Naked or Nude
I’m afraid to be naked! Being naked is quite the task for me. Its hard work, and it takes me a long time to work myself up to being absolutely naked before someone. I’m being honest! You might be surprised at your own timidity of nakedness. Now being nude! I can do that all day, every day!
What’s the difference between the two, and what’s the significance?
It came to me today. This very morning. I was talking on the phone with a dear friend of mine. She was pouring out some of her heart to me, and I poured out some of mine to her. I recognized there was apprehension for the both of us, and that’s when I realized it. I struggled with being naked. She does too! Many of us share this struggle.
John Berger said “Nakedness reveals itself. Nudity is placed on display. Being naked means being without any costume that you put on, but being nude means that you become your own costume.” Truth: I can easily show you what I want you to see- strength, courage, fierceness, sweetness, kindness, and the giving spirit. But that’s just a piece of the pie. Not the whole shebang! It’s easy for us to show people the costume (nudity), but we are afraid to share our entire selves (nakedness)- our vulnerability, our frailness, the fact that we don’t have it all together at every moment, and sometimes….there are even tears, and lots of them!
Now don’t get me wrong. You don’t have to walk up to someone, tell them your whole life story, and share with them everything about you; however, when it comes to the body of Christ, we as believers have to stop pretending, wearing these costumes in church meanwhile we’re suffocating inside. That’s not how you heal. That’s not how you become delivered! We have to get naked! If you need to cry while in service, do it! If your worship gets noisy, and you start moaning like Hannah in the temple, so what? If you need to lament like Jeremiah, have at it! If you’re in Bible study and you need to ask a question about how to cope, ask it! Yes people will judge you. Yes people will be disappointed that you aren’t the superhero they wanted you to be, but that’s not your burden to bear. Be free! Be naked. Some people will be relieved that you aren’t so perfect, and that’s a good thing!
On the flip side, costumes can be dangerous. The Word warns us against them. Matthew 7:15 says “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” 2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us “for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Hiding behind a costume is deceitful. I’m just saying…being naked is being honest…in a spiritual sense. Please wear clothes tomorrow.
Being in a naked state is how God created us to be. Gen. 3:10 “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” We are to be naked before Him just like Adam and Eve. In prayer, tell God the truth. Tell Him you’re disappointed things didn’t go your way. Tell Him you have your doubts. Tell Him you’re angry at the injustice. Trust Him with your nakedness. It will bless you and increase your intimacy with Him plus He will respond to you. Not with hostility either, but with peace and truth. Come to Him in all honesty, revealing all of you, and withholding nothing!
When a young man or young woman says they are struggling, don’t just respond with the cliche the “everything will be alright.” Yes it will, but be more relatable. Validate their feelings by being naked. You’ve been through some of things too, and you need to share that. You’ve messed up in at some point in your life, but you overcame the guilt and shame. You’ve been depressed, but now you’re filled with contentment, joy, and no longer struggle with despondency. You have doubted God, but your faith has been restored. Help them by being naked!
Anyways, I am working on being naked.
Let’s all get NAKED! Can you dig it?
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