Christians and Sexuality: Where is the USA Headed Morally?

As I look at the United States moral issues involving a sexual nature have always been forefront in the secular and Christian culture wars, I see some interesting things on the immediate horizon:

1. Public Nudity: Particularly the fight by women to have equal rights as men to be bare chested in public. The whole breastfeeding thing on Facebook and the current court cases in the last few years indicate that things are changing quickly. Currently there are six states which have 'topfree' laws of a various nature: California, Hawaii, Maine, New York (where a woman can now go topfree in any place a man can), Ohio and Texas. Other states are currently embroiled in battle about this: Pennsylvania and New Jersey come to mind. In many cases local communities define the laws here but in many cases these local laws are changing. It's like I said in my series on Nudity, Morality and Culture, it is something we as Christians are going to have to get used to seeing more and more. Literally.

2. Homosexual Marriage: I do not think this is going to leave the issue of States rights for a while but who will control it is debatable. I hat e to says this we are going to lose in the end and my own issue on this is that I retain as a minister to both not perform or acknowledge homosexual marriage. Just like I feel about common law marriage, neither the church or any minister should have to be forced perform or acknowledge such marriages if they choose not to.

3. Friends with Fringe Benefits: How common is this now and the one thing no Christian is saying is an intelligent response to casual sex. We decry it and we speak against it but this is not a response that people are going to accept. This is largely a continued failure to deal with the results of the sexual revolution.

4. Pornography: Has anyone else notice how common porn has become and it is not the world who has the problem that concerns me, but it is the number of church people caught in it. In fact we seem to have more problems with addiction to porn than anyone else -- I think in large part it is the poor way we sexually educate youth in the church that is the problem.

There are many others but these are the one that seem in front right now. What do you think?

Who is Responsible for Evil?

I am getting ready to finish up my Series on Engaging God's Problem with three posts that will be my final review of Bart Ehrman's argument in his book. But as I head into it, it remains as a question in my brain that mankind is responsible for evil and is capable of stopping it. At the same time I am struck by Solomon's argument in Ecclesiastes chapter 4 where he states their is no end to evil in this world and that the real objective of life cannot be this.

Mankind disobeyed and the door opened up to evil and each decision we have made as individuals and as a race has caused more and more evil -- including natural disaster if you take Genesis 6 literally and what must have been the after affects of a worldwide flood.

If we are responsible it is because it was all avoidable. This was not only avoidable but now that we are in it we continue to make the same bad choices that cause the problem.

What bothers me the most is the continued finger pointing at God -- why do we do this? Why is it that people cannot face their own responsibility for their actions and then deal with the consequences? The same answer --sin. Not only do we want to do what we want, we want no consequences to the decisions we make.

I wonder if the human race would have less evil to worry about if they actually listen to God's solution -- accept Christ as Lord, believe in the power of his resurrection and live in obedience to his commandments?

I really think this is all God has been trying to teach us and the only reason evil continues to abound is that we continue to reject the answer.

The Bible and Tattoos

OK, this post is the result of about two hundred people (well maybe only five) that have asked me about this subject and well I suppose i should give a response

The problem is -- the Bible does actually say some thing about this directly.

Leviticus 19:28: You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.

The issue in context (Leviticus 19) is that God did not want his people to be acting in any way like the pagans around him. It is a good principle and maybe we should take it to heart but then again I have been a Christian Headbanger for years and I remember that in the 70's and 80's Christian Rock as a major dividing line in the church. Tattoos and Cutting were part of pagan rites in the time of Moses and God didn't want any element of it in his people's worship of Him.

The problem is that things changed in Acts 15 because of the Gentiles -- As a Gentile Christian believer I have not entered into the Jewish covenant but the New Covenant with Christ -- Paul recognized this and thus Acts 15 -- The rules that come out are designed to keep Gentiles out of pagan worship but also faithful to Christ.

How does this relate to Tattoos -- well I love the Word and the Word includes Leviticus 19:28. I have made a choice to honor it because it was God's desire for his people not to do this -- there is something to this. Maybe however you are freer in Christ than me and I will allow that it is possible that this is a matter of conscience for Gentiles. Here are some things to consider.

1. Tattoos are permanent, well you can get them removed but it is a long painful process. Putting 'Bob loves Sally' on your arm may seem great until Sally decides she doesn't want to be with Bob anymore and until marriage there is really no way to get such a thing and know for sure your committed -- do not fool yourself. If your going to put anything on your body you better be sure that it is something you you can live with the rest of your life -- think hard on this. The fact is for myself is that the only tattoos I have ever considered getting were ones involving my faith, my earthly father or my wife.

2. Bodies change and yours will too. If you get a strawberry by your naval as a young female remember that when you get married and start popping out kids that strawberry is going to turn into an entire field of them. If it is something that will change its look as that part of your body changes -- be ready to live with it.

3. Tattoos fade and don't look as good as you get older. In fact, as a personal opinion, tattoos look ugly on old people -- If you are cool with it go ahead.

4. Note that in many Christian circles you will not be accepted and you will be attacked in many ways. If that kind of grief is something you do not want -- Don't get a tattoo. Don't get one out of rebellion either.

5. Here is something personal with me and God -- I like the way God created me and I don't see any need to improve the look of my skin in the sense of drawing on it in permanent ink. I think God made all of us the right color, gender and shape. I exercise to stay fit and look better but I don't feel this need to follow culture in looking like them.

When considering a tattoo as a Christian think hard about it.

Christians and Sexuality: Self-Righteousness and Nudity

When I started this blog I did a series on Nudity, Modesty and Culture (a good read if you haven't read it) but this post is about Christians and the attitude they should have in dealing with well...pagans who don't share our ethics and/or morals. Particularly when it comes to sex and nudity issues.

The incident that got me thinking on this is something that happened yesterday. I was stopped at the local convenience store and in our town it is located near a recreational trail. Some girls were coming off the trail and had been running as evidence by the level of sweat coming off them. The stopped by their packs and one of them proceeded to change her shirt. She stripped off her sweaty shirt and put on a clean one. My wife's reaction was classic Christian -- "Hello, what does she think she is doing?" Now, she had a sports bra on and the fact is she did not show anything. It was my wife's reaction that got me thinking. Note: I love my wife and what she did is not only typical of her but of many Christians so I am not picking on her. Are these kinds of reactions to such thing smelling of a little self righteousness? When a Christian sees something like this and makes a comment about it what exactly are we saying?

1. Are we saying that we have become the official judges of morality in our culture that we have the right to tell these people what is right and wrong? I hope not -- we earn the privilege to be heard, we do not have an inherent right to it.

2. Does this make us feel better about our own morality? Are we saying in our hearts: Man I am sure glad I am not like other people -- I keep my clothes on. I often wonder about this when women do this to other women -- is this a hen pecking order thing? I am a better women because I live virtuously and this other woman does not.

3. Do we really have a Biblical view on nudity, modesty and culture when we do this? I doubt it. Most Christians have never bothered to study the subject Biblically -- what they judge on is what they have been taught by their church culture.

I am not sure but I think we violate some Scripture when we do this -- Luke 19:9-14 comes to mind:

And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves
that
they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: "Two men went
up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
"The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust,
adulterers, or even like this tax
collector. 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I
get.' "But the tax collector,standing some distance away, was even
unwilling to lift up his eyes to
heaven, but was beating his breast, saying,
'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' "I tell you, this man went to his
house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will
be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

As much as I have thought Matthew 7:1-5 is misused it may be in this case it may not be. If we do not have Biblical understand of what constitutes nudity -- that is what is Biblical and what is church culture -- are we not judging people on a man made standard rather than letting the Word do it itself? Think so.

Perhaps if we spent as much time praying for people as we do judging slights of morals and ethics maybe we would be more effective in persuading people that Christianity is the real deal.

IMHO

Christians and Sexuality: Oral Sex

I think oral sex became a bigger issue when Bill Clinton called it - not really sex. Mostly I write on this subject for Christian young people who may want to know where to draw the line before marriage on this subject. After marriage, to each their own and what both are comfortable with, but before marriage young couples think this is a reasonable alternative to actual intercourse. The Bible say nothing about the subject but here are few things to consider:

1. Every sexual experience you have with another person outside the person who will become your spouse you will take with you into marriage. You will be always comparing your previous experiences with what you have later so the less you have the better. It means less baggage. The question becomes what if you have oral sex with a person you do not become married to in the end. The person you do get married to is uncomfortable with it and does not do it. Do you really want to have a potential fantasy or memory with someone else besides your spouse? Oh and nothing is guaranteed in any relationship so don't go thinking -- "there is no way were not getting married" because until your married there is always a possibility of break up even at the altar. I don't care who you are this is always true.

2. STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) can be transmitted through oral sex. It still involves fluid transfer so it is not necessarily safe sex.

3. I think the sin of lust becomes a greater problem the further a couple gets involved in sexual activities and oral sex is getting dangerously close to going all the way. It wouldn't take much after that point to be tempted to do some thing that will change your relationship forever.

Given all this I would not recommend oral sex outside of marriage. In fact my advice has always been -- keep it to holding hands and a good night kiss until you do tie the knot and you will never have any regrets at all.

Church Antagonism -- Part 2 -- Identifying an Antagonist

At what point does a person cross the line from being a person with an objection to the direction of the church (which I think is healthy) to an antagonist.

The real issue is what is the standard makeup of the average antagonist. I am speaking here of course of the guy or gal who leads the charge not the followers of an antagonist. I am showing you what the leader looks like and how they work. My backup is The Wounded Minister by Guy Greenwood. I am summing up his findings. It is a good book to buy if you are going through this; it helped me a lot.

1. They are destructive --they have no qualms about destroying relationships or causing emotional pain. To make matters worse they initiate trouble because they genuinely believe they are doing what they do for the greater good.
2. They are determined -- They will stop at nothing to achieve what they want regardless of the desires of the rest of the church. They have contempt for rules, constitutions or democratic action. They are never satisfied and no amount of concessions will be enough for them. Even when they get what they want they still go on starting a new crusade.
3. They are deceitful nitpickers -- they dwell on the smallest problems and enhance the belief there is a bigger problem by lying about it and making things up. They will do something and then accuse someone else of doing it -- The end always justifies the means for them.
4. They are masters of intimidation -- They often start harmless enough and maneuver themselves into positions of power and responsibility through putting on a show of being pious and devote. Once they strike, they attack the top and have no fear in trying to destroy a minister or even a fellow board member. The goal is selfish ambition to get what they want and to do this they must seize control.
5. They take advantage of inactivity an apathy. They attack where things are weak and when no one seems to have a desire to put up a fight.

There are people out there like this? In church? Yep. I have had two churches in Assemblies of God which had several each. Now none of them were this extreme and you don't have to have all the characteristics to cause trouble. In fact, there are many levels to this, but that is the subject of the next post

Next -- Types of Antagonist.

Christians and Sexuality: The Song of Solomon

Often there are certain interpretations of Scripture that continue on and on even though there is little evidence for it. In many cases the reason is culture -- not of the time of the Scripture -- but the interpreter's time. I think Song of Solomon has been interpreted poorly for a long time. The standard interpretation by Christians I have heard since I as was a kid is that Song of Solomon is a metaphorical picture of Christ and His Church. I wonder if that is what Solomon was thinking when he wrote it? I doubt it. I think this interpretation has survived so long because to take it for what it is is a little embarrassing to traditional Christian views when it comes to sex and sexual desire.

The truth is, this is an erotic poem about the desire of Solomon and his future bride for each other. They are very descriptive in their desires and wishes as well as of each other. The language is archaic but if we were their we would realize this is about two people who have the hots for each other and can't wait for their wedding night to 'get it on'. There is actually a practical message to the Song of Songs. It is that sexual desire in the proper context is not sinful or bad. Even to those who are not married it is true. There is also another message here -- virginity is a key element in this desire. In the story the bride speaks of her virginity as a gift she wants to give to Solomon, her future husband, on the night of their marriage. It is her crowning achievement in the poem and she receives high praise for it from Solomon and her family.

I am also going to add this -- I think this is the only true interpretation -- I don't think you connect this to Jesus and His church. No New Testament writer makes this connection and there is no Messianic prophecy in it as far as I can see unless you really want to read into the book.

Look at it this way -- The Song of Solomon is God's answer to the Kama Sutra. Or is that the other way around?

Christians and Sexual Education

Sex. A wonderful word isn't it? I am often reminded that this I one of those things you just don't talk about in polite Christian society but then again on this subject I am a bit of a rebel.

My personal belief is that sex is best enjoyed and has its greatest fulfillment when it is marriage. The only thing that keeps it in this boundary is the will of people to do so. That said, I believe the greatest reason why sex is now out of this boundary in abundance is not that the Western world has gone sex crazy, but that Christians have in large part not given themselves to Sexual Education of their members and what Sexual Education is being offered in the world, Christians have reacted in a way that has made the situation worse. Had the church been engaged in proper sexual education we may have not had this problem in the first place.

For the majority of Christian young people growing up in your typical conservative church for the last 50 years the sexual education ha been something like this:

"Don't until your married!"

That's it.

Others when considering marriage might get a little more, if the pastor is not too embarrassed to talk about it. There might be a discussion on the purposes of sex in marriage -- keep us free from sin, produce children, etc., but then after marriage -- nothing.

Needless to say, this is not going to be adequate in a culture where sex and education on sex is on every newsstand. If you don't believe me walk by a checkout counter and check out the cover of the latest issue of Cosmo. What Christian young people, before and after marriage, began to experience is that if their going to get some real information on sex, they are going to have to search for it elsewhere -- their church is no help. What they run into in the world is often lacking in an Biblical ethics, but it is educational.

In the schools and colleges of this world this becomes more pronounced and the education given is, in my opinion, causing a great health risk for our young people through the myth that their is such a thing as safe sex through contraception. All sex has risk unless it is done by two virgins and then those two virgins keep to each other for their rest of their life. Marriage is the vehicle for this in this world as given by God.

The world is talking very frankly and openly about sex and the church better realize that to not discuss these things in an open manner without embarrassment is causing part of the problem. When discussing sex most Christians look like rank amateurs and it creates an impression, one that is rightly deserved, that we really do not know much. If they do get any impression it is that we are obsessed with the absence of sexual activity rather than what is permissible.

This needs to change:

1. We need to talk about the benefits of sexual activity in the context of marriage. Particularly the fun part of sexual activity and that is why sex should be enjoyed and pursued, not avoided, when a couple gets married. We need to show that sexual activity before marriage actually ruins this fun and promotes lack of sexual skill. Sorry people that are promiscuous have fun with sex and that cannot be denied, but I don't think they are very skilled lovers, because once they use up all they know they move on. Try keeping another person satisfied sexually for life and succeed and then you can say you are a successful lover.
2. We need to talk more openly about sex in a way that genuinely responsive to what the people are saying in the world. Too much of what we have done her is -- 'taste not, touch not, handle not" -- will worship.
3. Our young people need to hear information from us that is positive and biblically based before and after marriage about sex. I imagine some people are better natural lovers than others but knowledge helps everyone become better.

One thing I suggest is to actually take Song of Solomon seriously in what it is presenting about sexual activity. But that is a subject of another later post.

Nudity, Modesty and Culture -- Part Five -- Practical Advice For Christian Women

I feel very much like a man on the moon. Totally out of my element. If any woman wants to call me out of my mind, she is probably right. Seriously, If a woman out there wants to tell me why women lust or has any other comment on what I have written here -- you are more than welcome and would be appreciated.

OK, Women have lust problems too. See Potiphar's wife in Genesis 39 and Proverbs 7 for Biblical examples. It would also be fair to say that women are also attracted to the physical form of men, something I do not get at all. However, I do not think most women lust because of outward appearance. The emotional strength of women is also their weakness when it comes to men. Vanity also plays a factor. Truth be told, I still find it a mystery of why women lust, but they do. In the two cases above, one lusts because of her authority over Joseph and the other because of the absence of her husband. In one case it is about vanity in the form of control and the other is vanity in desire for being wanted.

In any case, what is a Christian woman to do? Guard her heart! Women like attention and don't tell me it isn't true, I see it. They want someone to listen to them and notice them. Women have a need to be loved, communicate with men and receive affection. These things combine into a strong desire for a man. I think. A woman's heart and desires can get the best of her.

The difference is how this desire is pursued. Men chase, women seek to be caught. I have had enough conversations with women and for some odd reason when I am the only man in a room full of women, women converse as if I wasn't there so I have some inside knowledge on this. This knowledge leads me to a conclusion that women have this strong desire to be so desirable that a man will chase to the ends of the earth to take her. It is a common fantasy and you only have to pick up any romance novel to know it is true. (Aside: could it be said that romance novels might be a form of emotional porn for women)

What does this have to do with nudity, modesty and culture?

First, a woman must distinguish between when she is seeking to be a pretty woman who is attractive and when she is being sensual. Sensuality is a clear sign of lust in a woman. It is a question of attitude. Any woman can be sensual and nudity is not necessary. In fact in sensuality, nudity can be too over the top. Once the clothes come off, there is no mystery and a man will actually get disenchanted with her over time unless they are committed in marriage.
The women who use sensuality know that the best course of action is to show just enough but leave some to the imagination. Sensuality is about using her sex appeal to attract a man for sexual proposes. It does not take natural beauty either. Madonna, back in the day, is a prime example -- somewhat pretty, but it was the way she carried herself in a sexual attitude that made her the most attractive to men. Know the difference between pretty and sensual.

Second, Paul and Peter provide that modesty is a heart issue and it has little to do with clothing. It is about quiet submissive hearts that are precious to God. True modesty can be the best defense against lust that can develop in a woman's heart. Quietness causes a woman to listen to God and receive his love. Submissiveness allows humility of heart and humility means a woman won't think higher of herself than she should. Vanity is brought under control.

Thirdly, Know that in dealing with men, they are going to look. You are visually attractive to most men. Deal with it in a manner that is positive. I once met a woman who would get offended because men would look at her breasts. She was well endowed and had a habit of wearing tight t-shirts with words across her chest. I wonder why they were looking? Women should not be offended when men look -- God's design I think -- when they should be offended is when men treat them improperly by not respecting their person hood because of what they see -- more important. It is also important for a woman not to get too embarrassed when the accidental happens. This is where women in the world are wiser than women in the church -- act like nothing happened. If you let a man know you know he saw something, he and you will be more inclined to dwell on it.

Fourthly, if you are married and want to guard you marriage, there is one place you can be as sensual as you want -- with your husband. I would also recommend that you give your husband as many images of you as you can. The one sure way to help your husband forget an image of some other woman is to give him many of you. I know this from experience.

Well, I am ready to hear the comments and run for cover.

Next: A Final Word on Lust.
Previous: Practical Advice for Men

Why I Am A Creationist

Well, mainly because evolution doesn't convince me.
1. Evolution is improbable -- the odds are very much against it.
2. It defies the laws of thermodynamics
3. It is based in large part on circular reasoning.
4. It is philosophically bad -- if it is right then Hitler was on to something -- there is a master race out their somewhere. Homo Superior is just waiting to get out.
5. Several creatures that exist defy evolutionary logic -- their is simply no way for them to evolutionary evolve without major problems.

As a creationist, I think what we see in the world is explainable by creative acts of God, adaptation and the worldwide flood.

I take God's word for it -- that He created the earth and because of that He has rights over it and me.

I think it is important that God is in the picture, because with evolution there is no higher authority to hold us accountable and with that viewpoint any moral or ethic is possible and often it is about power.

With God, everyone is accountable to God and His power. Final Judgment makes it a just system and that makes it work for me -- it is all a question of God being your creator -- Your Alpha and beginning.

Next: Why I Am an Open Theist
Previous: Why I Am a Pentecostal

Nudity, Modesty and Culture -- Part Four -- Practical Advice For Christian Men

Caught you looking didn't I?

OK, what is a Christan man to do in the culture we live in where skin and sensuality is in? Now as I write this particular post I am a man addressing men, so if you women want to give your perspective I would welcome it.

Number One -- Realize this, that you are not alone. Not in history or in the now. Paul in his ministry, particularly in places like Corinth, Rome and Ephesus, would have seen nudity, sensuality and sexual content on a grand scale. Between the temples dedicated to them, the Greek and Roman art of the time, naked slaves, temple prostitutes and skin of the free class, He would have been bombarded with these things by his culture much the same as we are now, and he dealt with it. Not by passing laws or calling the government -- he controlled his lust an his heart through relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Today, you are not alone in your struggle either. Many men like me are beginning to realize that not every woman is going to just cover up because we ask them to, a different solution is going to have to be developed in discipleship so this temptation can be overcome, not just avoided. I work with the public in both my jobs (Ministry and Retail) and I cannot just look at the floor or close my eyes all the time. It would be dangerous and disrespectful.

Number Two -- in practicality men are going to have to engage extreme measures on themselves (Matthew 5:27-30), not their world, and develop different perspectives on nudity and modesty in order to overcome lust in their own hearts. Jesus in Matthew 5 is saying take measures on yourself to rid yourself of sin -- lust in particular. If lust is in our hearts, even if every woman in the world covered up and no porn existed -- lust would still exist. Today, three young Amish women visited where I work. These ladies were dressed modestly, but understand that even in their ankle length dresses they had pretty faces and their hourglass figure was still visible. If lust existed in a man, he could still lust after these women. Their dress changes nothing about that.

Number Three -- Men need to realize that the lust they need to flee from is in themselves. The battle needs to be fought in your mind and heart. You are going to be exposed more and more to nakedness and sensuality -- by accident or on purpose -- and you are going to have to open up to God to change you. The temptation is to blame the woman -- but the problem is you.

That said, let me leave you with an example of a situation I faced a couple of weeks ago and how I handled it:

At work (my retail job), I was coming out of the bathroom and a little toddler came running around the corner and saw me at the last instance and stopped right at my feet only a foot away. She looked up at me and grinned. The child's mother came around the same corner in a hurry, but I kept the child in view to make sure we didn't run into each other. Mom bent down and grabbed the child. In that moment, the mothers breasts covered the child from view right where I was looking. This young mother was wearing one of those spaghetti strap tops that is supposed to have built in support. Unfortunately, she had bought one that was probably two sizes to big. Solomon said of his love: "Your two breasts are like two fawns,Twins of a gazelle which feed among the lilies." That is what I saw, and not just part, but the whole pair including the stuff you can't put on magazine covers (Yet.). This mother didn't mean to do what she did, it is one of those things that happen. To make matters worse, they looked great because she was a young, shapely and beautiful woman.. How should I react?

If I was a typical Christian male, I would attack her in my mind -- "She should know better than to wear something like that!" or I could decry society -- "Man, this is just another proof of the degradation of our society." But neither of these observations are accurate and they are not helpful either because neither one of them address what is going on in my mind and heart.

When a man sees something like this, his mind takes as snapshot or video of what he saw and begins to replay it over and over in his head. The female form is visually attractive to a man and there is no way around it as this I believe is God's design. The devil brings the temptation as the movie is played. There is a way of escape, but I am not going to do it by willpower or doing the typical American Christian blame game.

1. The first thing I need to realize is that I am not alone. Many others have faced this issue and I am not unique. Christian men have faced this before and triumphed. I can be like them.

2. The real issue is my perspective -- I realize from my studies of the Bible that what I have seen does not technically constitute the mother's nakedness. I have seen her breasts and it is our culture that says this is nudity, but in truth God's Word does not present it this way. Rather, I need to change my attitude. I am not seeing a temptress, but a concerned mother who loves her child and has accidentally showed me her breasts. She is a person deserving my respect and I need to change what I have seen from a temptation to lust after her to an admiration of her person hood and her beauty.

3. Lust will develop inside me and try to overcome my Spirit if If don't re-conceive what I have seen. So as the image plays in my head I change my thinking to "Those were beautiful and they are attached to a beautiful mother who loves her child and I should respect that. I have no right to diminish her person hood by lusting after her just because I have seen her breasts." By changing my perspective, I have shifted what I saw from what could be mental porn and fantasy to part of the mother's beautiful body that does not belong to me. I can admire what I saw, but not lust after her. It is not magic and it may take a battle of the mind for a good length to time, but the result is good if I stick with it.

I know a lot of Christians would disagree with this, but I have found this is the only way I can open myself up to letting the Spirit keep me from the temptation to lust. I am not always successful, but in this case, I went back to work appreciative of God's creative handiwork and not lusting after a woman I didn't know. The image in my head is still there (according to people that study these things, such images can stay in a man's head for up to two years), but I have no thoughts about possession of that mother's sexuality for use for my personal gratification -- it does not belong to me. God showed me the way of escape from the temptation to lust and I took it.

Next: Practical Advice to Christian Women
Previous: Where Lust Lives

Nudity, Modesty and Culture -- Part Three -- Where Lust Lives.

I am really not going to give anything new here as James 1:13-15 kind of says it plain:
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

No Brainer. Lust Lives in the person. In particular it lives in the heart of you and me. Taking Jesus word on defilement in Matthew 15:17-20 -- "Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man." And we begin to understand that it is the heart of man where lust dwells and defiles a person.

Lust knows no discrimination -- male, female, old, young, red, yellow, black and white. It exists in the hearts of all. Men and women differ in how lust manifests but the result is the same -- as desire to own or possess another persons sexuality for the purpose of control or gratification of self. The lust of men starts as visual attraction and then a desire to control or own the woman desired for ones self. Women lust too. I think in their case it is about comfort and vanity. A woman wants to be desired thinking that will lead to a man loving her. Men deal with 'love' to get sex, sex being a goal worthy in and of itself to most men. Women deal with sex to get 'love'; they hope sex will lead them to love. It rarely happens. In both cases, people are not people to the person with lust. They are objects to gain something for ones self. Lust is the poorest way to start a relationship, but in our sin sick world it is, more often than not, where it starts.

Lust differs from admiration in that admiration respects the person hood of the person being admired. A man can admire the beauty of a woman without lusting after her. Lust is a decision of the heart and will. A switch is flipped where the man stops thinking about the woman as a person who is beautiful and makes her into an object to be used.

That established, I want to make this series of posts to be about application. I live in the real world and a lot of this discussion has been me coming to terms with my own lust and how to deal with it. At an early age, I got involved with porn and all that goes with it. As a Christian I struggled with it unsuccessfully by the use of willpower. Doesn't work -- "taste not, touch not, handle not" is religious nonsense, as Paul rightly calls 'will worship', that does not deal with the real issue -- retraining or disciplining the heart to walk in righteousness and not in lust.

In this culture of ours, USA, Men and women are bombarded with images all day long about men and women involving sex and romance that are unrealistic and plastic. But the problem is not this -- the world is going to do what it does and, baring a real revival, it is going to get worse. I can see the nude beaches and public nudity of Europe coming here in a very short time. The issues of porn vs. art; public nudity and skin, sensuality, etc. will become more pronounced in the coming years. How is the church and the individual going to handle it? Changing culture is long time consuming process and in the meantime, what is a Christian man or woman to do to fight the temptations? There are some things that you cannot avoid because we are in the world. Jesus wants us to be in the world -- but not of it. How do we do this in regard to nudity, modesty an culture as men and women. That is the subject of the next two posts.

Next: Practical Advice to Men.
Previous: Does God Hate Nakedness?

Nudity, Modesty and Culture -- Part Two -- Does God Hate Nakedness?

I had a professor in Bible College that had an expression when dealing with dress issues -- "God does not like nakedness!" I agreed with him a lot as a fellow Wesleyan, but on this issue I just couldn't get true Biblical support for the idea that God hates nakedness in general and always has. If that were so, why on earth did he create Adam and Eve naked? It lead me to ponder the question of nakedness and whether or not God hates nakedness.

I think the problem with nakedness is not nakedness in itself. The problem is sin and the resulting loss of innocence that causes shame from nakedness.

The first reference to nakedness in the Bible is Genesis 2:25 -- And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. I think this expresses the nature of innocence and purity on the part of Adam and Eve. They could see each other as wonderful creations of God and with no knowledge of good or evil, that is all they could see. They each had beautiful bodies and that is what they marvelled in. God declared all things 'very good' after their creation and that included 'naked and unashamed'. They walked before God and each other naked and without shame of any kind.

Sin changes this forever. Suddenly they are aware of their nakedness where before they had been blissfully ignorant. This shame could not have been about each other in truth though being husband and wife. I know we find it had to imagine but Adam and Eve Being husband and wife they must have consummated their marriage on the grass of the garden of Eden and so covering their shame of nakedness could not have had much to do with concealment from each other. It had to do with God. Now they were naked and vulnerable to God. Fear comes in, fear of God and being truly helpless before him -- naked before him. The couple covers their loins with aprons of leaves -- waist to mid thigh. There is no mention of any other area being covered on either one. In fact when nakedness is mentioned by the prophets this is the focus that Israel would be shamed with nakedness having their buttocks exposed. The focus of shame seems to be the buttocks and genital regions

One fact that needs to be mentioned is that female breasts and nakedness are never really equated except in Ezekiel 16:7 where God is speaking to Israel about how she used to be like a teenage girl who's breasts were formed but she was still naked until God clothed her. In all other references to female breasts there is some other thing at issue not nakedness. There is an exhortation to men to let themselves be satisfied with the breasts of their wife in very frank language at times in the Song of Solomon and Proverbs. The other way female breasts are addressed is in reference to nursing children. Even Jesus was addressed this way buy a woman in Luke 11:27. Jesus is not embarrassed by the statement and in fact refers to women's breasts in the same way in Luke 23:29. What this all indicates to me is shame associated with women's breasts being bare in a culture may be just that -- cultural. That why here in the USA ,where part of our cultural has been shaped by both puritanical and holiness roots with their emphasis on 'modest' apparel, exposed breasts have some shame to them but this is not the shame of sin so much as the same of elements of culture say it is wrong. Go to another culture and you see women topless and the men think no more or less of it than any other part of a woman's body. Something to be admired, but not necessarily immediately arousing.

Shift south of the border, so to speak, and the Biblical idea of shame of nakedness comes in full force. This is where shame comes in from Genesis, The Law, through the Old Testament prophets and even the Revelation this is presented. Noah's nakedness is exposed by his son, but not by the other two sons -- they cover him. I find it hard to believe that four hard working men building an ark didn't strip down for work like Peter did when he fished. The nakedness of Noah had more to do with exposing his 'apron area'. The term nakedness is also used to refer to sexual relations in the Law -- this is where incestuous relationships are condemned -- see Leviticus 18. The prophets refer to this area as well for shame of being sold into slavery as exposed because of the failure of Israel to follow God. Mark runs away naked to escape in the garden when Jesus is arrested. Revelation also talks about nakedness in reference to the shame of Laodicea and the whore of Babylon. In all of these, sin is the main culprit not nakedness in and of itself. The real question is the nature of sin and how it made and makes something good and beautiful into something shameful. It is the lust of mankind that is at issue.

I don't think God hates nakedness -- he made us that way to illustrate true intimacy and openness -- what I think he hates is what sin has done to our innocence about nakedness. The positive about nakedness is that it illustrates how we ultimately have to come to God and be naked before him and let him cloth us and raise us up. It is lust through sin that has caused a wonderful creation of God to be fouled up.

Next: Where Lust Lives.
Previous: Defining Modest

Nudity, Modesty and Culture -- Part One -- Defining Modest

One of my mentors once told me to remember that modesty is culturally defined. He said if I didn't believe him that I should go to the Bible and find a definition of modesty. I think I did find a definition, but there is no way to be clothesline preacher with it.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 "Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.

I want to note something here Paul never defines what proper clothing is. What modest means is also left undefined -- discretion is a matter of not being flashy or boisterous in the way one dresses.

Peter my shed some light on this as well.

1 Peter 3:1-4: In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

What this passage causes me to ask is whether modestly is about clothes so much as it is attitude of heart. Jesus asks us to judge not on outward appearance (John 7:24), but then we look at these passages and use them as a licence to judge a woman's modesty on how she dresses when that is not what Paul or Peter are advocating at all. It is simply a misapplication of the passages to use them this way. The real issue is the heart of a woman -- whether it is quiet and gentle is the issue.

One thing should be noted that neither of these passages addresses nudity. I can say that, because the culture of day included massive slavery and slaves often were naked as it was a symbol of their station. It's a point we often miss in this ancient Greek-Roman world culture. If either Paul or Peter excluded people from Christianity simply because of nakedness their would be lot of people forced by the culture out of the faith. The fact remains that Christianity spread through the slave cast very quickly; a group where nudity was common because of who they were in relation to their culture.

Paul and Peter are actually addressing free women who are rich -- that they should not allow their upward station to cause themselves to be snobs, think more of themselves than they should or be unsubmissive to their husbands. The two apostles are not addressing nudity or skin, but actually the opulent display of wealth and status in clothes before those who do not have wealth or status.

In missions the nudity/modesty question has always dogged us as Christians. In Africa where the heat causes clothing to be not much more than a scrap of cloth around the waist and the women were and are topless, many missionaries made the mistake of addressing the outward dress (or lack there of) instead of addressing the gospel. In South America one tribe was discovered whose definition of naked was 'beltless'. To us they would be considered naked all the time but they consider themselves naked only if they take off their work belt -- the only thing they wear.

Here at home in the USA, the issue is muddied because we have two cultures. The traditional culture which sees any sign of skin and cleavage as immodest and a more open culture which does not see this as so but would like to see women walk around topless just like men can. There are of course two million different views in between these extremes.

As people argue this from the Christian side the great problem is there is no Biblical definition of what constitutes proper clothing. Paul tells women to wear proper clothing but never defines what he means. The issue of how Christian men in or sex crazed culture are supposed to deal with more and more skin being shown by women is still a problem. Looking down at the ground all the time or sticking one's head in the sand does not work as you will eventually run into something hard and hurt yourself. The real question might be how does God see nakedness.

Next: Does God Hate Nakedness?