my life whenever I have cause to wonder if something is good or evil. As I have stayed in His Word and practiced these tests, I find that I am becoming more and more sensitive so that when I see or hear something, the Holy Spirit brings it right to my attention. Surely this holds true for all of us who love Him and seek to honor Him with our lives.

One of the tests I use is, “How does God view this in His Word?” Another test is, “What have I learned about this from reading, being taught, or revelation by the Holy Spirit?” And the final test is—don’t laugh at me—“If God were sitting next to me, would I want Him to hear this or see this?” Boy, that one gets me every time. Talk about blushing! My children will tell you that throughout their childhood, I was quick to switch off any commercials or TV shows which had any promotion of any type of sorcery or witchcraft or homosexuality or any of the other things which we are taught in God’s Word are unacceptable to Him. They learned that to protest would do no good at all so they didn’t bother.

So many programs have elements of sorcery. What about the big Harry Potter craze? Time and again I have heard, “Well it’s just a fantasy and kids need their imagination stimulated.” What about all the Disney films with the wicked witches and spells and sorcery? Do we look carefully at the seemingly innocent things that the world puts forth? How about the Simpson’s with the negative attitudes and treatment of Homer, the dad? Or how about Bart’s disobedience and flippant attitudes, plus his comments with sexual innuendo? Do we really analyze what goes into the minds of our family and ourselves? It is imperative that we look beyond the flash and canned laughter to the real messages of what we see whether they are billboards, magazines, cartoons, or TV programs.

You could perhaps say that I am a prude—that’s OK with me. But for me as a simple woman who loves God and is incredibly awed by the sacrifice of His Son, I vigilantly try to distinguish what should be allowed and what should not. There are certain channels I block in my house and frequently if an offensive scene begins, I will change the channel. Hence, my recent answers to a survey, name your three favorite TV shows. I put, “Jeopardy, CNN, and The Weather Channel.” Then I thought, “Gosh, I am boring!” It’s just that I am watchful about what goes into my eyes, ears, and heart. Whether it is music, reading, or watching, I always measure it by, “Would I blush with God on the sofa next to me sharing the popcorn?”

For some, it seems so easy to compartmentalize different areas that they classify as, “Well, I know I really shouldn’t, but it’s no big deal.” In II Timothy 2:22, Paul writes, “Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.” (MSG) So he calls indulging in sin, “infantile,” and he calls the pursuit of purity, “mature righteousness.” We are to run away from immature things in life and run after the mature things of God.

You know, when I was in grade school and high school, I couldn’t get away with anything. My aunt was the school bus driver, my uncle was on the school board, my cousin taught two of my classes. It was just impossible to hang out with anyone who wasn’t some distant cousin—my graduating class was only 39 students! But Paul tells us to “enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” (AMP) or from another translation, “Worship with people whose hearts are pure.” (CEV) These are the people to spend time with, to enjoy and learn from, to bless!

In the book of Job, we find another promise: “The righteous will move onward and forward, and those with pure hearts will become stronger and stronger.” Job 17:9 (NLT) As you and I move onward and forward to purify our hearts and lives before God, He promises us strength in our lives. Knowing that the only One who is truly pure is Jesus Christ, we can only strive towards the goal of being more and more like Him.

Care to sit down and join us for some popcorn and a movie?

Desirée Marrion is a member of Portland Eastside Foursquare Church and has previously served as a worship leader, musician, and teacher. She is a single mom, a grandmother, and an administrative assistant at the Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, in Portland, Oregon. You may reach her at: marrion8955@yahoo.com