Some of you who were here on Monday night met "happy2beadam" and his wife "eve". They came over Saturday with two of their children for lunch and social. Was a great day, got to know them and we had a great time.
He is a pastor and is ready to listen to the holy spirit on naturism. He feels God is calling him for a ministry here and is ready to go forward.
I hope we get to hear from them a lot on this forum.
Boyd
This message has been edited by boydallen on Sep 24, 2006 7:47 AM
Wow, just getting someone, especially a pastor, to listen to our side and what our feelings are on naturism says thay must be quite open minded and have alot of Grace. Part of my problem with organized religion and my separation from it is the lack of Grace in people and their judgemental attitudes. Very legalistic attitudes make the religious close off their minds to new ideas. They simply follow like sheep to the beat of someone else's drum and refuse to think for themselves...or even let others think for themselves and constantly try to force their biblical interpretations on everyone else. I'm looking forward to reading their posts and opinions.
listening to us.. we have something to say and for others to observe and listen...
September 24 2006, 10:18 PM
It is from the west christianity -- not of the east -- that you arte receiving attack.. doubts, etc.. The eastern christianity is concerned to utilizing our talents and gifts -- rather than concern of wat might seems to be wrong...more if you wish
west vs. east -- this is not a playoff game...........
September 25 2006, 2:26 AM
Further on this east vs. west.
Early Christianity had a lot of different spiritualities --emphasis on different things, not quite un-like today's denominations/
Rome and the west found they wanted to emphasize legality. e.g. A law that said you must attend church on various days under pain of seriuous sin.. While the east emphasized the talents and the gifts for humanity -- helping the un-fortunate -- as an expected expression of our faith, ratrher than as a must do...
Thus rigidity came about where the Pharasee concept of over 600 laws!! all but made everything a sin...was continued! Lets take nudity in this context.... The west would feel we must keep covered -- even when alone because we have sinned and must (their emphasis not mine) keep our body parts from view. Now the eastern catholic philosophy teaches we are "made in the likeness of God and we honor Him by allowing our bodies to be displayed as they were intended to be. Thus I as a Maronite rite Catholic -- from an origin in Antioch -- am at peace being stark nude and very much at peace as well as comfort being aware that God is being honored. wittnee the nude baptism, nude working in the east and tiume of apostles, etc.
What happens is what we are brought up around many times has a way of coming back to haunt us as possible wrong -- the song anything goes....
Imagination not with standing, this fear of showing the intimate frontal male anatomy seems to be reason for the religious representation of the crucifiction with a loin cloth.. straighten this out.. why did the soldiers cast dice for the garment of Jesus since it was one seamed. No where is the word, term or concept used of loin cloth in the scripture when discussing this soul saving selless act. Additionally, appealing to their shame as having sinned the Romans crucified their convicts naked to show the starkness of their -- to their way of thinking -- bodies. This was Roman thinking to use a Christian concapt, all be it that they did not believe it.
Now lets take the Olympic games, the Greeks, who otherwise worked naked in many cases, just threw off clothes and were comfortable.. They originated the concept of the beauty of the body and that we are as what we were intended by the gods (correct).. Now shame came in by way of the Romans later. The YMCA tried to re-introduce nudity in swimming much later.
This is a good case of legalism versus practicality.. to quote a usually reliable source on this, the human body is like looking at elephants: you have seen one you have seen them all.. Probably the one part of the human anatomy that should stay covered is the bald head for sun protection reasons outside. Lets not forget the feet only to not step on items aound...
Are you the same "happy2beadam" and "eve" from Christian Naturist Village? If so, you're doubly welcome here; your posts over there have already blessed me greatly. Good to see you!
That's great news! I'm very glad to hear it. It seems the Lord is in deed calling many Christians into the naturist way of life. I'm glad to hear He's bringing more leaders into it. It's great that you all had a chance to meet, too. Maybe we can all get together some time later, too (I'm the one in Virigina, near Kevin). Either way, I look forward to seeing how things progress.
...I guess we've both just been too busy, or whatever. Of course, I didn't realize how close you lived until some time recently...late last year? As we'ved discussed, we still need to work on getting together some time. I look forward to it.
This is my feeling that there isa somethin about to be a part of being a Chriustian...naturiusm.. read old testament nude prophets and Isaiah told to go as many of us are right now-- in the natural --and feeling good about it! in old testament.
Francis of Assissi going around nude in spireit of holy spirit.
Nude lifestyle of apostle-fishermen.
I sincrerely believe Christ was naked numerous times in his life -- including the crucifiction. The prudery of placing a loin cloth on the religiouis remembrances of this supremew act are not scriptural..
"I sincrerely believe Christ was naked numerous times in his life -- including the crucifiction."
And the footwashing at the Last Supper. It's rather hard to both wear and use a towel! Both the Greek text and the King James translation say that Jesus removed his *garments*--not his "outer clothing" as so many modern translations render it.
But are the "modern" translations supposed to be more accurate? I am not referring to "paraphrased" since they are not about "accurate" but simplicity.
They're supposed to have better sources and be easier to understand; but I seldom hear them claim "accuracy" as a prime virtue. In fact, some of them pride themselves on the way they rearrange the originals "in contemporary style." rolls eyes
I have the same question, except it is my belief that the Holy Spirit is in action giving a certain amount of guidance to prevent errors that might mis-lead....k
Unfortunately, with simplicity often come errors--as in the case of removing the word "begotten" from John 3:16. That changes it from "His only begotten Son" to "His only Son." God's word says that we are sons and daughters of God if we are born again. So Jesus is NOT God"s ONLY Son. He is, however, His only BEGOTTEN Son.
Why would Jesus bother to put the towel around Him if He was still wearing clothing? It makes sense that He was nude while washing their feet. Yes, it was supposedly only men, but that doesn't prove that nudity can't be between both genders.
this is the optimum -- not all are called, evewn fewer are chosen, fewer less can enjr
September 26 2006, 6:27 PM
message title says it all...n----- is a optimum state-- very rare properly used.. often misunderstood... the bade guys who ruin people's lives got us a bum rap... clothes for them, please...
