NOT NAKED

In the last dozen years American photographer Spencer Tunick has done scores of mass nude photo shoots around the world. Below are 18,000 naked people in Mexico City in 2007. In the 1970’s “streaking” became a popular fad among college students. Streaking is taking off your clothes and running naked through a public place. Sometimes it is an individual act; other times hundreds of males and females do it at the same time. The University of Georgia set the record in the 70’s with over 1500 students streaking at one time.

A streaker is comically defined as, “a rude, crude, lewd, nude dude in a running mood.” Nudity in public can be serious business if hauled into court for indecency. The Bible treats nakedness seriously also, both literally and figuratively.

The phrase, “Naked I came in the world and naked I go out” is a declaration based on the words of Job in the Bible after he lost the lives of his children, servants and livestock.

“Not naked” is the imagery the Apostle Paul used to describe the mortal body putting on life eternal. “For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.” (2 Corinthians 5:2-4)

From the first book to the last book of the Bible, God provides garments for his children. “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21) “He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” (Revelation 3:5)

Hundreds of years before the coming of Christ, the prophet Isaiah declared, “I will rejoice greatly in the LORD. My soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness.” (Isaiah 61:10)

The Bible warns us, “The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” (Romans 13:12-14)
What got me reading scriptures about “not naked” was a thought that God gives us two sets of “clothes” to wear every day. The outer layer is called the armor of God. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6) The passage describes each piece of armor in detail.

To illustrate the armor one time I had my son Evan dress up as a Roman soldier, while I explained each piece of equipment and its analogy to spiritual warfare.

The scriptures also describe “undergarments” to wear. “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

Streaking and mass nude photo shoots might be a wild dare or lark, but being full clothed with the righteousness of Christ is safer and wiser!