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Purity is God-given
A correct understanding of God and man provides a definite, powerful remedy for compulsive and inordinate appetite.
People have long searched for ways to limit and control sensual appetites. Alcoholism, drug abuse, and sexual misconduct are sometimes called "victimless crimes," but they do harm participating individuals, as well as a wider circle of family, friends, and community. Ancient wisdom teaches the need for self-control. But no broad success appears at hand. In fact, the so-called "modern spirit" all but abandoned this ideal decades ago—although renewed interest in ethics and religion in some circles may signal a tiring in the frantic search for personal fulfillment through material gratification.
All who want to gain self-control can do so by deepening their recognition that purity is God-given. The very wish for moral freedom is a first step out of the prison of lust. The Bible tells us: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." I John 2:15,16;
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December 1, 1980 issue
View Issue-
Are we shaking our "feather beds"?
EUNICE H. DIZER
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Your role as a prophet
ANNA A. VINSON
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6 Some words for good and evil
CORA MASON
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Purity is God-given
DAVID G. MUTCH
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Neither captor nor captive
MARILYN JANE RIMMINGTON
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Possible to you
MARION SHELDON PIERPONT
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Emotions in the classroom
REMINGTON EDWARDS TWITCHELL
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Connections
FLORA JAMES RUGGLES
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"Not even a split second"
FRANK S. MOORMAN
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The certainty of having what we need
GEOFFREY J. BARRATT
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Face the storm
NATHAN A. TALBOT
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The way of worship
THEODORE L. CLAPP
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Hold on
Kailash D. Chopra
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Christian Science has been my only physician for...
LILLIAN CLAESSON with contributions from DAVID CLAESSON
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Several years ago I felt as if everything in the world was bad
JULIE MACKEY with contributions from GERDA PAUL
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How often we intend to spend more time studying to spiritualize...
PAUL M. GUYER with contributions from FRANCELENE ANN GUYER
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At one time my son came home after three years in the Navy
LOVIE PRESLEY CRUTCHER