STAYING PURE IN AN IMPURE WORLD From the desk of Pastor David A. Smith Demonstrating Moral Courage for Personal Purity! It is obvious that the environment of this wicked world is active and pervasive in contaminating and corrupting human minds and hearts. It takes conviction and courage for a believer to remain pure before the Lord. • The Pastoral Epistles give some strong counsel on the importance and priority of personal purity in our lives: “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.” I Tim. 5:22-25 “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the [...]