This is the last in our series of blogs on following the pattern from 1 Timothy 4.12:

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example

• in speech,
• in conduct,
• in love,
• in faith,
• in purity. (1 Timothy 4.12, ESV), bulleted for clarity)

I wish I didn’t have to write this one. It’s so simple: Set the example…in purity.

The Apostle Paul was explicit elsewhere:

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. (Ephesians 5.3, ESV)

So I’m not going to name any examples of sexual immorality and impurity within the church although it’s a target-rich environment out there. Recently a major US denomination was in the news for the usual: pastors and other church staff taking advantage of women, and, as usual, covering it up. One blogger was especially exercised, using Jesus’ diatribe against the Pharisees as a guide.

I’ve had it with you! You’re hopeless, you religion scholars, you [denominational leaders]! Frauds! Your lives are roadblocks to God’s kingdom. You refuse to enter, and won’t let anyone else in either...

You can’t squirm out of this: Every [precious victim’s reputation and health that you destroyed], beginning with the [first victim who ever came forward to report abuse] whom you [accused of threatening the work of my kingdom—how dare you!], is on your head. All this, I’m telling you, is coming down on you, on your generation. – Judy Wu Dominick, May 24, 2022, adapted from Matthew 23.13 – 39, MSG

But no one has a corner on the sexual impurity market: every flavor of church from Roman Catholic to charismatic, conservative, liberal, Calvinist, Arminian – one’s polity or theology doesn’t seem to provide any protection. The temptation to sin is the same as well as the desire to excuse it or cover it up. 

A long time ago I was serving in the famous Building 500 at Offutt Air Force Base, Headquarters of the Strategic Air Command. I was in charge of a 24-7 communication center (long before the days of email!). Sometimes on the midnight shift, my guys would load a large steel cart with trash and take it to another part of the building. Occasionally, they would be a little careless and run it into the wall, leaving a gash. Around the corner from my office was a full colonel, chief of administration. He called me in and asked me to tell my guys to be careful and not do that anymore. “Yes, sir.” Unfortunately, a few days later, they did it again. The colonel called me in again. “Ewell, I thought I told you not to bang into my wall with that cart anymore.” “Yes, sir. I talked with the guys…” Then he stood up, all 5-foot, 3 inches of him: “Ewell, I’m telling you as a colonel to a captain. Cut that stuff out!!” “Yes, sir.” 

I think God is tired of our excuses. “Cut that stuff out!”

Set the believers an example…in purity. (1 Timothy 4.12, ESV)