Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists

also a matter of the heart that reaches deeply into
the thought patterns. If the springs are polluted, the
rivers are not likely to be clean. Jesus saw that the
inner reservoir of the mind motivated human
behavior, "for out of the heart come evil thoughts,
murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness,
slander" (Matt. 15:19, RSV). In this vein He traced
the act of unfaithfulness to the thoughts and
emotions: "'You have heard that it was said to
those of old, "You shall not commit adultery, " But
I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust
for her has already committed adultery with her in
his heart'" (Matt. 5:27, 28).
An entire industry has developed to capitalize
upon the perversion of the imagination. The
sensual films and books it produces have no place
in the Christian life. They not only encourage illicit
relationships, they also reduce men and women to
mere sexual objects, thus distorting the true
meaning of sexuality and obscuring the image of
God. Christians are called upon to think pure
thoughts and live pure lives because they are
preparing to live in a pure society throughout all
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