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FREE! TAKE ONE! Biblical "Nakedness" includes both nudity and inadequate coverage. The Bible is not as dumb, (silent), on this subject as some pretend it to be. Unacceptable bodily coverage is illustrated clearly in Genesis 3:7,10, and 21. In verse 5, Satan tells Adam and Eve, "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Sure enough – the day that they ate of it their "eyes were opened, and they knew that they were naked;" (verse 7). Adam and Eve felt the shame of their nakedness "and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings." Even at that, they did not feel adequately clothed to stand before God - "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." 11And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" The coverings, which they had made for themselves, were not adequate as far as they were concerned, for in their own eyes they were "still" naked. We also learn from verse 21 that their clothing was not adequate in the sight of God either. "21Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them." The clothing that God made Adam and his wife is here called a "tunic." – "A sleeved garment reaching from the top of the shoulders, down over the thighs, to the knees (Gesenius, 460; Harris, I:459; BDB, 509)." Note that God wanted Adam and Eve to be covered; He approved their sense of shame. It is always a sign of degeneration when a people reverse this and go back to nakedness or inadequate covering. In the New Testament, (John 21:7), we read of Peter, being ashamed of his "nakedness" – "Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea." The fisher’s coat was probably hot, and a hindrance to his fishing and swimming – thus he did not have it own. This does not indicate that Peter was "completely nude," for surely, being in the presence of men, had stripped down to his undergarments. When he realized that the Lord was coming he felt indecent to the point of shame. He felt naked – indecent. Any clothing that does not cover the body adequately is indecent clothing. Under garments are considered indecent clothing as far as public viewing is concerned, just as fig leaves that covered only the most private parts of the human anatomy were considered indecent. "Modest apparel" has always been God’s standard, (1 Tim. 2:9), and he still requires that his people dress modestly, with shamefacedness. –(aidwv aidos – "a sense of shame or honor, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect"). Lasciviousness is the opposite of modesty, shamefacedness and sobriety, and is an evident sin that lives quite actively in the hearts of many today. Even among those who claim to be members of the Lord’s church. Some ought to be ashamed of what they wear, but quite clearly many are not. In fact, they are bent on showing off their skin, and proud to do so, and how dare anyone say anything about it! If you are offended, (caused to think things you ought not), because of their clothing, or lack of it, how dare you mention it – "and offend them," (hurt their feelings). Which is more important – hurt feelings or sin? Coverage from the top of the shoulders, down over the midsection of the body, down over the thighs, to the knees, we know is modest, adequate, acceptable clothing in the sight of God. If another lust "after you in their heart" while you are modestly dressed, and carrying yourself appropriately, it is then wholly their fault. BUT, if you are NOT dressed modestly, and carry yourself immodestly, you are partially to blame, and have become a stumbling block. Of course those who are lascivious, and proud of heart don’t care. Five ways people can be immodest:
Why do people (even Christians) dress immodestly? One reason is that the general looseness of our society, having come through the sexual revolution, has impacted our dress, causing it to become more seductive, and revealing. This has also had a severe impact on Christians. Many just want to be stylish. Some are bold, daring, wanting to be seductive. Peer pressure has played a large part in immodesty, especially among our young people. The problem is getting worse! More and more young people are walking around BIBLICALLY NAKED. A lack of knowledge is another possibility – there is little or no public, private study, or parental teaching, and therefore maybe some don’t realize that they are naked, (Rev. 3:17), even though they should. Some are simply careless – they just don't stop and think. All of these reasons are unacceptable and inadequate in the sight of God. Those who "Fear God," strive to please God – Do YOU? Are you keeping yourself "unspotted from the world?" (James 1:27) |