The purpose of this Blog is to introduce men and women all over the World to the Doctrines of Grace; the 5 Solas; Reformation Theology and the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Showing posts with label Nakedness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nakedness. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Art, Nakedness, and Redemption

Where God displays His redemptive activity in contexts of extra-marital nakedness He clothes His people. Ezekiel 16 exemplifies this pattern in Scripture: God graciously redeems and clothes His bride, covering her nakedness and making her beautiful.  Her God-given covering is not a denial of beauty, but rather a redemptive rescue and restoration to appropriate, glorious, public beauty, after she had been an object of abandoned, uncovered shame. The bride, however, turns to play the whore, prostituting herself, taking off her beautiful clothes, giving her naked beauty, now rebel, distorted and cheap, to any passer-by. Her disrobing outside of marriage is an outward expression of her inner rejection of God's redemption. She calls men to join her in violating God's perfect law. 

The disrobing, redemption-rejecting woman of Ezekiel stands in stark contrast to the bride of the Song of Solomon, whose nakedness is truly beautiful. It is reserved for her husband, given to him alone--a "step that does not establish deep intimacy, but one which presupposes it." [3]  Even in the literary description of the marital sweetness and joy of the inspired Song a poetic modesty remains. [4]  There is also a glorious foreshadowing here of the relationship of Christ and His Bride, the church, who is clothed as well--by His redemption. Read the whole article HERE

Friday, January 7, 2011

Modesty: The Forgotten Virtue

“In females, modesty has the like character as in males; but the word is used also as synonymous with chastity, or purity of manners. In this sense, modesty results from purity of mind, or from the fear of disgrace and ignominy fortified by education and principle. Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of their honor.”~~Noah Webster

“This struggle between concealment and display, fabric and skin, modesty and nakedness is a continuing story of how American society–including many Christians–has shed is clothes in public.”~~Jeff Pollard

“Modesty is the citadel of beauty and virtue.”~~Demades

“We can therefore walk into most churches on any given Sunday and behold a parade of young women pass by in tight tee-shirts, low-slung jeans, form-fitting skirts and other curve- and flesh-revealing styles. Church youth groups participate in mixed-sex pool parties without a second thought, everyone coming in their skivvies and no one batting an eyelash. We have become callused to public nudity, even in the church.”~~Mrs. M. L. Chancey

“Unless we have the courage to fight for a revival of wholesome reserve between man and man, we shall perish in an anarchy of human values….”~~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“It seems to be the fashion nowadays for a girl to behave as much like a man as possible. Well, I won’t! I’ll make the best of being a girl and be as nice a specimen as I can: sweet and modest, a dear, dainty thing with clothes smelling all sweet and violety, a soft voice, and pretty, womanly ways. Since I’m a girl, I prefer to be a real one!”~~Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey

“Our culture is so saturated with immodesty that we have become desensitized to it in many ways. What was once considered pornography is now brazenly displayed on the magazine covers that assault our eyes at the grocery checkout.”~~Mrs. M. L. Chancey

“Modesty means propriety. It means avoiding clothes and adornment that are extravagant or sexually enticing. Modesty is humility expressed in dress. It’s a desire to serve others, particularly men, by not promoting or provoking sensuality.”~~C.J. Mahaney

“First of all, go through your closets and drawers and pull out all of the clothing that obviously has to go-and get rid of it! Next, get in front of a full-length mirror, and try on the things that are questionable. Look at yourself from all angles using a hand-held mirror. Look at yourself close up and from far away and see what you ‘really look like’ in the clothes you have been wearing. View yourself objectively, as if you were looking at someone else—and note what your first impressions are of ‘this person.’ Check for fit and transparency and get rid of anything that doesn’t pass the test—this is no time to be sentimental! Finally, each day before you leave the house, do the ‘mirror check’ on anything that hasn’t previously been checked or if you have gained weight since last taking a look. You will be surprised to find that some of the things you were sure about won’t pass the test. This will help you weed out your wardrobe as you go. Some of you may be afraid that if you do this, you’ll end up with nothing left to wear! But just remember that the most important thing is to be obedient to God, even if it means having a very limited wardrobe. Besides, when you are all done with this project, you will become a much more careful shopper and end up being a better steward over God’s money than you ever were before!”~~Melody Green