ValleyGal
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2015
- Messages
- 4,202
- Gender
- Female
- Religious Affiliation
- Christian
- Acceptance of the Trinity & Nicene Creed
- Yes
The Bible doesn't explicitly say "don't eat processed foods" or "women should wear a bra" either. Does that mean that we should become processed food gluttons or N-cup 60-year-olds should be braless, nude, and sagging to their pubis in public in the context of today's social standards? I don't think so.
The Bible is not an explicit list of "do" and "don't". Rather, it is a book of principles. Others have already suggested modesty as a principle, and I stand by them, though the OP tried to turn that on its head and say that it's an explicit list of things to be modest about. I say modesty is a principle that applies to everything. Go eat out modestly. Eat processed foods modestly. Wear modest clothes, jewelry. Spend money modestly. Have a modest home, etc.
I also believe in the principle of love. In fact, it is the one moral absolute. All others, including nudity, are fluid or relative. When I think of what love looks like, I think of a few things. Is it loving brothers and sisters in Christ to wander around naked, possibly causing them to lust? Is it loving the sinner to wander around nude possibly showing them that there is no difference between believers and non-believers? Is it loving Jesus to take something sacred (the body you call a "gift") and parade it around as though it's not? My body is sacred and is meant for me and my husband to enjoy, no one else.
Those two principles alone tell me that public nudity is not okay. In addition, I wanted to teach my son that his body is sacred and is not to be taken lightly.
Yes, there are cultures that have been somewhat more accepting of nudity as a matter of necessity or whatever, like those who are very close to the equator and who used to be referred to as "third world" (meaning poor). Since globalization, I believe most of them have switched that up to gladly accept clothes. Why? I personally believe that the fall represents much more than the beginning of a sinful race. I believe it is also about an innate knowing the importance of a spiritual covering as we stand naked before God - naked as in the fact that he sees us in our sin and we are ashamed of it, and we seek a covering. The physical covering is representative of our need for Jesus - the Robe of Righteousness. By covering up, I acknowledge my need for spiritual covering, so I can stand confident and not ashamed before God on Judgement Day.
The Bible is not an explicit list of "do" and "don't". Rather, it is a book of principles. Others have already suggested modesty as a principle, and I stand by them, though the OP tried to turn that on its head and say that it's an explicit list of things to be modest about. I say modesty is a principle that applies to everything. Go eat out modestly. Eat processed foods modestly. Wear modest clothes, jewelry. Spend money modestly. Have a modest home, etc.
I also believe in the principle of love. In fact, it is the one moral absolute. All others, including nudity, are fluid or relative. When I think of what love looks like, I think of a few things. Is it loving brothers and sisters in Christ to wander around naked, possibly causing them to lust? Is it loving the sinner to wander around nude possibly showing them that there is no difference between believers and non-believers? Is it loving Jesus to take something sacred (the body you call a "gift") and parade it around as though it's not? My body is sacred and is meant for me and my husband to enjoy, no one else.
Those two principles alone tell me that public nudity is not okay. In addition, I wanted to teach my son that his body is sacred and is not to be taken lightly.
Yes, there are cultures that have been somewhat more accepting of nudity as a matter of necessity or whatever, like those who are very close to the equator and who used to be referred to as "third world" (meaning poor). Since globalization, I believe most of them have switched that up to gladly accept clothes. Why? I personally believe that the fall represents much more than the beginning of a sinful race. I believe it is also about an innate knowing the importance of a spiritual covering as we stand naked before God - naked as in the fact that he sees us in our sin and we are ashamed of it, and we seek a covering. The physical covering is representative of our need for Jesus - the Robe of Righteousness. By covering up, I acknowledge my need for spiritual covering, so I can stand confident and not ashamed before God on Judgement Day.
