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Q: What does the bible say about nudity? I know of people who live
in nudists camps, and I think it is wrong. To me, nudity should
be private, between a husband and wife, not something you share with
everyone. Please e-mail me and tell me what the bible says, am I right
or wrong?
A: Thank
you for writing. I must admit that I was originally taken back that anyone
would need to ask this question. However, I suppose one of the signs
of the times is that people just do not know many of the principles of
right and wrong any more. I will give some thoughts on the subject.
You are certainly correct that living in a nudist camp is absolutely
wrong. But in order to stay close to the biblical terms, instead of nudity,
I will use the Bible word nakedness. It is true that Adam and Eve
went without clothes when they were created. However, they were at this
time in a state of innocence. Though they were intelligent creatures,
they had no more sense of right and wrong than a baby does today. However,
as soon as sin entered the world, they were ashamed of their nakedness
and sought to cover themselves. From that time until now, God has treated
nakedness outside of marriage as a shameful thing.
Several actions concerning nakedness (outside marriage where the bed
is undefiled - Hebrews 13:4) are condemned in the Bible:
-
It is a shame and wrong to uncover your nakedness to others.
The priests were warned to wear undergarments so that their nakedness
would not be discovered when they went up the steps to the altar in their
robes. Their undergarments (linen breeches) were to cover from their
loins (waist) to their thighs (Exodus 28:42).
When the children of Israel made and worshipped the golden calf, Aaron "made
them naked unto their shame" (Exodus 32:25).
Isaiah 47:3 speaks of the shame of having your
nakedness uncovered.
-
It is a sin to uncover the nakedness of another. This is seen
as leading to other sins (see Leviticus 18:6-18).
-
It is wrong to look on the nakedness of others. Ham's son was
cursed because Ham saw the nakedness of his father and went and talked
about it (Genesis 9:22-23). Habakkuk 2:15
speaks of the wickedness of those who get someone drunk in order to "look
on their nakedness."
One important point I need to make concerns the biblical definition of
nakedness. We sometimes get the idea that nakedness refers only to having
no clothing at all. However, this is neither true in the Bible nor in
the English dictionary. One of the definitions for "naked" in
my English dictionary is "without conventional or usual clothing." Many
people do not know that the Bible often calls improper covering of the
body nakedness. Most often it refers to the wearing of undergarments
in public. This explains the nakedness of Saul (1Samuel
19:24), of David (2Samuel 6:14,
20; 1Chronicles
15:27), of Isaiah (Isaiah 20:2-4), and of Peter (John 21:7). It is
interesting that Peter did not want Jesus to see
him naked.
We understand this definition in practice as well. If a person had no
clothing except for a 6-inch square piece of cloth taped to the middle
of their back, we would still consider them to be naked. The Bible teaches
that improperly covered bodies are still naked. This is interesting in
an age when many outer garments do not cover as much as undergarments
did a short time ago.
We do not and cannot have the innocence of children. Therefore, we are
not to run around in our nakedness. To do so is shameful and to look
on the nakedness of others is sinful. Certainly, in working with young
children and in working with the sick and elderly, there are times when
caretakers will see their nakedness and there is nothing wicked in this
(though proper respect should be given and the eyes should be averted
when possible). God also makes an exception for a husband and wife. In
fact, this is part of the significance of them being made one flesh.
However, to purposely uncover our bodies for others to see or to gaze
upon the nakedness of others to satisfy our own prurient interest are
both sins in the Bible. This rules out any sort of nudist camp and many
other things that are practiced today. I hope this helps.
Till He comes,
Pastor David Reagan