I have a purity ring (or as I call it, promise ring, same difference).
Physically, I'm not pure. I was saved not long ago and before my new life I lived recklessly and was quite worldly. Even after I was saved, I fell back in to sexual sin and found myself experience heavy bouts of shame and guilt. One day I woke up. I wanted to completely turn my life around so I turned away from that life style, asked for forgiveness and then bought myself a promise ring and can now say that I see myself as 'spiritually' pure. I wear a ring on my left hand because I see Jesus as my husband, my provider, and as the one and only who -knows- me. I wear it to remind me that if I fall back in to the old behaviours, I am breaking his heart and betraying my true love.
Now that I have grown in my spiritual walk, I now have the strength and wisdom to resist those kinds of temptations. I don't need a ring to remind me that Jesus has renewed my heart. I don't need this ring to remind me that Jesus satisfies the deepest core of my being. I have experienced the blessing, the love, the providential hand of my Saviour/King/Husband/my Everything, and have come to this place where I know I am so immensely loved and that all I want to do is give everything I have to Him. But I still wear this ring. I don't know why people would frown down on the idea of wearing something as a reminder. I see this ring and I am reminded of all the good things the Lord has done for me and His love and grace. I am reminded of this new life I live where the Lord constantly beckons me to come closer and deeper with Him. I want to be reminded of this when I wake up, when I brush my teeth, when I am driving in my car. If it takes a ring to trigger these memories, if it takes a small piece of metal to bring to the forefront of my mind the grace and tender mercy of my God, then so be it. It stays.
Not only does it remind me, but believe it or not it is actually a good way to minister to people. Many women, especially young women, ask me if I'm married. This subject usually leads me to ministering to them about what this ring means to me and why I wear it. Some people have shrugged it off and said it was stupid. Even I would have said something like this was stupid a couple of years ago. But I think its about time we started being bold and creating a counter culture to this world. I'm tired of seeing women in their brokenness, feeling used up and carrying guilt and shame. Maybe we need to stand up and make a loud declaration about the life that is free from guilt, condemnation, disgust and self-loathing, a life in and through Jesus Christ.
As far as men... I look forward to meeting the right one. I'd like to hope that he would have the courage to become acquainted with me, befriend me and learn of my values and beliefs before he makes any advances. If a man sees this ring and avoids me like the plague then I can say maybe we weren't meant to be. I would hope that my future husband would see me as a sister-in-Christ before he sees me as 'wife' material. If he assumes I'm married because of this ring, I hope it wouldn't bother him because we're not thinking of dating and pursuing each other from the get go but rather enjoying each others company in a safe and healthy context.
Well, that's my reply anyways...