The Bible, Nakedness And The Christian Nudist
The Bible never describes human
nakedness as being inherently shameful or inherently sinful.
1. Mankind was created "in
the image of God" (Genesis 1.27), "naked and unashamed" (Genesis 2.25).
2. After they sinned, mankind
covered themselves out of fear, not shame (Genesis 3.10). God mercifully
clothed mankind out of physical necessity, not moral necessity (Genesis
3.17-19, 23-24).
3. Except where forbidden
in formal worship by specific religious or cultural conventions (examples:
Exodus 20.26, 28.42-43, 1 Corinthians 11.5-6), there are no Biblical prohibitions
of nakedness.
4. Wherever shame is associated
with nakedness in the Bible, it is: a. shame due to sinful conduct found
in conjunction with nakedness (examples: Genesis 9.20-25, Jeremiah 13.26,
Ezekiel 23.29-30, Nahum 3.5-6, Habakkuk 2.15-16); b. shame due to status
as vanquished people (examples: Isaiah 20.4, 47.3, Micah 1.11); c. figuratively,
shame due to spiritual deficiency (examples: Revelation 3.17-18, 16.15).
5. The act of "clothing the
naked" spoken about in both the Old and New Testaments refers to the provision
of physical needs, not moral needs (examples: Isaiah 58.7, Ezekiel 18.7,
18.16, Job 31.19, Matthew 25.36-43, James 2.15-16).
6. Though physical clothing
is regarded as a moral necessity in our worldly society, such is not taught
by the Bible. By contrast, the Bible teaches the ineffectuality of external
prohibitions based on "human commands and teachings" in controlling sinful
desires (Colossians 2.20-23). It instructs the redeemed to "clothe yourselves
with the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13.14, Galatians 3.26-27). Holy conduct
results from the internal work of the Holy Spirit, not external rules (John
14.16-17, Galatians 5.22-24, Hebrews 8.10).
Christians who choose to
be naked in the presence of others must do so appropriately.
1. Their motives must be
pure (1 Chronicles 28.9, Proverbs 16.2, 21.2, Hebrews 4.12-13).
2. Their activities must
be honorable and glorifying to God (1 Corinthians 6.19-20, 10.31, 1 Thessalonians
4.3-7); loving and respectful of others (Romans 14.12-15.1, 1 Corinthians
8.9); and legal (Romans 13.1-7, 1 Peter 2.11-16)
This article appears in every issue of Fig Leaf Forum and was compiled by the editor.
This Web site is printer-friendly.
