| "Who told you that you were naked?"
That's what God asked Adam in Genesis 3.11. If you're a Bible-believing
Christian who cares about the source of your beliefs, you would do well
to ask yourself that very same question. Who told you what
you currently believe about being naked?
Did you know that there are lots of Christians who are also social nudists?
That might seem like a startling claim, but it's true. Christian nudists
number in the thousands and are located all over North America and in many
other parts of the world. If you belong to a large church congregation
in the United States or Canada, there's a very good chance that you have
nudists within it.
Just what is nudism, anyway? Nudism (also called naturism) is the practice
of going without clothing in social settings (generally in mixed-gender
groups of all ages) in the belief that doing so is beneficial. Governed
by strict behavioral boundaries, a defining characteristic of genuine social
nudism is that it's purposefully chaste.
Why would a Christian want to be a nudist? Nudism offers numerous benefits
to physical, mental and spiritual health. For starters, it simply feels
good! Being unclothed when the weather is warm is very comfortable, and
once you've gone swimming or been in a hot tub without a swimsuit, you'll
never want to wear one again! On a deeper level, social nudism offers a
unique feeling of closeness and trust unavailable in usual settings. It
helps participants overcome poor body image. It offers children and teens
a way to avoid unnatural and often unhealthy curiosities about the body.
It affirms and reinforces the fact that there's nothing shameful about
the way God made us. It offers a tangible way for believers to embrace
God's view of the human body. In fact, it gives us an opportunity to literally
be God's image bearers! Last but certainly not least, it offers common
ground for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with unbelieving nudists
willing to receive it.
The Bible actually mentions nakedness quite often. If you carefully
study the passages that talk about physical nakedness and pay close attention
to the context in which they're found, you'll discover that it's never
described as being inherently shameful or inherently sinful. After all,
we were created "in the image of God" (Genesis 1.27), "naked" and "not
ashamed" (Genesis 2.25). And God declared all this "very good" (Genesis
1.31). After Adam and Eve sinned, they made loincloths for themselves out
of fig leaves (Genesis 3.7). That seems like an odd thing for a husband
and wife to do, don't you think? In Genesis 3.11 God asked, "Who told you
that you were naked?" Question: According to the Bible, who else had talked
to Adam or Eve in the Garden besides God? Answer: the serpent, also called
the devil or Satan (Genesis 3.1, Revelation 12.9). Just as Satan had lied
to Adam and Eve about what would happen if they ate the forbidden fruit,
he also lied to them about the goodness of their God-given nakedness. Adam
and Eve believed Satan when he told them to hide the way God had made them,
and to fear their nakedness (Genesis 3.7,10). They should never have listened
to Satan's lies about their nakedness ... and neither should we!
Because Adam and Eve sinned, humanity fell under what's commonly known
as "the curse." Among other things, Genesis 3 says it would bring "painful
toil" and "thorns and thistles" to mankind's existence. Just before expelling
them from the safety and ease of the Garden, "The LORD God made garments
of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them" (Genesis 3.21). The context
of Genesis 3 makes it very clear that God mercifully clothed mankind out
of physical necessity, not moral necessity. He most certainly didn't clothe
mankind because He agreed with Satan's terrible lies about the nakedness
God Himself had created! Note, too, that God never states here or anywhere
else in the Bible that we must wear clothes all the time. He left when,
where and how to dress (or undress) up to mankind for the most part, and
thus it's been human culture rather than God's decree that has determined
standards of dress and undress throughout history. And so it is today!
Nudists are permitted to be lawfully unclothed in a multitude of areas
designated for that purpose in numerous countries around the world.
"But what about lust?" you might ask. Lust is the same as coveting according
to the Bible (Romans 7.7, KJV). Contrary to what you may have been taught,
clothes do not prevent lust. The story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife in
Genesis 39.6-12 clearly establishes that fact. The Apostle Paul taught
that external man-made rules have no power to "restrain sensual indulgence"
(Colossians 2.20-23). Jesus taught that "nothing that enters a man from
the outside can make him 'unclean'," and in principle that includes what
enters through the eyes. He taught that it's "what comes out of...men's
hearts" that cause things like evil thoughts and sexual immorality (Mark
7.18-23). The practice of chaste social nudism instills into the heart
an attitude that actually helps to control lust and inappropriate
thoughts.
If you're a Christian nudist, then you probably already know most of
what you've read above. If this is your first visit to Fig Leaf Forum's
Web site, welcome! We're glad you found us. We're a large community and
would be pleased to have you join us.
If you're not a Christian nudist, then what you've just read probably
seems pretty strange to you, and perhaps even shocking. That's understandable.
Social nudism is unlike anything most people are familiar with in today's
culture, and for that reason they can only guess at what it must be like
to be unclothed amidst other men, women and children. Christians who are
experienced nudists will assure you quite honestly that family-oriented
nudism truly is a wholesome and beneficial way of living. Chaste social
nudism, like a lot of other good things in life, really does need to be
experienced in order to be fully understood.
If you need more information before making a decision to try social
nudism, Fig Leaf Forum has it for you here. To start with, you can read
a wide range of articles that will hopefully answer most of your Bible
or nudist-related questions. Be sure to also check out the Nudism/Naturism
FAQ. And if you become a subscriber, you'll have free access to much
more material including the entire library of Fig Leaf Forum back issues.
We can even help you get in touch with Christian nudists in your area.
As you can see, there are many good reasons to become a Fig Leaf Forum
subscriber. If you feel God leading you to learn more about this healthy
way of living, or if you've already answered the call and are an active
Christian nudist, please sign up today. It's
free and confidential!
Fig Leaf Forum has done much to reconcile my Christian faith
with the enjoyment I derive from simply being in the nude, both at home
and with others in appropriate social settings. I thank you sincerely for
the insight you have provided in the matter of Christian-based nudism.
I am proud to be a subscriber. (Martin, California)
I love Fig Leaf Forum. It's a connection to intelligent thought about
God and the divine life, and it offers perspectives on how the 'transparent
life' should be lived in that context. I look forward to each issue. I
know it has changed a lot of lives. (John, Nevada)
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Fig Leaf Forum has provided fellowship, edification and encouragement
to Bible-believing Christian nudists and naturists for more than 17 years!
Christian nudism or Christian naturism? Christian nudist or Christian naturist?
What's the difference?
Some believe that nudism and naturism represent two different philosophies
while others (including the editor of this Web site) view the words as
synonymous and use them interchangeably. See the Nudism/Naturism
FAQ for a more detailed explanation.
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