The Dallas Willard Podcast 71. Celibacy, Chastity and Purity (1981)
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Feb 23, 2026 
Dallas Willard, philosophy professor and Christian author focused on spiritual formation, presents a lecture on sexuality and spiritual life. He defines celibacy, chastity, and purity. He discusses the power of sexual desire, Jesus and Paul on celibacy, stewarding energy for prayer, and guarding the mind from sexualized culture.
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Grafting Natural Drives Into Christ
- Spiritual growth requires grafting natural drives into Christ so bodily energies serve God's purposes.
- Willard used the fruit tree graft image: pull off shoots from the old trunk and encourage growth from the Christ branch.
Discipline The Body Not Torture It
- Train your body by disciplined practice rather than punitive asceticism so it serves Christ's purposes.
- Willard explains Paul "I buffet my body" means schooling and shaping the body, not torturing it for its own sake.
Three Dimensions Of Sexual Life
- Celibacy, chastity, and purity are distinct dimensions of sexuality: state, behavior, and heart.
- Willard defines celibacy as single life, chastity as external restraint, and purity as the condition of the heart.
