Pray Our Christian
Friends to Naturism

(While praying our friends and neighbors to Christ)


(Article Updated 12/27/2004. Original Article)

A young man in England was on protest (at time of writing)*. He [was] going publicly nude until they change the law to allow nudity. After a couple of reprimands with a slap on the wrist, he is [was] facing charges of disorderly conduct and of being a public nuisance. He was not charged with nudity per se, but with charges that stem from nudity, in this case, public nuisance. (Later, he was found not guilty of “public nuisance” but other issues are still ongoing). * See story links and updates at bottom of page. (Links may not work now)

In the Sixties, streaking has become a favorite sport for many young people. Though it isn't much of a fad today, it has become a sort of a club in some areas. Some do it for fun, some for the shock value, a few are exhibitionists, and then there are those who are trying to publicize non-sexual public nudity in hopes of acceptance.

There are many people who are taking chances in their own private yards, getting the mail, mowing the lawn, tanning or sun bathing, doing house chores, answering the door, all in the nude. They also hope that exposure to non-sexual nudity will bring public acceptance.

What is going on? The main purpose behind all this is to get the general public used to the sight of nudity in hopes of making public nudity accepted and eventually legalized.

There are, of course, the public nude beaches and private naturist clubs that are already in place. Those who enjoy the practice of naturism still desire a more general acceptance of the practice.

There are national and worldwide organizations such as AANR, TNS and INF who are working at supporting the naturist lifestyle and giving legal council and backing to its members around the world. They have made great strides and have even come close to making public nudity legal in some places, especially on beaches and privately owned clubs.

But is it working? Well, yes, but very slowly. Why? What else needs to be done? Do we need more streakers? Streaking may be fun and exciting, but does it really help? Will legalizing nudity make it more acceptable to the community? Will home nudists who answer the door for pizza delivery or walk out to their mailbox give everyone the impression that nudism is the way to live?

Or will these attempts be like the cold wind trying to force a man to lose his coat by blowing harder? The man will only hold on to his coat even tighter. But if the sun comes out and smiles gently on the man, he will voluntarily take off his coat.

How can we naturist become like the gentle sun encouraging acceptance rather than coercing it? I think this is where I would like to go, or shall I clarify, where Christians need to go.

As a Christian, I go to church to worship, fellowship and to learn. Lately, our pastor has been teaching and encouraging us to pray for our neighbors. I don't mean, "Lord, bless the good ol' USA or my neighborhood" but to get to know our neighbors by name and pray for them by name. When you have a neighbor living on either side of you and two or three across the road from you, you have at least 4 to 5 families to pray for by name. What are we praying for? Their health, happiness, safety, encouragement, for us to be like Christ to them and of course, that they are coming to Christ everyday, especially those who don't know Christ yet. In other words, "Praying your neighbors to Christ".

Is it working? Yes! At least, I am seeing some benefits. No, I don't see them suddenly getting up on Sunday morning and going to church. However, I do see them being more open, talking about Christ, or doing and saying things that reflect the Christ. They may not see it happening, but I do. And the more I pray, the more peace and closeness I see in our neighborhood. Our neighbors are becoming friendly. Even at work, since I arrive about ten to fifteen minutes earlier than the others, I take the opportunity to go from cubicle to cubicle (only about five) and say a little prayer in each one. I talk to God about each one of my co-workers by name, praying for the safety of them and their family. I pray for peace that day, pray that we work as a team; I pray that we all come to Christ daily. Surprise, surprise, we talk more. We have even gotten together and talked about the bible and Christ. We work together better, we are less frustrated, and that was from only two or three prayer attempts! What would happen if I did this everyday?

Do you see where this article is going? We are Christians; we are ambassadors in "another country". This world and its system are another country so to speak. We belong in Gods' Kingdom, not in the kingdoms of this world. But way too many of our churches are getting involved in man's Government. They try to change man by forcing their will on them rather than praying them to Christ. We should be praying for the governments, for our schools, for our community and neighbors. We should be as Christ to them. Showing mercy, love, joy and peace, being available for council, listening, serving and "dying daily" for them. Not trying to force them to think like us or follow our laws or judge them.

Then where does that put us as Christian Naturists? We want to walk out to the mailbox in the nude too! We want to hop in our cars and leave our clothes behind and go to a city park and walk there, spend time with our families, go shopping and yes to work and church, without clothing and without fear or shame. We believe that Jesus took away the sins, the fear and shame. Why are we still burdened with the penalty of the sin of Adam when Jesus took it all away? What can we do to help the others see this? Streak our churches? That would be like taking meat from a pagan temple and giving it to the weak in faith. Should we then stop going nude altogether? Well, the person may not be allowed to eat meat from a pagan temple in front of another Christian who doesn't understand, but that doesn't mean he must stop eating meat privately or with other understanding Christians.

We must find another way! We are not accomplishing anything by blowing like the cold wind in hopes of blowing the ever-tightening coat off. There is a better approach!

That approach is vigilant prayer.

Pray other Christians to naturism. But first, (there is always a first) as Christians, we must be close to Christ. We must make sure that we are coming to Christ daily. We must first pray that we are becoming like Christ to our neighbors, which means we must daily come to Christ and learn from Him.

Then we pray our neighbors to Christ. Christianity is first; naturism is a far second. Yes, my wife and I both like to be nude and she enjoys my going nude in and around the house. Yes, I have gone to the mailbox in broad daylight to get my mail, planted flowers and pulled down dead and broken limbs and trees, taken out the garbage by the road and picking up the cans again, all in the nude. But do my neighbors know? I try not to be too forward about it, and I look to make sure they are doing something else or have left home. But I know one or two has seen me. Since they didn't do anything about it, does that mean they accept my nudity? Not necessarily. They may have tolerated a few accounts of brief nudity, but are they ready for social nudism? I am not betting on it yet.

Why?

Because they don't know me yet; they need to know me, and I need to know them too. I need to pray them to Christ, by name. In order to do that, I need to visit them, talk to them, and tell them my name and learn theirs. I need to invite them over for a cookout or dinner, fellowship with them and pray for them everyday! Again, by name. Bring their name and their family before God and ask God to set them aside as holy and belonging to God. Ask God to pay special attention to them and bless them just as God has blessed me. "To love God with all my heart, soul and might, and the second is like unto it, to love our neighbors as we do ourselves." (Mark 12:30, 33) These are the two great commandments. If we live just by these two commandments, we wouldn't need the other laws.

We feel the same way about the law of clothing. Clothing according to a modern Christian is needed to stop people from lusting, as if it really could. If I loved my neighbor as myself and loved God, then lust is not an option, why would I need clothing to stop lust? That's like keeping me from talking to my neighbors so I won't kill them. Which is what a civil restraining order does. If Christ lives in me, I am incapable of even being angry with my neighbor, never mind wanting to kill him. So why keep me from my neighbor? Those without Christ may need the restraining order and the law that says, "Thou shalt not kill". Christians need only Christ. That is why we need to pray them to Christ. Right now, all my neighbors see is a naked man in the yard. But do they see Christ when they see me? How do we change the hearts and minds of these well-meaning neighbors? How can we get them to see Christ in us? We pray. We can't change their minds and hearts of course, but God can. And here is a promise: God will!

When? How? How, is only known by God, but when? When we get down on our knees before the Throne of Grace and Jesus Christ, and cry out to him for our neighbors, our church, our pastors (by name again) and pray for their success, safety and pray for their salvation. Their salvation is far more important than their acceptance of naturism. But if clothing is giving them the impression that salvation is not found because they are still under the curse of the law, then by all means, let's remove those blinders! Let's remove the obstacle, the walls, and the curtain in the temple as God has already done! But we need to be more concerned for their salvation, NOT JUST OUR DESIRE TO WALK FREELY NAKED! That is a side benefit! The naked part is a blessing, a physical reward, and a freedom that is physical only! As much as I would love to walk out naked, I cannot if it means that others will walk in slavery to the world because of my freedom. So I have to be a slave long enough to free them. Then we can all walk naked before the Lord and each other.

I pray to Christ everyday totally naked and unashamed. I have even talked to the Lord many times about my naturism and about my neighbors’ acceptance of my naturism. But lately, I found that it was much more important for me to pray for their salvation. So I had to change my heart and mind and pray for their spiritual salvation, and that I become like Christ to them. If God is willing then that they accept my naturism, it is because instead of seeing a "naked man" they will now see Christ.

So at this time, all who have read up to this point, I am asking you as brothers and sisters in Christ, to start by:
1. Praying your neighbors to Christ. The ones on either side of you and across the road from you are first. Those who live further down the road or your nearest neighbors if you live far from them. Pray them to Christ. Pray that YOU become like Christ to them. Die daily for them. Serve them. Love them. Do this AT LEAST three times a week. Try everyday!

2. Pray for your co-workers. Get to work a few minutes earlier when others are not there yet and pray for them. Ask God to protect them, guide them, bless their relationship with the other workers and pray for their financial success, their careers and their families. And, of course, pray for their salvation. Pray daily for them. A good activity in traffic! Pray for the drivers around you.

3. Pray for your pastor and church. If your not going to church because you don't feel like your fitting in, then pray for them by name and start going back to church! You going to church will be a good example of faith, love, forgiveness and a willing show of support. My pastor [didn't] know yet about my naturism, but he does know I am praying for him and his wife. He knows I am praying for the church, he knows because I tell him. He knows I support the church because I am doing things to support it. He also knows I make mistakes, I may have theological ideas I haven't told him about (like naturism) (He now knows and is fine with it...but not at church!) and he knows we are all different in strengths and weaknesses. [I eventually told] him about my naturism. But first, I prayed for him and his family. I prayed for his success in his job. He is what is called a bi-vocational pastor. He has to hold a job to support his family. I pray for his ministry. I pray for the workers in the church who all volunteer to serve. We all pray for each other. [They now] know I am a naturist, but first, they will know that I am a Christian and that I support them and the work of God. And they will know first that I love God, I am a Christian and that I love His work and am thankful for the sacrifice of Christ. They know I am encouraging the other members of our church to pray and work, not just come in and warm a seat. I am preaching the gospel within the church as well as in my neighborhood, how? By praying for them, need I say again? BY NAME!

4. THEN we pray for their understanding of our naturism. Pray, not streak, pray, not parade. If we are too ashamed and fearful to go to the front of the church and kneel down to pray, then where do we get the gumption to walk around naked? PRAY!

And I am calling and expecting you to answer that call to pray. I am asking you to pray right now for your ability to pray. I am. I will pray for those who have a Christian Naturism Ministry, people like John Kundert, Cheef Dan, and others who are encouraging and serving the Christian Naturist community. But we need to pray each other and our neighbors, by name, to Christ.

I am qualifying this by saying that I know that those who are in Christ already do not need us to pray them to Christ (but you can pray for their relationship with Christ). If every one of you who read this start praying for our neighbors salvation and understanding of our naturism, and for the Christians understanding of our naturism, then I do believe that we will start to see our numbers grow and the churches, yes, even the "Far Rightists" will begin to soften up and come around.

May the Lord be with you all...by name,

Boyd Allen

May the Lord protect our nudity from the sight of those who will not benefit, and may he allow us to be seen by those who will.

*Here are some links to "Public displays of nudism in attempt to change the publics view of nudity":
(The following is for information only - not necessarily my opinion - and contains some nudity):

BBC: Not Guilty of Nuisance

The Freedom to be Yourself | The History of Freedom | Protest Naked

Join my BACN Forum for an interactive discussion on Christianity and it's role in naturism!

Please stay around for more of my articles here....

What is Naturism | Adam & Eve | New Testament Views | A Few Naked Words | The Second Adam

NEW! The Gospel According to a Christian Naturist

NEW! Nude Baptism | Pray For Christians | Modern Day Body Acceptance | God Said / Satan Said" | The Book of Romans

Self Examination Still Not Sure Yet? | Bible Verses | Favorite Sites | Naked Definitions | Ecologically Sound | The Naked Apostle

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