Pure in Heart

 

[Jesus said] “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8 ESV).

 

“Just follow your heart!” is the relatively new mantra of religious pluralism. Religious pluralism generally refers to the belief in two or more religious worldviews as being equally valid or acceptable. More than mere tolerance, religious pluralism accepts multiple paths to God or gods as a possibility and is usually contrasted with “exclusivism,” the idea that there is only one true religion or way to know God. While religious pluralism has been in existence since at least the seventeenth century, the concept has become more popular since the latter half of the twentieth century in Western Europe and North America. Specifically, the idea of religious ecumenism (religions working together as one) and the recently popularized interfaith movement have led to the increased acceptance of religious pluralism in popular culture.

 

The problem with “following your heart” is that it depends on us having a good heart to begin with. Let’s be clear from the perspective of the Scripture. It is easy to confuse “heart” with emotion or sentiment. So when Jesus invites us to treasure a pure heart as a quality of life in the kingdom of God, we may not immediately grasp what he is saying.

In the Bible, the heart is the center of one’s being. It’s where the will, intellect, and emotions intersect. What we value in our heart sets the course for how we live our life—how we spend our money, form relationships, and make decisions. The condition of our heart is immensely important!

 

A person with a pure heart is one who is undefiled by sin. We simply cannot make that claim. Even without the instruction of the Scripture, no one who is intellectually honest can make that claim. We simply aren’t perfect. Frankly, I don’t know of anyone even close, certainly not myself. This has far reaching consequences. The Bible tells us that only those who have no sin in their heart are fit for God’s presence. That would be cause for despair, but the Bible also assures us that no one except Jesus has a pure heart. His life was perfect in every way, and yet for our sake he was willingly banished from God’s sight, as if he had an impure and imperfect heart.

 

The bible further says, there is only one way to get that purity of heart. If you believe the gospel, you are cleansed from your sin and impurity, and you receive the gift of a pure heart. There is only one right answer… His name is Jesus. Where have you placed your trust?