"Naked Church Service Opens Nudists' Rally"
The following is part of an article appearing in the Chicago Daily Tribute, August 18 under the above caption:
"WOBURN, England, August 17 (Reuters) — Nature lovers started their day with an undenominational church service in the nude and then opened their sixth World Nature congress here Sunday.
"One hundred stripped to greet the sunshine that answered their hopes for a small heat wave for the gathering of an expected 1,000 nudists from 38 countries.
"They cheered the news that Americans would soon be with them. Paul Neumann of Austria, secretary of the International Naturists federation, said the American Sunbathing Association would affiliate with the international body.
"After the opening business session, the naturists went off for a naked swim or gathered in groups for mass sun bathing."
The article also states, "Most wore only caps or cameras . . . ." and that "Clothed visitors on business were freely admitted and served a lamb chop lunch by a naked waitress."
In light of such carrying on, we wonder just what the world is coming to. Truly, God must be longsuffering and patient with mortal man, but as in the days of Noah, His Spirit shall not always strive with man. Should the world stand for another ten generations, what will those then living have to endure? May the Lord have mercy upon them.
The launching of such a day's activities with a service, supposedly to God, is the height of mockery; even more so when the service is itself "conducted in the nude." How the words of Paul ring out, "Let all things be done decently and in order." Imagine such a group invoking God to "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight" or singing, "0 Lord, watch Thou over us." There is one song of prayer, however, that is at least to the point even if it would not have been fitting for the occasion, "Dear Lord and Father of mankind, Forgive our foolish ways; Re-clothe us . . . ."
From the time sin first entered the world, such has not been so. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit,
"the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made them aprons." (Gen. 3:7.) But the Lord was not pleased with their scanty attire so He "made coats of skins, and clothed them." (Gen. 3:21.) Some of the near-nudists of today need to get the lesson here. Nakedness is a shame unto a people. (Ex. 32:25; 2 Chr. 28:19; Rev. 16:15)
On what grounds the naturists (so-called) may seek to justify their actions, I do not know, but it is evident that the only real reason is a sensual mind, and "the carnal mind is enmity against God." (Rom. 8:7.) They may argue that it is healthful to be exposed to the sun's rays, but better it is to have "sunlight in the soul" than ever so much on the body. This is likened unto "bodily exercise which profiteth little, but Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (I Tim. 4:8.)