There will be no graphics for today’s devotional, whether you are reading it online or grabbing a hard copy of the devotional booklet at church. Why? Because today is National Nude Day. I just stunned some of you, didn’t I? I’m not kidding, though. This is a real celebration. Please trust me, I’m not dropping off into debauchery as I share this. Stick with me and you’ll see where I’m going. First, let’s consider the history of the day.
“The inception of National Nude Day can be traced back to a television talk show in New Zealand. Marc Ellis, a renowned TV personality and sportsman, dared the viewers of his show, SportsCafe, to streak in front of the then Prime Minister, Helen Clark. This audacious proposal gained immense popularity, and the show began encouraging viewers to submit photos of themselves performing everyday tasks in the nude. This became an annual tradition, occurring on varying dates until 2009. Even after the TV station ceased promoting the event, the idea lived on through the internet, and July 14 was eventually recognized as World Nude Day, International Nude Day, or National Nude Day.”1
The National Day Calendar puts the celebration today whereas Holiday Today puts it on yesterday’s date. Regardless, you can tell from the previous paragraph that what is really being celebrated is shameless sin.
The liberal minded argument that will be made is that this is how God made us, therefore, it’s not sin. That statement is only half right. God gives an important detail in Genesis 2:25. “And they (Adam and Eve) were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” Why was there no shame? Because at this moment in time, there was no sin. That shows up in chapter three. Immediately as they ate of the fruit, specifically Adam, sin came upon the human race and everything changed.
Genesis 3:7 reads, “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” When God came calling for them, notice the first issue stated in Genesis 3:10-11. “And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. (11) And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?”
Shameless nudity, whether in part or in full, is an acting out of the sinful flesh. Today, nudity is glamorized and glorified, treated as if it should be regarded as anything but sinful, directly contradicting God and His Word.
Nudity is used to describe the spiritual decline of the church of Laodicea. Revelation 3:18 says, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” While I believe this is a metaphor describing the spiritual condition to which this church has sunk, could it also have a literal application? Immodesty doesn’t surprise us in the world but when immodesty – body revealing clothing – is a part of the Christian’s life and is admired and acceptable in God’s church, something is seriously wrong!
There is a place for nudity. It’s in your home and in the presence of your spouse. That is a God-blessed union. Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Now, I’m going to be blunt here. Marriage is honorable in all things which would include nudity. The marriage bed is undefiled. Those who choose to ignore God’s design, God doesn’t mince words. He says they are whoremongers and adulterers. That’s some strong language that the church has been afraid to use. What good is it, though, if we don’t say what God has said. He is going to judge this. Such expressions of love and sex which is going to include nudity is NOT going to get God’s blessing and approval. Just the opposite.
Let us remember that we are to be modest, guarding the hearts of others by guarding the display of our bodies. We must understand and practice 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5. “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: (4) That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; (5) Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God.”
1https://holidaytoday.org/national-nude-day/
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