Is It Acceptable for Christians to Join Naturist Communities?
He leads me …
Because the general public often associate nudity with sex, many Christian groups and denominations are not supportive of naturism and nudism. This is because they feel that the temptation to lust is too difficult.
Christian naturists counter this saying that Christians are able to avoid lust where there is sex free nudity and that this is completely scriptural. Furthermore, they believe Christ has given them the power to avoid sin.
Misty Katz, part owner of Nature’s Resort in Texas, finds comfort when she is not wearing clothes. As a little girl she was punished by her parents for undressing in public when her clothes got dirty, but she was not affected by this permanently. Over 50 years later, she runs a nudist (or naturist) resort and does not worry about dirty clothes anymore.
And for all the time that she has been a nudist, Katz has also been a Christian.
Even if public nudity is rarely endorsed by churches, to Katz, both are compatible. ‘Believe it or not, we are quite modest,’ Katz says. ‘Modesty doesn’t mean you have to cover everything up.’ As she points out, they are not wearing any clothes in order to attract attention.
Both Misty Katz and Cherie Lidbury who runs Marche Nude Stay in New South Wales have similar views. They agree that naturists have accepted their bodies and other people’s bodies as they are. Cherie says, ‘You don’t notice people’s bits and pieces, you don’t notice whether they have big boobs or little boobs or are overweight, none of that matters.’
‘All our bodies have a history to them, we have scars, you’ve had a caesarean, or you’ve put on weight, or you’ve lost weight, you soon realise that there is every shape and size out there that you can possibly imagine. Some women have had mastectomies, but no one pays any attention to that.’[1]
In any place where true naturism is practiced, sexual activity, exhibitionism and voyeurism are strictly prohibited, resulting in the offender being immediately expelled from the grounds and forbidden to return.
From a Christian point of view this is quite biblical. Compare the follow verses with the naturist requirements above, and it can be seen that they basically agree.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5 NIV)
Do not let sexual sin, impurity of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints. Obscene, flippant, or vulgar talk is totally inappropriate. Instead, let there be thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:3-4 ISV)
If there is anything happening in the community that might be questionable, the Christians can just go back to basic principles to see if the action meets acceptable standards. In each case there is a scriptural backing.
1. Their motives must be pure (1 Chronicles 28:9, Proverbs 16:2, 21:2, Hebrews 4:12-13).
2. Their activities must be -
a) honourable and glorifying to God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 10:31, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7)
b) loving and respectful of others (Romans 14:12-15:1, 1 Corinthians 8:9)
c) legal (Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:11-16)[2]
Historically, to try and avoid any chances of offensive behaviour, most naturist clubs and resorts refused entry to men who were not accompanied by women, and these restrictions remain in many places.
In most clubs it is forbidden to photograph adults without their permission, or children other than the photographer’s own.
According to a lot of US naturists, nudist camps are much cleaner, friendlier, better kept, and healthier environments than most public swimming pools and parks.
Biblical references
As Christians it is important to read what the Bible says in context. There are quite a few references to nudity in the Bible, but not all endorse general nudity as we might first think -
· 1 Samuel 19:24 ‘He (Saul) stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel's presence.’ Most biblical commentators agree that the robes or armour were stripped off, but not the undergarment.
· The same applies to 2 Samuel 6:12-23 14 ‘And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.’ He was not naked as some suggest.
· In 2 Samuel 11 we read that from the roof of his palace, King David saw Bathsheba - a married woman - bathing. The result was a case of two people sexually lusting after each other.
References to nudity also occur in Isaiah 20:2–4; Micah 1:8a; Matthew 6:25 and Luke 12:22–23; (this is God’s provision), Matthew 24:18; Mark 14:51–52; (Going naked enabled the young man to escape), Acts 14:14; ( Their reaction was an act of horror and revulsion), 2 Corinthians 5:1–4; (this had nothing to do with being naked in acceptable settings).
The Bible never describes human nudity as being shameful or sinful –
1. Mankind was created ‘in the image of God’ (Genesis 1:27), ‘naked and unashamed’ (Genesis 2:25).
2. After they sinned, Adam and Eve covered themselves out of fear, not shame (Genesis 3:10). God mercifully clothed them out of their physical need, not their moral need (Genesis 3:17-19, 23-24).
3. Except where forbidden in formal worship by specific religious or cultural rules (Exodus 20:26, 28:42-43, 1 Corinthians 11:5-6), there are no biblical restrictions for nakedness.
4. The act of ‘clothing the naked’ found in both the Old and New Testaments refers to the supplying of physical needs, not moral needs (Isaiah 58:7, Ezekiel 18:7, 18:16, Job 31:19-20, Matthew 25:36-43, James 2:15-16).[3]
So why be a Christian naturist? One response was ‘Connection. Connection to God. Connection to self. Connection to others. Connection to creation.
Hopefully this blog will clarify whether it is acceptable for Christians to be naturists.
Dear Reader – If you have found some value in this blog, please feel free to send a copy on to your family and friends. Kind regards, John
[1] Why I love being nude": the health benefits of being a nudist, Alison Stephenson, bodyandsoul.com.au;
[2] The Bible, Nakedness And The Christian Nudist, Fig Leaf Forum;
https://figleafforum.com/articles_bible_nakedness.html
[3] The Bible, Nakedness And The Christian Nudist, Fig Leaf Forum;
