Naked or Nekid?

I believe it was Jeff Foxworthy who taught us all the difference between the word "naked" and the redneck word "nekid." Naked means you have no clothes on. Nekid means you have no clothes on and you're up to something.

In a world where we are constantly bombarded by pictures of nekid women on the cover of magazines, the current issue of Elle Magazine features a picture of a naked (and very pregnant) Jessica Simpson. Now as a man, I know that ANYTHING I write on this subject will be biased and perverted. I have an X and a Y chromosome, and according to most women today, that is all I'm capable of rising to (don't go there) when discussing the subject of female nudity.

So instead of allowing my testosterone to get me in trouble, I instead direct you to the current post on the Christianity Today blog for women...Her-meneutics... titled The Best Naked Pregnant Woman on a Magazine Cover.

(http://blog.christianitytoday.com/women/2012/03/the_best_naked_pregnant_woman_1.html )

Whether you agree with the article or not, take the time to read the comments section. Flame after flame, written by good Christian women (hey, that would be a good name for a television show) who obviously disagree with Caryn Rivadeneira's praise of the cover. Women far more concerned about the marital status of Ms. Simpson. Where is her shame? How can Christianity Today justify the glorification of adultery and sin? The naked (not nekid) female form should never be put on display.

I'll let the article, and the comments, speak for themselves. But I would like to ask a fundamental question. Since God created man and woman naked...and looked upon His creation and declared it to be good...how would nudity be looked at if Eve hadn't succumbed to the lies of Satan in the form of a serpent?

Having traveled to countries where public nudity is a non-issue, and the pregnant female form is almost worshiped, I have to wonder if many of those commenting on the Her-meneutics blog are aware that they are regurgitating some of the same lies that Satan has been foisting off on mankind since the fall in the Garden? That the naked female form...and by extension (once again, don't go there)...the naked male form are things to be hidden. That we simply cannot control our urges and lust, so the only other option is a burka.

Don't you find it curious that in all the admonitions to sexual purity in the writings of the Apostle Paul, he never comments on the fact that public nudity was common and accepted throughout most of the Greco-Roman culture. Even among the more modest Jews, baptism took place in the nude. Jesus does not tell his followers to never look at a woman (a teaching of the Pharisees) but rather, to never look at a woman with lustful intent.

The tree that Adam and Eve ate from was the tree of the knowledge of good AND evil. Up to that point, they had only known good. It is interesting that it is only after they come to know evil that they become ashamed of their bodies. And if you continue reading, it is God himself who makes them clothing. God is the original fashion designer. But you have to wonder if God's heart wept as he watched man and woman cover up His creation.

Yes, we live in a fallen, broken world. And yes, the lust of man (and woman) have grown strong. But is that God's fault, or Satan's ? In parts of the world that have not been corrupted by the Victorian Ethic...which told us that ANYTHING related to the body or bodily functions is evil...the sight of a man or woman bathing in a stream or lying on the beach has little effect. In our culture, a man walking by a bowl with two grapefruit suddenly feels the need for a cold shower. Is that God's fault or Satan's.

We must always be reminded that it is BECAUSE we live in a world influenced by Satan that we must be careful in what we look at...or allow on the magazine covers in the supermarket. It is because we have totally sexualized the human body that we now have to be careful in how we allow our children to dress or act. It is expressly because Satan has influenced culture to define the perfect male and female form that we have to pay psychologist to help us with self-image and self-esteem issues.

Once upon a time the Creator of the universe looked upon the naked bodies of a man and a woman...and He said "It is good." I wonder if one day in the future, that same Creator will look upon the glorified bodies of those in His Kingdom and utter the same words. Some use bad exegesis to argue that there will not be male or female in the Kingdom. But I personally believe that a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever will stick with a good thing.

So when I finally see a copy of Elle magazine on a newsstand (the local market was pressured by complaints and have covered the display), I think I'll ignore the obvious airbrushing of stretch marks, and the lack of a wedding ring on Ms. Simpson's hand. Instead, I believe I'll offer up this simple prayer; "Way to go God...sorry we allowed Satan to screw it all up."