Many have misconceived biblical direction that God judges the heart, not the appearance. They say this approves wearing any clothes to public places even if it exposes one’s nudity. Nudity is failing to cover the nakedness of one’s body. It could be absolute or partial nudity. Undoubtedly, its common purpose is to arouse or solicit direct or indirect inordinate sexual desire, patronage, attraction or attention.
Our right to choose
Enacted laws may permit forms of nudity, or sexual immorality. Christian principles differ in prescription and require that perceived liberty must be exercised in accordance with God’s word. In 1 Corinthians 10:23 Apostle Paul writes that, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” A Christian must always consider if his or her conduct, including appearance or dressing under a presumed right edifies God.
Today, we are insensitive to what harm may befall our neighbours resulting from our appearances, or gestures. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Do we expose our nudity to the glory of God? Romans 15:1-3 say, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”
By the bait of provocative clothes, we sadly joined the world to entice our weaker brethren to commit sin of lust. 1 Corinthians 8:12 says that, “But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weaker conscience, ye sin against Christ.” Apostle Paul selflessly had to forgo his perceived rights in order to bear up the weak. 1 Corinthians 9: 22-23 say, “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak; I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.”
A relationship with Jesus Christ should lead us away from worldly pleasures, craze or fashion. Forms of nudity include our clothes, if they fully or partially expose our bodies and thereby elicit lustful enticement, or inordinate sexual cravings or perverts. Galatians 4:9 says, “But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”
Godly appearance
God desires that we should be properly clothed. This is why He clothed Adam and Eve with coats of skins in Genesis 3:21 after they realized their nudity. God found that their aprons made of fig leaves were not adequate in Genesis 3:7. Christians so called, without any sense of shame, or respect for God, blatantly display their nudity in several forms under the foolish façade of fashion even in God’s house. James 4:17 says, “Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
In Genesis 9:24-25 Noah cursed his younger son Ham because he looked at his nakedness. Noah however blessed Shem and Japheth because they covered his nakedness without looking at him. We stand accursed if we patronize such displays of unbridled nudity. Equally, woe also unto those whose clothes and appearance irresistibly elicit vociferous appetite for sexual enticement or desires.
God has prescribed a dress code for his people in Exodus 28:42, “And thou shalt make them linin breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach.” God did not recommend or approve of any form of nudity. Clothes are not meant for any form of nudity.
Biblical meaning of nudity
Revelation 3:17, God perceives nakedness in the categories of wretched, miserable, poor and blind life. It is described as a shameful act in verse 18. In Revelation 16:15, it is not a garment of God. In Revelation 17:16, it is characteristic of a whore, desolation, and hell fire. In Leviticus 18:6, it is forbidden. Leviticus 20:10-21 prescribes punishments for broad sexual immorality including lust.
Matthew 5:27-28 say, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, that whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 18:6; Mark 9:2 say, woe unto anyone who causes one of the little ones who believe in God to sin. Provocative clothes invite sin of lust.
God’s preference
Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 4:22-24 that, “Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
1 John 2:16 says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” It is blasphemous to say with conscience that enticement for lust or its patronage is of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Finally, Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap.” We must not mock God with our inferior wisdom.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we repent and renounce any association with the spirit of lust of this world. Help us that the truth of your word might be preserved in our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit through your precious blood. In your precious name I pray. AMEN!!!
