There are enough critiques of purity culture to go around. But, I want to offer one more: purity culture did not go far enough, and the deconstruction of purity culture does not go far enough either.
In many contexts, purity culture only spoke of sex and sexual lusts. But, speaking only to sexual issues does not go far enough. When the Bible speaks of lust, it often carries an idea that is much wider than only sexual appetite. in the fourth century, Augustine spoke regularly of the dangers of concupiscence. This is a word that has fallen out of regular use and is often used synonymously with lust, but concupiscence is more broad, it might be best defined as a desire for worldly things.
When one thinks of purity culture, one of the oft-cited verses of those days is 2 Timothy 2:22
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
The Greek word translated by the ESV as passions is epithymia. In 2 Timothy 2:22, some Bible translations render epithymia as lusts or desires. For many Americans, the moment you read lust or passions, your mind immediately runs to sexual lust, desires, or passions. But, epithymia is more broad and can mean desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, or lust.
Certainly, Paul wanted Timothy to flee sexual lust, but sexual lust is not the only youthful lust. Young men (and women) have a tendency to desire all sorts of worldly things. As Paul continued to instruct Timothy in 2 Timothy 2, he urged him to have nothing to do with “foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.”
Paul goes on to urge Timothy to not be quarrelsome, but to be “kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness…”
Young men are often known to be hot-headed. When Paul urged Timothy to not engage his youthful passions, a wider understanding of epithymia leads us to see that Christian leaders should flee all the desires of the flesh.
Mature Christians flee their youthful passions and avoid quarrels.
Mature Christians flee their youthful passions and pursue kindness.
Mature Christians flee their youthful passions and learn to teach, not just argue.
Mature Christians flee their youthful passions and grow in patience.
Mature Christians flee their youthful passions learn to respond to evil with gentleness, desiring repentance.
Purity culture may not have gone far enough if it didn’t result in followers of Jesus who avoid quarrels and who are kind, penitent, and evangelistic. And, if you protest against purity culture does not drive you to run from worldliness, quarrels, and controversies, then you have not protested far enough.
Paul was regularly concerned about sexual purity, as we should be. But, Paul’s concerns were much more broad. Paul was interested in seeing mature followers of Jesus–followers who love Jesus and his word more than being right or winning a fight. Followers of Jesus who patiently endure, prayerfully hoping for repentance and faith.
Paul wanted Timothy, and you, to be pure and holy, but holiness does not begin or end with sexual purity. God desires much more.
