I definately agree with Nakedspirit that we need more stories on here. I started a new post so my response would not get lost in the shuffle. I am fairly new to this website. I have been an on/off home nudist for a couple of years. I read the three stories on this site and enjoyed all three. Then I read most of the stories on Cat's website. That was really interesting reading, tryinging to figure out what the heck they were talking about. Most of the stories were written by young British so it makes for a good read. At first I was thinking that there is no way that I would post any story about my nudist life. Somebody I know might read it!!! I would be found out!!!And what if they were from my church????? AAAAAGGHHH!!!!!!! But then I realized that if they are on this website or any other site dealing with naturism, then we just found a perfect way to hook up with friends who enjoy the same intersest. But there was one thing I noticed. They all had first names, not some nickname. I apoligize if I offend anyone here but you will see where I am going with this.
If we want to bring more Christians, or anybody to the nudist way, then we need to give them clues. And I think the best way is to post stories with at least your first name. I know you may disagree with me but if you think through my rationale, well hey it makes alot of sense. We need to let someone reading your story say, "Hey, I know a Vinny, and he is from New Holland, I wonder if it is the same guy? I'll have to drop some hints the next time I see him." You have simply created a a wonderful way to meet new people. But if a story is signed Cinderella Barbie 1972, will anyone know who you are?
I plan to write my story and hope to have in posted shortly (although it may take a couple of months) . It will probably read like a short novel as I can get a little long winded. Maybe I should have my reporter friend edit it for me, right after I show her the AANR Press Release for Nude Recreation Week. Or maybe I can show it to her on our overseas trip we will shortly taking. She is a Christian also and I think she and her husband would be totally into this. Will keep you updated on trip as we will need prayers as we travel.
Visiting on this website among Christians, and reading the many stories about other peoples experiences has given me the comfort and the confidence to start practicing naturism again and being able to talk somewhat openly about it. Hopefully by adding all of our stories we will be able to reach others. Well, give it some thought. Get out you typewriter, oops showing my age, and get to writing your story. I would like to get to know more of you and how you came to be here. And like I said before I hope to have my novel posted soon, as I join your family.
Vinny, I understand where you are coming from. I think the same thing and even go further some times. I wish i could tell everybody! The truth is, I am afraid sometimes.
I am a Pastor, my name is Stephen. I will notbore youwith all the details but I am now in another denomination than the one I started in. I was excommunicated from the old denomination for my heretical beliefs (none of them having to do with naturism). It was a wounding time and there are still scars healing, both mine and others.
I feel called of God to be a teacher, a sharer of the Word, and Pastor. I do not want to lose my job!If my congregation found out about my naturist activities, they would be shocked, I think. If the denomination found out, I would be looking for a new job. So, I am nakedspirit.
It is funny that you bring this up because last night I drempt that I should not be ashamed of what I believe about the holiness of the human body. Maybe you are a sign to stop being afraid, but sometimes I am.
I just read your post and was touched by it...Mainly because of your vision of being a Pastor...I'm in the ministry and I feel the same way..At this stage, if I revealed my naturist discovery...woah!
Anyhow, just to encourage you....I only discovered the Bible truth about wholesome nudity in January, but just about a month before, I had an unusual dream...I dreamt I was preaching somewhere...and it was in the nude!!! Now bearing in mind, I had no idea then what the Holy Spirit was going to reveal to me then!
As yet I don't know how this fits in...coz my church and surrounding leaders are definitely NOT nudist!
I believe there are going to be openings for naturist ministry...I believe the Lord will show many about wholesome nudity....This message of our bodies being just as much in HIS IMAGE as our re-newed spirit must get across. It will take those called to the five fold ministry to do this, with support from many others, especially in prayer.
It may be that the Lord may be preparing you for this..I'm beginning to think that's what might be happening with me.
Steve, I hope this has encouraged you...and any other Jesus loving nudists too!
My view of a "Naturist Ministry" is not bringing Naturism to Christians but bringing Christ to Naturists.
I am in the "waiting on God" stage of this however. Christ didn't only wait for people to come to him as he walked on the earth, in fact, he went directly to those who needed him most. We should do the same. The attitudes of the "typical Church" seem to forget this.
I don't know if you caught it or not, but I kind of co-edit for/with Boyd when he's away.
Anyway, to your post!!
You said that it would be nice if people were to use their names, and while I agree that it would be nice, not everyone feels comfortable revealing themselves that way (a nudist afraid of "revealing" themself, who would have thought?). On this site especially many people have alot to loose if the "wrong" person found out about their enjoyment of "running aroung naked". Too many churches have a very, very misconcieved notoin as to what naturism is all about, and they just wouldn't understand.
My wife and I were removed from our positions at church when we opened up to a couple we thought we could trust to be discreet. Others in important positions at their own churches or ministries may feel it more prudent to be annonymous than to risk the damage to their work for the Kingdom that being revieled as nudsts might bring. I hope you could follow that.
I'm not trying to poo-poo your idea, really. I actually agree with you, but the unfortunate fact is that not all Christians will easily accept our being nudists, if they accept it at all. And on that note I would offer you some advice- be very careful to whom you speak freely about your own interest in naturism. As you said, you don't have to be afraid- we have the Truth on our side, afterall, but you do need to be cautious and responsible. Talk to people slowly, learn about their feeling on nudity and nudists in general before you hit them with your lifestyle. That will just make it easier on them and you. You may also find out that they aren't as open to the thought as you at first felt.
Here, with us,you can openly discuss your thoughts and feeling. We all agree with you, probably. It's good to expand others' understanding of how we feel and why we do what we do, but we need to take it slowly, doing it person by person as we build a relationship with that person. Trust me, I know first hand what can happen if we jump too soon, revealing too much in the midst of our excitement over our freedom in nudity.
Freedom actually scares a lot of Christians. They'd rather have the preacher, deacons, elders, or whatever tell them what the Bible says and what they're supposed to do, instead of reading the Bible themselves and letting themselves be led by the Holy Spirit. Traditions say that any nudity is wrong outside of a husband/wife relationship, and that's alot of history we have to fight with the Truth. Some people just will never accept it, and if continuing a relationship with them and helping them grow spiritually means keeping that portion of our live from them, is that too much of a sacrifice?
I firmly believe that nudity is acceptable and right. BUT, as Christians, mature ones, firm in our beliefs, we are responsible to not condemn others for their own beliefs. I went through that, and it ain't pretty. Nudity is an allowable freedom, but not everyone will choose it. Be careful to not push too hard. It's a delicate balance, even with someone who accepts your nudity, to discuss it easily without it sounding like they should agree with you (even if, like me you think they SHOULD!!). And just because they say they accept what you believe and do, don't automatically think they'll be okay with seeing you naked!
Sorry about sounding so negative... I'm not that bad, really, but you brought up alot of things thatI believe, but have had "bad experiences" with. My hope is that everyone would accept us for who we are, not for what we wear, but sometimes that's asking too much. Christians are human, sinful creatures.
I'm glad that you joined us, Vinny, and if you stay with us for awhile you'll understand better why some of us say what we do. There's alot of wisdom and experience here, and bunches of love and support. I've benefited from it all, and I hope that you will, too.
I'd love to read your story, so get on with it already! In the meantime, tell us a little about yourself- Wife? kids? chickens? What part of the country are you in? You don't have to get too specific, but like me you sound very open about who you are, and don't feel the need to hide.
Kevin, I agree totally with what you said! I am very guarded as to who I tell, and so far I've only told a nephew on my wife's side, and my best friend. They are both Christians, and both have expressed to me first about nude activities, so I figured I was safe.
With the nephew, we went to a place, after spending the day mountain biking, that has an "unofficial nude area," and has "nudist area next 1 mile" painted on a big rock in a creek. I told him that I found this area from the internet, and that I have been there many times. We hiked that creek for about 2 hours, but I remained clothed the whole time. We did talk about the nude lifestyle the whole time we were there. I told him that I'm nude when ever possible, I even told my nephew that if he ever stops over when I'm home alone, that he needs to call first or he will find me nude. It's only happend once since I told him, and he patiently waited at the front door until I got dressed.
As far as my friend goes, we joked many times about taking our wives to a nude beach, but it never got beyond joking. This past new years, we spent with them, and I brought up the subject. He was a little shocked that I went beyond the joking aspect and actually went to a nude swim. He has some issues with it at that time. About 2-3 weeks later, the "Christian nudist 101" issue of the "Fig Leaf Forum" came out. I sent him a copy of that issue, but never heard back from him. I later found out that he had changed his email address, so a last week I resent it, and he got it this time, read it over quickly, and sent a reply back saying that it looked real interesting! He is an accountant, so this is his busy time, so we dropped it at that, but by the end of the month I'll email him back and see if he had any time to read it.
I both cases, I knew my audience real well, and had no problems telling either one of them, but they are the one's that I would tell at this point in my life. What really makes my situation tough is that my wife doesn't accept this lifestyle, and gets upset when I bring it up, so to protect her, I will not tell anyone from church, or anyone else that we know outside of who already knows.
I hope that someday my wife will understand how and why I feel the way I do, but until then I not only need to protect myself, but also her!
