Can Christians go Naked?

[Skwim]

As I remember the story of A & E, I think they were ashamed to see God for what they did and wanted to hide from him, not each other. The shame was their sin against God.

I've yet to read any Bible that said or implied shame was in any way connected to their nakedness. What have you read?

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[Misunderstood]

I've yet to read any Bible that said or implied shame was in any way connected to their nakedness. What have you read?

.

Genesis 3:7-8

7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

I am not sure if I read it or where I remember it from but it is something like this. After eating the fruit they were naked (ashamed) because they disobeyed God. They did not hid from each other, they hid from God when he came to see them. They were so ashamed and afraid for what they did, they hid from God.

It was explained if you do something really bad like disobeying your parents. When confronted, you may feel naked even if you are not. You have a hard time looking at them and just want to hide. It has nothing about being naked, but the fact that your parents can see your soul, and it is dirty from your disobedience.

Anyway, A&E did not want to cover up because they were naked. But their soul was naked and dirty and they did not want God to see it. Covering up their bodies may have helped, but God could still see them as imperfect.

 

[dianaiad]

Dear Bronwyn,

"My husband and I enjoy being nude in a controlled non-sexual environment, (swimming nude, visiting nude, sharing a meal nude, walking on wooded trails nude.) This is not something we share with our Christian friends and church members, since it seems that when people think of adults being in a social group nude, they assume that it is sexually oriented. That assumption is not always true, as my husband and I can attest.

My question is this: Must we give up our occasional nude lifestyle if we are members of a church and participate in church activities? Is it biblically based sinning? We have studied and searched the bible for an answer. Culturally this would not be acceptable however, my question is, are we sinning in the eyes of God?

– Bare Necessities"
source

​

So, must Bare Necessities give up their occasional nude lifestyle if they are members of a church and participate in church activities?
AND is such a lifestyle Biblically based sinning? Are they sinning in the eyes of God?

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​

I only have one word for this couple:

mosquitoes.

 

[Skwim]

Genesis 3:7-8

7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

And still not a thing about shame.

I am not sure if I read it or where I remember it from but it is something like this. After eating the fruit they were naked (ashamed) because they disobeyed God. They did not hid from each other, they hid from God when he came to see them. They were so ashamed and afraid for what they did, they hid from God.

Now if one sees being naked as a metaphor for being ashamed for what they did, it still doesn't mean that being physically naked is shameful.

It was explained if you do something really bad like disobeying your parents. When confronted, you may feel naked even if you are not. You have a hard time looking at them and just want to hide. It has nothing about being naked, but the fact that your parents can see your soul, and it is dirty from your disobedience.

Right.

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[Skwim]

I only have one word for this couple:
mosquitoes.

Yup, although not all parts of the USA have mosquitoes.

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[Misunderstood]

Right.

We are in agreement aren't we. I do not feel nudity is wrong, as long as it is done appropriately, it is the things we do that causes us shame.

That is what you are getting from what I am saying, Right?

 

[dianaiad]

Yup, although not all parts of the USA have mosquitoes.

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True.

the parts that don't, however, have fire ants, Joshua trees, scorpions and/or cacti.

No matter what, it's always something. There is a REASON humanity invented clothes.

I have never looked at nudists...well, come to think of it, I've never looked at nudists, period...but I've especially never looked at them with any sort of judgmental "ooh, look at the sinners!" eye. I've 'skinny-dipped' a time or two, in private and when there was a big fluffy towel/robe waiting for me at the edge of the pool....way back when being surprised in my all together wouldn't cause heartburn in the onlooker.

I have, however, considered nudists as being rather, er....impractical. As in, good grief, that's dumb. (shrug)

But then, I do live in an area where all the plants defend themselves with very sharp things, and if I were to go 'sky clad,' I'd have to invest in an a vat of SPF 2000 sun screen.

 

[Skwim]

We are in agreement aren't we. I do not feel nudity is wrong, as long as it is done appropriately, it is the things we do that causes us shame.

That is what you are getting from what I am saying, Right?

Right.

.

 

[Skwim]

True.

the parts that don't, however, have fire ants, Joshua trees, scorpions and/or cacti.

Actually, the upper North West has none of these.

No matter what, it's always something. There is a REASON humanity invented clothes.

And obviously when some people find them superfluous they shed 'em.

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[dianaiad]

Actually, the upper North West has none of these.


And obviously when some people find them superfluous they shed 'em.

.

'upper north west?" Of WHAT?

I grew up in Idaho, sir, and 'mosquito' was the state bird.

I also understand that the moose in Alaska actually go into the ocean for most of the day to escape the mosquito clouds.

....and I've never heard that the state of Washington was free of the little critters.

(grin)

What I DO know is that if Seattle and environs is mosquito free, it's ALSO cold and rainy!

However, I have no problem with nudists doing whatever they want wherever they want. They just need to put a towel on the chairs before they sit on my furniture.

 

[Skwim]

'upper north west?" Of WHAT?

Such as the upper peninsula of Washington state.

What I DO know is that if Seattle and environs is mosquito free, it's ALSO cold and rainy!

When I lived there it wasn't particularly rainy at all, (Ave, annual rainfall: 34.1"* and not really cold. Ave. January low is 36 degrees) More annoying was Seattle's mist and fog. Now Minneapolis in the winter; that's C O L D! (Ave. January low is 8 degrees. Ave. annual rain fall: 30.64" )

* Other average annual rainfalls for comparison

Chicago: 39.04"
Pittsburgh: 34.8"
New York: 46.23"
Washington D.C.: 40.78"

.​

 

[dianaiad]

Such as the upper peninsula of Washington state.

When I lived there it wasn't particularly rainy at all, (Ave, annual rainfall: 34.1"* and not really cold. Ave. January low is 36 degrees) More annoying was Seattle's mist and fog. Now Minneapolis in the winter; that's C O L D! (Ave. January low is 8 degrees. Ave. annual rain fall: 30.64" )

* Other average annual rainfalls for comparison

Chicago: 39.04"
Pittsburgh: 34.8"
New York: 46.23"
Washington D.C.: 40.78"

.​

Uhmn....

I live in an area that gets an average of 7 inches of rain a year, if we aren't having a drought...and we are usually having a drought. (grin)

then again, not a whole lot of mosquitoes hereabouts.

Still wouldn't be a nudist around here. Dumb idea. Sunburn. Skin cancer.

None of my objections to nudism have anything to do with sin, though. Just....practicality.

 

[Serenity7855]

There is a fundamental problem with your scenario. The consequences dictate that It is not acceptable for you to run around naked together, and to be honest, you are, probably without realising it, trying to justify your actions by saying that it has no “sexual connotations”. Of course, it does. Those feelings of being sexually aroused that you feel for your husband should always be bubbling to the surface of your carnal needs and desires. I am 63 and my wife is 64, I cannot look upon her nakedness without the thought that I felt for her when I married her 45 years ago eagerly returning. Heck, just by posting it on this forum is a way to try and justify it by hoping that there are posters here who will sympathies with you making you feel better about what you are doing. Another indicator is that you do not tell your Christian friends what you are doing, if you are comfortable about it then why not tell them. But Hey, all of that fades into insignificance when you consider the potential results of being seen momentarily naked together by the wrong person, whether intentionally or unintended. A rapist, pedophilia or sex predator. It is not the threat against you that is a concern as you must be responsible for the potential consequence of your actions. No, it is the threat against those who are accosted and sexually molested against their will after the sexual deviant spent an afternoon watching you and your husband freely displaying organs that are primarily used for sexual gratification whilst having a weekend BBQ. There can be no genuine excuse of that never happening. It is happening every day as a direct result of our inabilities to act responsibly by not taking the remotest of chances. All that is required of us is to live a Christ Centered life. If you can see Jesus walking with His 12 Disciples, all naked, then you have good powers of persuasion and walk blameless in this world. When you stand at the judgment bar, where you will be your own judge and witness, you will see that if Adam and Eve very quickly realized their nakedness and hid themselves then it might be a pointer for you. Have you prayed about it?

 

[Skwim]

There is a fundamental problem with your scenario. The consequences dictate that It is not acceptable for you to run around naked together, and to be honest, you are, probably without realising it, trying to justify your actions by saying that it has no “sexual connotations”. Of course, it does. Those feelings of being sexually aroused that you feel for your husband should always be bubbling to the surface of your carnal needs and desires. I am 63 and my wife is 64, I cannot look upon her nakedness without the thought that I felt for her when I married her 45 years ago eagerly returning. Heck, just by posting it on this forum is a way to try and justify it by hoping that there are posters here who will sympathies with you making you feel better about what you are doing. Another indicator is that you do not tell your Christian friends what you are doing, if you are comfortable about it then why not tell them. But Hey, all of that fades into insignificance when you consider the potential results of being seen momentarily naked together by the wrong person, whether intentionally or unintended. A rapist, pedophilia or sex predator. It is not the threat against you that is a concern as you must be responsible for the potential consequence of your actions. No, it is the threat against those who are accosted and sexually molested against their will after the sexual deviant spent an afternoon watching you and your husband freely displaying organs that are primarily used for sexual gratification whilst having a weekend BBQ. There can be no genuine excuse of that never happening. It is happening every day as a direct result of our inabilities to act responsibly by not taking the remotest of chances. All that is required of us is to live a Christ Centered life. If you can see Jesus walking with His 12 Disciples, all naked, then you have good powers of persuasion and walk blameless in this world. When you stand at the judgment bar, where you will be your own judge and witness, you will see that if Adam and Eve very quickly realized their nakedness and hid themselves then it might be a pointer for you. Have you prayed about it?

It would help if we could be sure of who you are talking to.


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[Frank Van Den Bossche]

Dear Bronwyn,

"My husband and I enjoy being nude in a controlled non-sexual environment, (swimming nude, visiting nude, sharing a meal nude, walking on wooded trails nude.) This is not something we share with our Christian friends and church members, since it seems that when people think of adults being in a social group nude, they assume that it is sexually oriented. That assumption is not always true, as my husband and I can attest.

My question is this: Must we give up our occasional nude lifestyle if we are members of a church and participate in church activities? Is it biblically based sinning? We have studied and searched the bible for an answer. Culturally this would not be acceptable however, my question is, are we sinning in the eyes of God?

– Bare Necessities"
source

​

So, must Bare Necessities give up their occasional nude lifestyle if they are members of a church and participate in church activities?
AND is such a lifestyle Biblically based sinning? Are they sinning in the eyes of God?

.

​

There was a woman in a small town in Texas doing Xtian pole dancing...if she can do pole dancing and be OK as a Xtian so can you

 

[Serenity7855]

There was a woman in a small town in Texas doing Xtian pole dancing...if she can do pole dancing and be OK as a Xtian so can you

You must be aware that is a pretty weak analogy. If you had said that Christ was pole dancing then His example must be emulated, however, a random person in Texas is a poor example to use on all so many levels.

Do you think that God will compliment her on her pole dancing skills on judgement day? A dance used for sexual arousal and very often leads to sinful promisquity.

Christian's, like everyone else, can do what ever they choose to do, however, the consequences of their actions are for God to decide. It is not for me to judge you as I too walk imperfectly, however, it is my duty to warn and expound you of what I believe is true. My advice to you is to put your cloths back on and cover your nakedness then repent, to the most high God, for your transgressions, never again to expose your nakedness.

Genesis 9:23
Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father's nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father's nakedness.

Can I please mention that you are taking the Christ out of Christianity and replacing it with a cross. I am certain that it is disrespectful to deity and urge you to stay on the side of caution. Your choice, however, I am just concerned about you.

 

[Frank Van Den Bossche]

You must be aware that is a pretty weak analogy. If you had said that Christ was pole dancing then His example must be emulated, however, a random person in Texas is a poor example to use on all so many levels.

Do you think that God will compliment her on her pole dancing skills on judgement day? A dance used for sexual arousal and very often leads to sinful promisquity.

Christian's, like everyone else, can do what ever they choose to do, however, the consequences of their actions are for God to decide. It is not for me to judge you as I too walk imperfectly, however, it is my duty to warn and expound you of what I believe is true. My advice to you is to put your cloths back on and cover your nakedness then repent, to the most high God, for your transgressions, never again to expose your nakedness.

Genesis 9:23
Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father's nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father's nakedness.

Can I please mention that you are taking the Christ out of Christianity and replacing it with a cross. I am certain that it is disrespectful to deity and urge you to stay on the side of caution. Your choice, however, I am just concerned about you.

My analogy maybe weak, but your reasoning is anything but sensible, not all Xtians emulate Jesus and many Xtians do certains things even if Jesus never did them according to the biblical narrative. Jesus never appointed bishops, yet Catholics, Anglicans and Lutherans do, Jesus never asked his followers to kill those who did not share their beliefs, yet Xtians were killing non-Xtians, and even each other for centuries during the Crusades an the religious wars of Europe after the Reformation, Jesus never tried to interfere with the Roman rulers of Judea yet Xtians historically have allied themselves with political systems and political organizations and have tried to influence governments. Jesus never abused minors yet clergy have been doing it for years. Jesus never paid for sexual favors, yet Jimmy Swaggart and many other Xtian preachers have done it. Jesus never scammed people yet TV evangelists still do it. Do you want more examples ? ... so much for strong reasoning on your side

 

[Valjean]

Genesis 3:7-8

7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

I am not sure if I read it or where I remember it from but it is something like this. After eating the fruit they were naked (ashamed) because they disobeyed God. They did not hid from each other, they hid from God when he came to see them. They were so ashamed and afraid for what they did, they hid from God.

It was explained if you do something really bad like disobeying your parents. When confronted, you may feel naked even if you are not. You have a hard time looking at them and just want to hide. It has nothing about being naked, but the fact that your parents can see your soul, and it is dirty from your disobedience.

Anyway, A&E did not want to cover up because they were naked. But their soul was naked and dirty and they did not want God to see it. Covering up their bodies may have helped, but God could still see them as imperfect.

They covered up cause they were ashamed of their nakedness. They hid from God cause they were ashamed of their sin.
You're ignoring verse 7.

 

[Skwim]

They covered up cause they were ashamed of their nakedness. They hid from God cause they were ashamed of their sin.
You're ignoring verse 7.

Actually, the verse doesn't mention shame at all.

Gen 3:7 (KJV)
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
​

For all we know they could have covered up because of embarrassment, or shyness, or inhibition.

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[Valjean]

Same same

Two different events. Two different motivations.