This question was asked me, not to very long ago. Can a Christian be a naturalist?

I almost don’t want to go into this. It can be a touchy subject, but I also think as Christians living in this world, it is a good question and it should be explored and finding out what the Bible teaches us about nudity.

The first thing we need to answer or understand, just what or how do we define a “Naturalist”.  Through research, the word Naturalist or Naturism comes from being part of “being in nature”. According to the dictionary, ism or ist, is suffix of a noun meaning to be in practice or expert of. We can then define the word Naturalist or Naturism, as some who practices being in nature. It really says nothing about being naked in nature, but we often or always connect being in nature as being “bare or naked”. Under the definition of naturism/naturalist, I think you can see how we have put nudity into the definition, even though technically it’s not there.

Now that we know, that the world sees naturism/naturalist as a person(s) practicing nudism in nature, we can dive in to find out what God tells us about nudity and when or how it can become sin. We have to find out on how naturists believe or practice first before answering the main question.

It didn’t take much search on the web to find find out about naturist. There are tons of articles and many different views points. But the one main theme I kept reading is, Naturism or the naturist, overwhelmingly persist that living a nude life, or a person with out clothes has nothing to do with sex or having sex. The reason I brought this up, was because our minds automatically put nudity and sex together as one idea or one thought, it’s not always right, but that is how our American culture and how most of us were taught growing up. At least in in my house, growing up. On the very rare occasion that nudity was ever brought up, it always had to do with sexuality or the practice of sex. I was always taught that nudity was something to be ashamed of unless you were taking a shower or you were married. However, looking in God’s word, that way of thinking, doesn’t quite line up to God’s teaching. Naturalist, believe that, being one with nature, you are naked in body in tune with nature around you. They also believe, you can be with others that are naked and in tuned with nature. They also say that being naked in tune with nature, has nothing to do with the sexual side of being naked, that even though these two side coexist together, they are separate and sex is not thought of.

So what does God say about nudity in the Bible?

There are 45 scriptures on nakedness in the Bible. I won’t mention them all, but I will touch on some of them.  In Job 1:21 and Ecclesiastes 5:15 it mentions coming from the mother’s womb naked and returning to death naked. In Ezekiel chapters 16, 18, and 23, talks about being naked was being poor, oppressed and distasteful. Genesis 3:7, when Adam and Eves eyes were open to nakedness, they covered themselves with fig leafs. Genesis 3:10 continues that Adam hid from God because he was naked. Isaiah 20, Isaiah had walked barefoot and naked for 3 years. Isaiah 58:7, when you see a person naked, cover them. In the New testament, Matthew 25, giving strangers clothing to cover up nakedness. Micah 1, Having shame in being naked and Revelation 16:15 wearing garments to cover up nakedness.

This is where it gets a little messy. From this point on, you need to read the scripture and have God show you what he wants you to see. Each one of us, inturpets the scripture differently, depending on our walk with God and exactly what he wants us to see in that particular scripture. This is why it gets a little messy. God will always open our eyes to understand scriptures according to our walk with him. What I understand in particular scripture, you may not. I believe this is just one of many reasons God said, “Don’t judge one another, unless ye be Judged”. Although we are walking the same road to the kingdom,we are not all in the same spot.

My understanding on God’s word about nudity, 1. In the wrong places, it is shameful. 2. Being naked by it self is not sin, because that is how God created us. 3. To be naked in the presence of an unmarried male or female (depending on your identity) is sinful. 4. There are times when nudity it front of others is nessecary. (medical reasons)

So the question again, can you be a nudist and still be in the same accord with God?

My answer is yes and no.

If you are married, nakedness is not sinful nor is act of sex. God has said, that when a man and women, join in holy matrimony, the two shall become as one. 

If you are unmarried, for a man and women to look at each others nakedness is shameful. Adam and Eve hid their nakedness with fig leafs.

In Mark 14. Simon Peter took off his cloak and was naked in front of the Lord and threw himself into the water. He was embarrassed by his nakedness.

What I believe is this, to give you a better answer. 1: Nakedness and sex in marriage should be looked upon as beautiful and wholesomeness.Two people becoming as one in mind and body. So you are in accordance with God’s teaching.  (Please do not interpret that this should be done or seen by children in the home.)

2: I believe it is sin, to look upon nakedness from the other sex if you are not married. Adam and Eve hid their bodies from one another.

So a person(s) practicing nudism in the privacy of their own home, or by themselves (not in front of children) is not sin. But to practicing nudity in a community, including children, is a shameful act, or sin.

This brings up the next question, Can you be a practicing nudist without lusting, having or thinking about sex?

A question for my next post.