purity rings

[Dedicated Mind]

if churches are so against abortion and premarital sex, why don't they fullheartedly support the purity ring movement?


http://www.purityrings.com/

[*AQuietPlace*]

Cause it's jewelry, duh.

I do support it. I think it's a great talk to have with your daughters, and good to get them thinking about this, and moving toward making a real commitment of their own.

[Hoovie]

Don't they? I know some do. Perhaps not so many UPC churches.

[MissBrattified]

Jeff and I have discussed giving our daughters purity rings on their 16th birthdays, not to be removed until a wedding ring replaces it. We haven't discussed it with our pastor, but he doesn't have a problem with class rings, so I don't see him having an issue with purity rings.

[llambert]

I see nothing wrong with wearing a purity ring if one has vowed to wait until marriage. In history and in some cultures, rings were worn to let people know that the person was spoken for (the ring was basically a symbol to people to be respectful in how you approach this person because they are not available for dating/marriage/sexual relations).

I thought of 2 things, though:

1- In some cultures or areas, there is so much licentiousness that the male who wears a purity ring or a wedding band is actually pursued for sexual conquest, moreso than the males who don't wear them.

2- Some falsely think that there is some magic power in just putting on a ring, as in the ring protecting them from fornication and lustful sexual thoughts. It seems to me that if someone is NOT a virgin and they have gone through a purity ring ceremony/have rededicated themselves to Christ, that they will really need to get intimate with God until the issues of their inordinate lusts are burned down to the roots and they are delivered from the lust into their ministry to God's body/bride, the church.

I was thinking today about the issue of how people are born (as in the debate question: are people born homosexual). Some just might be because of exposure to biological weirdness while in their mother's wombs. Some might be born addicted to lustful heterosexuality as well if the mother and/or father were involved in ritual pagan sexual practices (there are pagan fertility gods that some people consecrate themselves to and in some cases dedicate their children to as well. I don't think these people are knowingly dedicating themselves to demonic power though, but Lucifer is very cunning and seductive and makes promises of giving people power, profit and protection when in reality he is going to give us despair, depravity and destruction as well as insanity).

So to me, it's nice to wear a ring, but we also need to consecrate our hearts by some combination of prayer, bible study and affirming scripture memorization, praying and singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in both our known languages and in tongues of men and of angels, Godly talk therapy, full mental engagement, self-appraisal, deliverance (where needed) and intimacy with Christ.

Please pray for me as I pray for you in Jesus' name,
Bro Lambert

[MissBrattified]

I have never heard of people thinking that a wedding ring protected them from lust. I think it's more of a visual reminder of a commitment they've made to their spouse, or, in this case, to remain pure until marriage.

[kclee4jc]

Not bashing anyone but i personallyd don't believe in jewelry of any kind. I don't think a ring would be neccessary to instill purity. It has always been the temptation of man to put an invisible spiritual concept into a visible image. That's where the idols of wood and stone came in. I don't need gold or silver or any physical material to remind me of what God desires for me, his Word is written on the tablets of my heart.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Jeff and I have discussed giving our daughters purity rings on their 16th birthdays, not to be removed until a wedding ring replaces it. We haven't discussed it with our pastor, but he doesn't have a problem with class rings, so I don't see him having an issue with purity rings.

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

Not bashing anyone but i personallyd don't believe in jewelry of any kind. I don't think a ring would be neccessary to instill purity. It has always been the temptation of man to put an invisible spiritual concept into a visible image. That's where the idols of wood and stone came in. I don't need gold or silver or any physical material to remind me of what God desires for me, his Word is written on the tablets of my heart.

I am actually OK with either of these positions.

I think it would be OK at sixteen or eighteen. I have noticed some girls in our church are wearing them before they are ten years old. That's a little strange to me.

Kclee, I could live with your view as well, though I don't see it as necessary. How do you feel about wedding rings and watches?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

Not bashing anyone but i personallyd don't believe in jewelry of any kind. I don't think a ring would be neccessary to instill purity. It has always been the temptation of man to put an invisible spiritual concept into a visible image. That's where the idols of wood and stone came in. I don't need gold or silver or any physical material to remind me of what God desires for me, his Word is written on the tablets of my heart.

I respect your view, but I don't think the ring (wedding or purity) is meant to "instill purity." It's a visual reminder to the wearer of a commitment they've made, and it's also a visual declaration to other people that you are committed to a spouse or to God. I see a lot of positive in that. I can see how no reminder is truly necessary on the former point (I don't need a ring to keep me faithful to my vows), but I do want other people to know that I'm a married woman, whether they get to know me personally or not.

[kclee4jc]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

I am actually OK with either of these positions.

I think it would be OK at sixteen or eighteen. I have noticed some girls in our church are wearing them before they are ten years old. That's a little strange to me.

Kclee, I could live with your view as well, though I don't see it as necessary. How do you feel about wedding rings and watches?

Well im not married, but i really don't believe in wedding or engagement rings. My pastor allows them on the platform but discourages it. As far as watches, i dont wear them. However, i see nothing wrong with a modest watch.