Limits?

[WileyClarkson]

Charlie,


[!--QuoteBegin--][/span][table border=\"0\" align=\"center\" width=\"95%\" cellpadding=\"3\" cellspacing=\"1\"][tr][td]Quote [/td][/tr][tr][td id=\"QUOTE\"][!--QuoteEBegin--]Advocating nudism isn't the answer. The problem isn't that we wear clothes. The problem is that we think that clothes are both a source of pride and an adequate shield from any problems. Nudism is nothing more than a bold attempt to force people to come to terms with the human body and view it neither with inappropriate pride or shame.
[/quote]


You just said in one not very lengthy post basically what I found that several different pro-nudist theological papers said in quite a few pages!  Interesting!  This indeed is something that deserves some thought.  While I was interested in their line of though, I wasn't too sure that the view they were going for was something I wanted to consider, but now, having seen the same view here, I think I will study it a little deeper

While the point of the studies I read so far all were in support of nudism, they said the same thing basically that you are saying.  They base a part of their claim on Adam and Eve covering up their shame of sin with fig leaves and not their bodies.  Their position was that they were not covering up because they knew they were just naked.  They were covering up because they knew they were naked because they knew thay had sinned by eating the from the tree of knowledge.  God then killed animals (shed blood for the sin) and covered them in the skins to remind them of the sin they committed and that animals they had lived with peacefully had to die to becuase of their sin.  The conclussion is that the clothes made from the skins were more symbolic than actually needed at that moment considering the garden was still ideallic in conditions.  later, the clothing gave them protection from the elements, work, etc.

Later discussion went one to ask does clothing cover the shame of our sins?  No.  Does God see us naked?  Yes.  It then went in to a discussion on the blood of Christ covering our shame.  Some interesting reading so far, regardless of whether one is for/against nudism.

[Gaylan]

[!--QuoteBegin--][/span][table border=\"0\" align=\"center\" width=\"95%\" cellpadding=\"3\" cellspacing=\"1\"][tr][td]Quote [/td][/tr][tr][td id=\"QUOTE\"][!--QuoteEBegin--]My sensibility and sensitivity to others forbids me from coming to church with just swim trunks and flip-flops. But I have worshipped God wearing just that.[/quote]
:amen:  :amen:

Charlie,
I must agree with the statement you made about swim trunks and flip-flops.

Although I admit, I do not own a pair of flip-flops ... but where I was a member in Fort Worth, it was not uncommon for those of us working "Bible Hour" on Sunday night for the kids or for quite a few on Wednesday night service showing up in shorts(some even in sandels), or for a previous preacher to preach in his bare feet.  And I am pretty confident in saying I doubt anyone would be "looked at" if they wore shorts on Sunday Morning <gasp>

The point is why all the ties....all the formal clothes.....do we frown on those visiting who may show up not "dressed to the max"?

Some of my dearest, most emotional memories of "edifing one another" has been when we were all casual.......granted NOT as casual as having it "in the buff"..........

A great read is Mike Root's book "Spilt Grape Juice" from a few years back.  It is a great study on worship.

All that aside.....I don't think you have to worry about me on THAT beach in Galveston....... I go to the swimming pool with my jeans and tennis shoes on.....:help:  

Now if I can just get our preacher to FORGET his ties :whistle:

Gaylan

[Booty]

We very seldom use ties although there is a congregation in the state that insists on it. And personally I often preach wearing sandals, but than slacks, Guayabera and sandals is formal here.

[ConnieLard]

I have just read with interest your remarks re: nudism.  My single 24-year old son who is a new Christian lives in South Florida and works for a mortgage company.  His job is to go into people's homes and close loans.  He recently called me enroute to one of his clients.  When he had called his boss to find out a little something about this client, he was told that she was a 30 year old lady who resided in a nudist colony!  My son was quite anxious about this, as you might imagine, fearing he might be faced with insurmountable temptation there!  As it turned out, she received him fully clothed, and anyway, to quote Geoffery, "She was fat, Mom, so no problem."   :noworries:

[janine]

Well then, I'd be no temptation!

Off with the clothes!!