Yes, there is such a word. Check it in your dictionary. It means “to be morally pure in thought or conduct, modest, abstaining from unlawful sexual intercourse.”And it’s also in the Bible. The Greek word “hagnos” means “clean, pure from every fault and carnality, modest, moral excellence,” This is one of the attributes that older women are to teach the younger women (Titus 2:5).
Do we as older women have this quality about us? Are we showing it and teaching it to our daughters and the next generation? It is one of beautiful attributes of a Christlike character.
Perhaps we should ask ourselves some questions?
Am I clean in my mind? Chasteness begins in the mind. You will remember that Philippians 4:8 tells us to think on the things that are “pure.” That is the same word that is translated chaste.
Am I sexually pure and faithful to my marriage?
Am I chaste in my conduct and how I dress? Morally pure? Modest? It is sad that you could not describe much of the clothing in the Christian church today as “chasteness.”
1 John 3:2, 3 says: “We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth (hagnizo – to keep clean and pure) himself, even as he is pure (hagnos).”
God has called us to chasteness and as mothers we have the responsibility to pass it on to the next generation. Are we true examples of this beautiful quality that God loves and longs to see in His daughters?
Love from Nancy Campbell