Originally posted in Rabyd Theologian 2.0 on December 6, 2009
Here in North America one thing is becoming clear — skin is becoming more and more common. Christians still have to live and minister in this world, but it is becoming more clear that as we do we are going to see more public nudity and it is going to become more prevalent. The questions are course of action ones. We have one state that already has topless laws that allow women to be topless in the same places men can be and several others that have laws that allow these things in certain situations. I predict it is only the beginning.
The traditional ‘conservative’ position is one of isolation and an attempt at stopping the skin from showing as much as possible through political action. With the prevailing wind being that the church is supposed to stand for ‘traditional morality’ including women and men keeping their clothes on, it becomes difficult to kind of stand against that wind but here I go.
1) To be blunt, there is no Biblical support to the idea that nakedness, in and of itself is evil or sinful, and if we are going to maintain credibility we need to acknowledge this. The fact is our views on nudity, toplessness and other related issues reflect more of a holiness movement cultural mentality than an honest Biblical assessment.
2) I see this issue being used more as another reason to isolate ourselves from people who need the gospel. The nude beach sign above is humorous in its own way but there are real ones in certain states that warn of areas where nude sunbathers might be. On the streets and everywhere else in New York State, in any place a man can go without a shirt so can a woman. In many places, people are not a squeamish about showing their bodies to public consumption. The church’s reaction has been one of hiding and avoiding or trying to reverse political decisions on enact moral legislation.
Looking at the book of Acts, I do not see the apostles doing this. As Paul ministered in Corinth he would have been greeted with sexual perversion on a grand scale. Nudity was in abundance in Corinth. I find it telling that Paul does not start a petition with the government to get it stopped. He does not stay away from areas where the temple prostitutes are showing themselves and their services. He does not lead a moral crusade against the nude temple statues and mosaics depicting nudity. He does none of that — he ministers right in the middle of it all. He simply preaches the gospel and disciples those who believe. Even when the church is established his focus is the ethics and morality of the church — not those outside of it. It is almost as if he expects sinners to sin — imagine that.
I think the American church’s failure in this country continues to be compounded because we act as America’s moral police rather than engaging the message of Christ. When we do pop out of our holes we seem to call down curses from our ivory towers and then disappear back into our holes. So much for compassion for the lost — we continue to want to meet the sinner on our terms instead of his or hers. To do this may require us to walk down the streets of cities where women are walking around topless, go to nude beaches and visit places where nudity is present. Why? Because it may be our only opportunity to minister to some people. If we do not get over our judgemental attitude and our continued blaming of society, we cannot see such people as people and minister to them.
3) The current ‘conservative’ position fails to understand the nature of the lust problem in this country is not the prevalence of nude images. Nude images are the result of an already existing lust in people. The fact is there is a current philosophy among many church folks that in order to stop sin is to eliminate external temptation but this does not take James 1:13-15 into account. Temptation comes from our own flesh. It does not come from externals it comes from our heart. Why then do we think we will rid the world of evil by getting rid of externals – eliminating pornography and making women cover up will no more get rid of lust than standing on your head. The Pharisees we concerned with externals and look how much good it did them. Unfortunately, the current American church is much like them.
Next: The Church and Nudity – A Prediction
All Things Rabyd 
You made an important point about Paul ministering within the culture, not apart from it. He ministered to people where and when he found them, not in some “ministry-center”(church). He had Timothy circumcised, because he knew that Timothy wouldn’t always be able to “keep his pants on”.
As I recall, there is mention in Acts of Paul ministering to people at a river, which was probably where people went to wash their bodies and wash their clothes. When a “Bible-study” broke out, Paul joined right in, even if everyone was naked as the day they were born. How many people did Paul witness to in one of the Roman bath-houses? How many time did Paul shed his clothes to witness and teach in a Greek gymnasium, since they were the centers for both physical fitness and learning? Paul was a part of the culture, not apart from it.
Unfortunately the church is more interested in getting naked people clothed than in ministering to their spiritual needs. How many pastors would take up the “Isaiah-challenge” in order to minister to nudists? We are fortunate that there is a growing cadre of Christian nudists with a heart for reaching the lost in the nudist community, but our numbers are still woefully lacking. For every church we start in a nudist resort, we still need fifty more. The church will never be able to evangelize nudists until the church can divorce getting dressed from getting saved, and start preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, rather than the false-gospel of false-modesty.
I am part of Christian Nudists Convocation, an organization whose goals are to establish churches and minister to those in nudist resorts. We covet your prayers as we work to extend God’s kingdom among the nudist community.
In Christ,
Steve
Prayers for you are always given on my end. I hear all the time leaders telling us to minister in the culture but when you get specific there are still places they say Christians should not go. This is unfortunate and hypocritical but nothing new there.
Blessings and Cheers!