| We are called to be a godly people who think,
feel, and act in harmony with the principles of heaven. For the Spirit to recreate in us
the character of our Lord we involve ourselves only in those things which will produce
Christlike purity, health, and joy in our lives. This means that our amusement and
entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian taste and beauty. While
recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting
those whose true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the imperishable
ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit. It also means that because our bodies are the
temples of the Holy Spirit, we are to care for them intelligently. Along with adequate
exercise and rest, we are to adopt the most healthful diet possible and abstain from the
unclean foods identified in the Scriptures. Since alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and the
irresponsible use of drugs and narcotics are harmful to our bodies, we are to abstain from
them as well. Instead, we are to engage in whatever brings our thoughts and bodies into
the discipline of Christ, who desires our wholesomeness, joy, and goodness. |
