The Wife’s Perspective

When Phil first told me he was a naturist I wasn’t really surprised. I knew about his inclination to be nude as a kid and teenager. I knew he liked being nude at home when the kids weren’t around. The fact that he preferred being nude wasn’t a shock. The shock came when he told me he was talking with other “strangers” that preferred to be nude too and that they were Christians as well. I would have laughed had I not been so angry! I was sure there was no such thing as a Christian naturist. They must be a bunch of perverts! My curiosity got the best of me though, or maybe it was the Spirit’s prodding. I wanted to research on my own and see what these people were really like. I was confused when they seemed fairly normal. There had to be something I was missing.

The Lord and I had lots of conversations over the next few days. The more I talked with Him and put my preconceived ideas down, the more I began to see clearly. Within 5 or 6 days I realized that what I was missing was the goodness of naturism and the friendships of those I once called perverts. I was all in! I’m aware that most wives don’t have the journey I did. Most take longer to join their husbands and some never do. I understand the hesitation. I truly do! It’s a huge step and one that can be very scary! However, if the Lord has drawn your husband to naturism, I would like to encourage you to study Scripture with your husband. Read books written about Christian naturism and talk to others who have this conviction before you write it off. This different way of thinking is genuinely a blessing to our men and to us. Most men in our culture are doing one of two things: constantly trying to avoid temptation or seeking it out, or a combination of the two. To have a husband who can see naked women but doesn’t lust after them is a gift! I know without a doubt that Phil is faithful to me, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. The difference in our relationship is astounding! Things weren’t bad before, but we didn’t love each other all that well. We have had so much fun together over the last 3 plus years. We love each other on a much deeper level than before. 

This new way of thinking has brought us the gift of the people we have met on this journey. They are some of the most genuine, sincere, Godly, kind, funny, generous, amazing people you will ever meet! They have blessed us in so many ways. We pray for each other, share our highs and lows, and we’ve traveled across the country to visit some of them. We’ve stayed in their homes and eaten dinner at their tables. We’ve met their children and gone to church with them. We’ve played games and laughed so much! We’ve mourned with each other during loss and celebrated when new life enters the world. We’ve had some of the most amazing Spiritual conversations. They are the first we want to share news with. They are not only friends, they have become family and I wouldn’t trade them for anything! 

For me, it’s a gift that I can go to the local public pool and never once judge others or myself for the way we look. The weight that is lifted by not caring how others perceive me is so freeing. I know who I am, and I love who I am because I am so much more than my weight or my curves, and so are you! You are a beautiful daughter of the Most High King. You are dearly loved by Him. You are treasured and adored. You are sacred and made for a purpose. You are precious and very good You are an image of God! 

I didn’t know it then, but allowing the Lord to reveal to me the truth about my body was the catalyst for many other truths the Lord wanted to show me about who He is and what He wants for my life and for His people. It has literally changed everything for me. Satan didn’t want me to be free in my thinking about my body. I don’t believe he is all knowing, but I do think he has enough experience to know that this was just the tip of the iceberg for me. Satan wants us to stay in bondage to anything that keeps us from knowing and experiencing the fullness of the Father’s love for us. For so many women, being in bondage to our own bodies is one of the easiest ways to keep us in chains. 

It wasn’t just for me that those bonds were broken though. With the help of the Lord we are changing the way our family thinks today and hopefully for generations to come. We need to start showing our children that they have been created in the image and likeness of the Most High God. That word means a picture—a physical and spiritual image of the Lord. No matter what we look like, our bodies are a gift from God and the pinnacle of His creation. If we can begin to put that into the minds and hearts of our children, I believe that we can begin to change the current course the world and the church is on. The current methods aren’t working! We give the boys a pass with phrases like, “boys will be boys” and “every man’s battle.” We put blame and guilt on girls because their skirts are too short and their shirts are too low cut. It’s wrong, and it’s not fair to either group.

I will not lie down and surrender to the notion that my boys are sentenced to a lifetime of bouncing their eyes or installing barriers on their computers in order not to lust. That is bondage! We need renewed minds and hearts.

I refuse to lie down and surrender to the notion that my daughter will forever feel inferior and ugly because she’s comparing her body to the ones she sees in the magazines or on TV. That is bondage! We need renewed minds and hearts.

Change starts with us, and we will do what we can as the Lord guides us to help bring freedom to those who don’t even know they are in bondage, and to help guide those who are already seeking.

Isaiah 61:1: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound…”

Galatians 5:1: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” 

I was in bondage to shameful and hateful thinking towards myself and toward others. Your bondage may be different, but the desire of the Father is that we all be set free from the things that hinder us from fully worshiping and bringing Him glory. If it holds you back, it’s bondage, and you need to be set free.

Once you’ve been set free, don’t look back like Lot’s wife. Run full steam ahead into the new life that the Lord wants to bless you with. Don’t allow Satan to trick you into falling back into stinkin’ thinkin’.

Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

The Father has helped me renew my mind and my heart. What was initially for me an oxymoron, Christian naturist, has become a reality in my life, and one for which I am forever grateful!

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This was a sneak peak from Mrs. Phil’s chapter in “Surprised Into Freedom”.

Learn more about our upcoming book here. You can submit an email to be among the first to know about the release date.

Avocado Theology

What would happen if a small animal (say a rabbit) convinced Eve to eat an avocado instead of an apple (assuming the forbidden fruit was an apple)? That’s the question the makers of a commercial for Super Bowl 2023 decided to take on for their brand, Avocados From Mexico.

If you didn’t see the ad, you can watch it below. It’s an interesting concept. As a naturist, it’s fun to see this type of playful and for the most part non-sexual nudity in the mainstream on TV. I had seen it before the Big Game, so I was looking forward to it coming on as I watched with my Christian small group. Unfortunately, most of them missed it when it came on and no one said anything about it. But I have some thoughts about it, and this is the place to chat about it. So I’ll briefly share a few thoughts here, and you can sound off in the comments section. Let’s dialogue!

It starts with darkness overtaking paradise and Eve with a mouth full saying, “I might’ve taken a small bite.” and Adam realizing he was naked and freaking out. Then to save the day a rabbit (not the serpent) offers Eve an avocado (from Mexico) saying, “They make everything better!” As she breaks it in half, it glows and she looks on in wonder and anticipation. The scene transitions to an alternate reality of present day in the “Big Avocado” (New York) where everyone is naked and going about their jolly day. Everyone is all smiles and traffic is smooth as always. Even the taxi drivers are paying each other compliments saying, “Yo, I love you!” and “No, I love YOU!” And in fashion news, naked continues to be all the rage. There’s an avocado-like phone being launched from a company similar to Apple. And the you can tell Lady Liberty is naked and Eve says, “Now that’s a tourist attraction.”

It’s a very funny and creative ad. Naturists might not like that all the body parts get covered up creatively. We have to remember, this isn’t nudist or naturist programming. It’s mainstream, and for normalizing nudity, I think it’s a win. Prudish Christian attitudes probably thought, “At least they covered up their body parts!” The irony is the half time show (as it usually is) was much more sexually charged and suggestive than this ad about a naked utopia. The bit I didn’t care for was them looking up at the Statue of Liberty and objectifying her a little. The rest is very non-sexual.

I love that the fashion show is all nude, because I’m not a fan of fashion. I get that even naturists like to dress up every now and then, but I’m very utilitarian about my clothing. It needs to be comfortable, and I don’t care much about the brands or the latest trends. True fashion shows and expensive clothing are laughable for me—pointless and silly.

The writers of this brilliant piece must be nudist or at least nudist friendly—similar to the new movie starring Allison Brie, “Somebody I Used to Know.” What’s surprising to me is the theology that goes into this ad. It’s ridiculous to think that another fruit could offset the impact of the forbidden fruit, but they were going for a crazy scenario anyway. But what they paint a picture of is modern day living if no one had ever sinned. We’d still all be naked! We’d be a lot happier! As the sign in the commercial says, “The end is NOT near!”

Detractors from Christian Naturism have claimed that you can’t have an after the end times experience this side of the fall. To do so would be immanentizing the eschaton. We wrote a post about that. This ad creatively supposes the fall never happened, or the rabbit and avocados saved and redeemed humanity. We know Jesus does that and can even restore innocence with faith like a child (Matthew 18:1-3). 

Many people have never even considered what this scenario would be like or what the future (Eden restored) will truly be like. Most are too freaked out over their own nakedness like Adam at the beginning to consider such a life. But naturists love and enjoy this reality as much as they can, when they can. It’s unthinkable to the common person. The ad seems outlandish, but it’s really not too far off from a naturist existence. It’s not a perfect world, but for brief moments it pretty much can be.

What are your thoughts about the ad? What did they get right or wrong? How did others react to it at your Super Bowl party?

It’s been hard.

It’s been a rough week. I was thinking about writing a post about seasonal affective disorder. Recent events prove the timeliness of this post. I wanted to research it and learn more about it. I’m no doctor. I honestly don’t know much about it. I know it affects a lot of people to varying degrees.

Naturists will often speak of it in the winter as opportunities for being nude out in nature diminish greatly. What is a natural and healthy stress reliever and an activity that brings great joy to this portion of the population is stripped away viciously due to the colder temperatures.

Naturist parks try to remedy this malady by offering more indoor recreation. Domes get put over pools in some cases. While these efforts are well received and wonderful alternatives, it’s no secret attendance goes down in the winter. Our first trip to a park was in the winter when all this park had to offer was trails and a hot tub. And it was pretty much a ghost town! (Read about our beginnings here.)

The importance of Vitamin D cannot be understated. The sun is a wonderful natural disinfectant and source of this vital vitamin. In the winter our exposure to the sun is cut down by a lot. Moods tend to be more melancholy than in the other 3 seasons. For those suffering any amount of depression or anxiety, I’m guessing numbers go up in the winter. We may enjoy the beautiful winter wonderland when it first hits. A naked snow angel is a fun pastime. After a good snow (depending on where you live) the novelty can wear off. When it’s just ice and cold, we start counting down the days to spring.

Winter just seems to be hard for so many. I’ve noticed during years of ministry and just life experience that there seems to be more death in Winter than in Spring, Summer, or Autumn months. This hit very close to home here of late. It’s been a hard week! Two days ago we buried my grandma, my last remaining grandparent. Today we had to put down our dog of over 10 years. I suppose this writing is a bit therapeutic for me, as I have shed more tears than I have in some time. As Christian believers, we take encouragement from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, knowing we do not grieve like those who have no hope. However, these are real issues that cause sadness. It’s ok to be sad. Death makes the other seasonal issues seem a bit trite.

That’s not to say those other issues aren’t valid because they certainly are. So I’d like to circle back and close this short blog post with question for you, dear reader, and make this interactive. In the comments, let’s hear how you cope with everything from winter blues to the death of a loved one? Answer however you’d like about whatever issue you’d like to focus on. Let’s encourage each other in these difficult days.

Reflections & Resolutions

During the holiday season it is normal to reflect on the last year– to reminisce on the amazing and beautiful things that have happened and to bid farewell to the not so beautiful parts that our story held. 

As I look back on this year, initially my feelings are that in many ways it’s a year I am happy to say goodbye to. It’s held many challenging times for our family from issues with children, to health concerns with parents and more. I will be grateful to have 2022 in the rearview mirror. Even in the most difficult of times though, there were always blessings along the way. At our lowest points of the year the Lord provided family and friends to come alongside us as we walked the dark roads. Some of the friends we began the year with we no longer call friends, but those friendships that remain after the storm are truly something to treasure because they were fortified. And we have gained new friends along the way! 

There have been some amazing times of healing and growth this year too. The Lord has been so faithful to our family (isn’t He always?)! He provided supernatural insight, protection, peace beyond understanding, healing and new paths for us to journey on. He has blessed us through emails from some of our amazing readers telling us of their own journeys and the impact that Aching for Eden has had in their lives. We have been encouraged to hear how the Father is leading you and are honored to be part of your stories. We have had many times of sweet fellowship with brothers and sisters in the faith, naturist and non-naturist. We are so very grateful for each and everyone of you, as you have all been a part of our 2022 in some way!

Looking ahead to a new year also causes us to analyze what we would like to change or do better. Usually people commit to exercising more or eating less. People seem to want to start the new year by getting rid of what some consider bad habits like smoking or drinking or just being lazy. While exercising more and eating better and putting down the cigarettes are all good things, I think often times we overlook some of the other bad habits we have, like speaking poorly to others and to ourselves. I think many have very bad habits when it comes to their thought life. We judge others harshly and then turn the judgement on ourselves. We could all benefit from cleaning out the dirty little spaces of our minds that cause these reactions. I’ve started this process in my own life and I know many of you have too. The knowledge of Imago Dei helps greatly with overcoming negative thinking! While I have intentions of treating my body better this year, I have intentions of treating my mind better too. I want to rest in the Father’s affection for me and internalize more fully the fact that He has the same affection for all of us.

As we look forward to 2023, the Scripture that comes to mind is Numbers 6:24-26. As the Lord instructed this blessing to be spoken over the Israelites, so we too, speak it over you:

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”

We look forward to 2023 with eager anticipation of where the Lord will lead next!

Happy Nude Year!

Coming Out to a Loved One

This is an example of a conversation you could have with a loved one. Many naturists, us included, are “closeted” (to borrow popular terminology) and have moments when they are required to “come out of the closet” to their closest family and friends, at the very least. While each conversation should be from the heart and not following a script, I want to provide this sample to give just a few ideas that could then be tailored to a specific situation and person with whom you are speaking.

I recall doing this with Mrs. Phil, over three years now. I had prepared some notes to keep my thoughts in line. I was so nervous, but spoke from the heart, and maybe you know the story. If not, you can read about it in the beginning. We’ve both learned a lot more in the last few years, but most of the message remains the same.

Here is what a conversation from a Christian perspective might look like. In fact, I probably need to have this type of talk with a few people soon.

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Me: Hey friends. Thanks for sitting down with us. You know we greatly value our friendship and trust you guys. It’s because of our close relationship that we want to let you know some things about us that you weren’t aware of before. You know that we’ve grown in our beliefs about God and life in the last few years, but you don’t know the whole story. One of the areas where we’ve drastically changed our beliefs is when it comes to the body and how we view the human body. So, I’m just going to rip the bandaid off and let the chips fall down where they may, and tell you that we now consider ourselves Christian naturists. 

Them: Naturist? I’m not even sure I know what that means. Is it bird watching? What’s that have to do with the body?

Me: I thought maybe you wouldn’t know the term. Saying it another way, we are nudists. Like, we go to nudist or naturist resorts and nude beaches and stuff. When we went to Idaho a while back, it was to enjoy natural hot springs in the buff with other people of a like mind.

Them: Whoa! OK, this is not at all what I expected. That sounds incredibly dangerous and I’m not sure how you reconcile that with your faith.

Me: I know it’s a bit out there! But it’s a good thing not to judge something you don’t understand. Believe me, I’ve been right where you are, thinking it’d be an oxymoron for a Christian to be a nudist or even a naturist. I thought they were out there rationalizing their own perverted behavior. But then I studied it more, and got to know some, and found it to be the complete opposite. That was projection on my part. I was the one with perverted thinking, having been conditioned like the rest of society, to immediately and always tie sex to nudity. 

We don’t see the simple nude as rude, lewd, or obscene in and of itself. In the same way that a naked tribe would think nothing of it, or in pioneer days, bathing in a stream, or nude baptisms for the first few centuries, which is an often forgotten practice. Even our Lord, Jesus Christ was publicly naked in key moments of his ministry. His birth, baptism, the washing of feet, his cruxifixction, and resurrection, leaving burial cloths behind and being mistaken for a gardener who worked without ever soiling the expensive clothes of that day. 

It was Pope John Paul II that said, “There are circumstances in which nakedness is not immodest. If someone takes advantage of such an occasion to treat the person as an object of enjoyment (even if his action is purely internal) it is only he who is guilty of shamelessness, not the other…Sexual modesty cannot then in any simple way be identified with the use of clothing, nor shamelessness with the absence of clothing and total or partial nakedness…Immodesty is present only when nakedness plays a negative role with regard to the value of the person, when its aim is to arouse concupiscence, as a result of which the person is put in the position of an object for enjoyment…There are certain objective situations is which even total nudity of the body is not immodest.”¹

His Theology of the Body is relatively unknown in protestant circles, but very important to consider and understand. It goes to show that our ideas of modesty are off base and unhelpful, and the wake of purity culture is all the evidence that’s needed to make this point.

Sin is in the mind before any activity. We must have renewed minds. You can lust in a fully clothed situation, and you can also not lust in a nude one.

Now we not only believe you can have and enjoy non-sexual nudity in mixed company, but we have had incredible experiences for years with these types of situations, and never had a problem. In fact, we’ve had rich moments of spiritual encouragement with other Christian naturists that have enhanced our faith. That level of vulnerability is so rare. It’s stripped of any pretense and gets right down to the heart level when there is literally nothing to hide.

Them: Wow. I have so many questions. Let me ask a very personal one: you don’t get aroused at these places?

Me: No. That seems to be everyone’s fear at the beginning. It’s amazing how “normal” it becomes when everyone is nude, doing normal things we would normally be doing clothed. 

Them: I guess that’s cool. You’d mentioned to us before that you used to have issues with pornography and that you don’t anymore. Did you just replace porn with being around actual naked bodies? I’m just trying to wrap my head around this bombshell.

Me: Great question, and I’m so glad you asked it. My desire for porn has vanished, in large part due to my experience with exposure to simple non-sexual wholesome nudity. And I’m certainly not alone in that. Thousands of other men and women who had porn compulsions have overcome this, and one of the main catalysts for change for them has been embracing the philosophies of naturism. You know we’ve been talking publicly about “Imago Dei” and the image of God. This explains why it’s become part of our every day language. That original intent of God’s is now deeply embedded in us. You might think we can never have such a utopia this side of heaven, but we long for the restoration of innocence and all the wrongs being made new again. We ache for the ideal that was Eden. The world isn’t going to get it, but we at least can and we do.

We would be adamantly against anything that degrades and dehumanizes another human being. We are against any objectification of any kind. Since making they shift in our minds, we see objectifying behavior rampant in the fully clothed or textile world. We opt to choose love over lust at all times.

It must be stated that we believe the notion that is so common in Christian books, teachings, and conferences, that all men are visual and can’t help themselves but to react sexually to visual stimuli is a lie that must be rejected. It has caused much of the very problem it set out to address. Jesus said it is a matter of the heart, not the eyes. 

Them: It’s starting to make a bit more sense, and I’ve stopped seeing you as crazy the more I hear you talk. What else has this new belief taught you?

Me: Well, it’s a new belief to us, but it’s an old one, the oldest. We see it as God’s original intent. Many Christians seem to have their starting point from Genesis 3 and the fall, skipping right over Genesis 1 and 2, where God created humans as the pinnacle of all creation, naked and unashamed, and called it not just good, but very good. The nude human is literally the crowning glory of creation, beautiful as a sunrise. Seeing it this way changes everything. Then notice it was sinful man that created clothing, when they tried to sew fig leaves to cover up. The text says it was out of fear, not shame. When they tell God they were naked (a term unfamiliar to them before eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil) God asks them, “Who said you were naked?” Have you ever thought about that question? Or have you glossed over it like I used to? Who’s the only other character in the story that could have been influencing their thinking with lies? Yeah, the serpent. Evil still speaks all sorts of lies, and when we agree with them, bad things happen.

Them: You are literally blowing my mind right now, but I’m starting to see some things I’ve never even considered before.

Me: Exactly. We’ve found many benefits. Not just for the body, but also for the mind, the soul and spirit. When we are naked in nature, we feel grounded and connected to our Creator at a deep level. It’s a very spiritual experience, not unlike the prophets of old. Isaiah was ordered by God to walk completely naked for three years. When Saul stripped down in public, people asked if he was now among the prophets. Common nudity was normal back in Bible times. We are so incredibly private now. Ask any nurse who has seen lots of non-sexual nudity if it’s a big deal for them, and they’ll tell you it’s not.

Them: I remember now one time at a wedding you said your advice to the new couple was “sleep naked.” We thought that was funny and crazy, but you were serious!

Me: Oh yes! When you let the body breathe as it’s supposed to, there are many health benefits. It’s also the most effective stress reliever I know of. My mental health has greatly improved through this practice. It has a healing effect that’s well documented. Whether it’s anxiety or even PTSD, naturism has helped millions of people around the world. One of the greatest things has been overcoming the body shame that is heaped onto us today from the earliest of ages. Now we are so much less judgmental and see everyone as God sees them, fearfully and wonderfully made, beautiful, made in his image and worthy of respect and dignity. I mean, my wife would tell you that she’s gone from always thinking she was fat and prideful to seeing herself as beautiful and holy. That transformation cannot be understated. She lived with poor self esteem for most of her life, and the body acceptance that comes through naturism is unrivaled in countering this cultural baggage and giving body shame a death blow, like it did with me and porn.

Them: I can’t believe this! My jaw is like on the ground right now. But thank you for trusting me with this.

Me: No, thank you for being the type of friend we can open up to about this. You see, we’ve wanted to tell you this about us for some time now. But we realize how misunderstandings can cause friendships to end, and we didn’t want to risk losing our friendship. That sounds negative, but we want to share this with you because we don’t see it as a negative at all. It’s a positive thing, in so many ways, and we want you to know the whole truth. The naked truth, unvarnished. We are still the same people you know and love. We believe from the bottom of our hearts that this change in thinking has made us better versions of ourselves, better Christians, and better people as a result.

Them: That’s really cool. But I’ve gotta ask, what about the kids?

Me: Here’s one of those misunderstandings that can take place. These resorts we’ve gone to are actually family-friendly. There are people of all ages, all naked as created running around, skinny dipping, playing volleyball and pickleball and hiking, etc. Kids that grow up with all of that don’t have as many of the hangups about the body as those who don’t. Think about it, when we are so private and awkward about having matter of fact dialogue about the body and body parts and the like, they are going to learn about sex from their friends. I would rather teach them myself then have them be curious and turn to immature kids for their sex education. Just a little research shows that this can have a very positive effect on children. So at home, we actually will be around the home “comfortable” even down to nothing. Our youngest daughter has gone with us to resorts and gatherings. It’s been good for our boys to see what a real female body is in their mother, and not just the airbrushed models that Hollywood and Madison Avenue endlessly promote. It’s helped them too with their own issues of lust at their delicate age.

Them: Interesting. That’s a lot to take in. Not that I’m wanting to join you and try this, but how would I learn more?

Me: Well, that’s the last thing I’d like to tell you about. Since we’ve been doing this for years, we have started a blog to help people reconcile their faith with naturism. It’s called Aching For Eden, and there is a bunch on there, as well as a resource page with tons of information to explore. 

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Now I realize that this is a best case scenario, and that is sometimes not the case. We haven’t had the liberty yet to tell a lot of people, but with everyone we have talked to, it has gone remarkably well. I have friends who would testify that it’s not always the case. It’s important to be careful about who you share with and how you do it, always relying, of course, on the promptings of the spirit. I hope that everyone we open up to will be understanding and not judge without further exploration into a largely unknown subject. The strategy should be continually bathed in prayer and in love.

¹John Paul II, Love and Responsibility (London: HarperCollins, 1981) quoting from the section “The Metaphysics of Shame,’ in order from: p 190, p176, p 190, p 191.

From Pastor to Nudist (Part 2)

If you haven’t already, you should watch or read part 1 of this series here. This video contains non-sexual nudity, just as a fair warning. If non-sexual nudity is new to you, maybe watch and you’ll see how non-sexual it is. Otherwise, just read the transcript below:

Jim: We have all of this theoretical knowledge now. We have the Bible on it, but what’s the practical application like? So on Friday we stopped in at Whitetail Resort in Ivor, Virginia. And we paid our day
visit fee, checked in at the office and we drove our minivan over to the clubhouse where the indoor pool was.

And I’m looking at her to see if she’s going to get out first. And she’s looking at me to see if I’m going to get out first. And neither one of us could get out of the van. We drove away after paying the stupid fee and spending 10 minutes sitting in the van talking to each other. We drove away without ever
getting out of the van. Hmm.

And we were both kind of like, this is stupid. What are we afraid of? And so we talked about it all week long that we would go back the following weekend after the retreat was over. We’d get a room and we’d spend them, you know, that we could get some acclimation time on our own. And, you know, we got undressed in the room, the hotel room kind of thing. And we’re kind of like looking out the window, right To see if, you know, anybody else is out there.

And there were a lot out there. We we remember a lady off to our right was gardening in her garden
outside as God intended. And we look over at the basketball courts. There’s a couple of teenagers
playing basketball and an older fellow on a riding lawnmower mowing the lawn, an older couple walking their dog. Everything was so normal.

Everything was so normal.

And so we’re standing out on the porch, on the deck outside our hotel room. And it just was like a little mind blowing. That these folks were all naked but doing just normal, everyday things. Which is, which is what we expected but didn’t expect.

We met the most wonderful people that weekend and had the most wonderful time. In fact, at that very resort we’ve met some of the folks that have been 20 year friendships now.

We’re sitting by the pool, their kids are playing and they have a newborn. And so I asked him, I said, “What do you do for a living?” And he says, “Well, I’m a Baptist preacher.”

And the mouth thing again. You could have pushed me over with a feather because I’m sitting here
and he goes, “What do you do for a living?” I said, “I’m a Baptist preacher.” It’s like, “Oh, that’s great!’ I’m like, “That is just weird, man.”

Kim: Really great people and friends through the years. They don’t hide anything. I think the friendships are real compared to the normal people who can hide behind their clothing.

It’s just, we’re like family. Everyone, everyone. This whole week!

Jim: Feels like it’s how it’s supposed to be, doesn’t it?

Kim: Yeah. It’s relaxing and just good people, and I enjoy it. Yeah.

Jim: The first. The first visit was tough. That second visit was easy.

Kim: For him. For you. It took me a little bit, but just the people you meet. And once you’re there, it’s
great. It’s just… I mean, I’d rather have this kind of vacation any day! The freedom. You almost don’t
want to put your clothes back on when go home, you know?

Jim: What do you think about going to the beach? Would you rather go to the beach and wear a swimsuit or go to a nudist beach?

Kim: Oh my gosh. Yeah.

Jim: How about our pool in the backyard? Swimsuit or no?

Kim: No, never.

Means of Grace

Grace defined: the free and unmerited favor of God.

In just under 3 years, I have come to call myself a naturist. It’s not all of who I am, but it’s a big part of who I am. Initially my Bible study and soul searching was to make sure this practice didn’t go against my faith. I’ve come to realize over time, though, that I had been associating my faith with a denomination (Christian) instead of associating my faith with my Heavenly Father. If I were to ask church leaders of any denomination if naturism was congruent with the Bible, they would probably tell me no. We’ve shared lots of Scriptures and their context and explanations here already as to why we feel it is congruent with the Bible, so I’m not going to do that. Instead, I want to talk about things a little differently. 

While at a Christian Naturist retreat a few weeks ago, I was speaking with a well known author in the Christian naturist world. At one point during our conversation he used the term “means of grace,” and it struck a chord with me. This man was using examples such as the Lord parting the Red Sea for the Israelites. The parting wasn’t grace itself, but it was a means of grace. The cross wasn’t grace itself, but it was a means of grace. I’ve been saying for awhile now, that I’ve felt like the Lord used naturism as a catalyst (the means) in my life to show me so many other areas where I have not been living in the freedom that Jesus died for. I love that term, “means of grace”! Phil and I have been talking a lot lately about the Lord’s grace in our lives and what it means to live in it. 

I have been a Christian my whole life, and thought I had a pretty good relationship with God. I went to church regularly, prayed, read my Bible (occasionally and almost always with an attitude of obligation). I served in the church nursery. I was on the children’s ministry team. I was a pastor’s wife for cryin’ out loud! I didn’t smoke, I didn’t chew and I didn’t go out with boys that…did. I followed all the rules. I lied to my parents once, and confessed that I lied to them about 15 minutes after I did it. Really, I was the epitome of a good Christian girl. I carried around a sense of pride when I did all the things I was supposed to do, and when I didn’t, the guilt and shame was thick. I thought I was supposed to feel guilty and I would try harder not to fail God the next day. 

The things the Father has been showing me about grace though are the complete opposite.

The things the Father has been showing me about grace though are the complete opposite. He’s been showing me that he wants a relationship with me like the relationship I want with my children. I love it when my kids want to talk with me and spend time with me! What if the Father feels the same way about me? Does he long for me to come to him like I long for my kids to do the same? I think that he does! 

I am not required to serve in the church nursery to be a good Christian, although I should if I feel led to. I am a sinful person, saved by grace and free to live in the freedom that was bought by the blood of Jesus. Guilt and shame are not from my Father; they are from the father of lies, and he has no claim on me! Because I am a new creation and the Holy Spirit dwells in me, I am a good person. When I am living in the grace given to me, I will automatically want to do those things that I used to see as requirements and obligations. I am no longer under the old law, but under grace.

I’ve found the Lord can use whatever He wants to draw his children to himself.

I’ve found the Lord can use whatever He wants to draw his children to himself. These are things the Lord revealed to me after he showed me the freedom I had concerning my body. Once I had studied how he felt about the body and realized what I had been taught didn’t quite line up with reality, I wanted to study more and find out what other areas the Lord wanted to teach us new things. I’ve been amazed at the journey the Lord has taken us on! 

Obviously the Lord can use whatever he wants to draw his people to himself. For you it may have been an illness or an accident or some other incident in your life, big or small. For Phil and me, the Lord definitely used naturism as a “means of grace.” Naturism isn’t the grace itself obviously, but the Lord used it to draw me into a closer relationship with him– a relationship I only thought I had before. A relationship that keeps me excited and eager to learn new mysteries. A relationship of grace, mercy, love, joy, peace and so much more!!

From Pastor to Nudist (Part 1)

Continuing the series of new videos from Aching for Eden Productions, here’s part 1 of an amazing true story.

WARNING: This post contains nudity. If this offends you, skip the video and just read the transcript. Hopefully if you are on this site, the sight of simply nudity is ok, or you’re reconditioning your mind to see the innocence in it.

And here’s the transcript:

We were at a business meeting in a friend of ours’ home, and after the meeting was over we were sitting around just drinking coffee and visiting and having a great time. And the lady of the house, she kind of like embarrassed looking and hesitant. And she says, “I need to ask you for a favor.” And she says, “You’re a pastor, right?” “Well, yeah, of course, yes.” She says, “I really need you to help me. My sister and her husband and their family are nudists.” And she kind of she kind of whispered it like like it was a bad word, you know, nudists. “And I need you to help me talk them out of it.” And we kind of looked at each other like it was kind of funny, you know?

But I said, “Oh, absolutely, I’m in, but give me a week so I can get some ammo. We need to do a Bible study, find out what the Bible says so that we have some ammo for them.” I said, “I don’t want to just wing it.” “We’ll straighten them up!” And so we drove home that night.

We kind of joked about it on the way home, you know, because we had about an hour and a half drive home. And it was just it was one of those odd things.

We started looking up every verse on naked or nude or anything to do with that subject. We already knew ahead of time we could not use anything with Adam and Eve, so we kind of just glossed over that right away. But suddenly, everywhere we looked was positive.

You know, we’ve got King Saul was naked with the prophets, which meant that when they assumed he was a prophet because he was naked, well, then the prophets had to have been naked. So that that didn’t fit the narrative. So we kind of threw that aside.

And then it was, you know, King David and Isaiah under the command of the Lord for three years naked. And just in case you were wondering how naked, naked and barefoot!

And then there was, I mean, just over and over again throughout the Old Testament. So we were like, okay, well, that’s because that was Old Testament. So let’s look at the New Testament. And then you find, you know, Peter naked while fishing. And rather than being reprimanded by Christ or straightened up, it just mentioned it like it was just in passing.

And then we find out that Jesus, you know, it says that he took off his robe to wash the apostles’ feet at the Last Supper. And I’m thinking, “Hmm, that not doesn’t fit.” Peter doesn’t fit in.

And then you find that the Bible tells us that at the triumphal entry that they took their clothes off and laid them in the way for Jesus to ride the donkey. Everywhere, Old Testament, New Testament,
nothing fit. We couldn’t find any.

If you would pull Leviticus 18 out of context, well then you could use it. But we make a habit of not doing that. We look at the Bible from a legitimate standpoint, not make it say what we want it to.

So everything we found didn’t fit the agenda, which really threw me for a loop as a pastor, frankly, because we’d been taught our whole entire educational system as a pastor and the church growing up naked, equal sex and naked equals bad, right? Well, that’s not what the Bible said. Not at all.

So we go back. You can tell she’s wanting to bring the subject up. Right? So I said to her, I said, “You’re going to want to sit down. Because what we found was not what we expected.” And they both were like, “Really?” Boom, sit down. We’re at the kitchen table. And I had, I brought a printout of all the verses with me. So I kind of slid the printout over and I said, this is all of the verses in the Bible that specifically referred to just simple nonsexual nudity.

And she’s like, “Wow, that’s a lot of verses.” I said, “Yeah, and they’re all pro non-sexual nudity. This is not good news for you. This is bad news for you. These are all verses that are pro body acceptance.”

God made us in his image, not ashamed and called it very good. And so we went through each verse at a time and answered all the questions. And she says at the end, she says, “Well, what do we do about this?” Which was, it’s a really good question.

And Kim says, you wanna tell him what you said? In our house, we believe if God says it. No. If God is for it, we’re for it. And if God is against it, we’re against it.

And so my mouth fell open because I hadn’t, I actually hadn’t asked the question, what do we do about it? Right? I just studied it. Couldn’t help them any. And she’s like, “Well, if God is for it, we’re for it.” And I went. [speechless] Because what do you do with that? Right?

And so a couple of weeks later… (I didn’t say it wouldn’t be hard.) [laughing] But if God is for it, we believe the Bible. Right. That’s the bottom line, isn’t it? Is we believe the Bible is the word of God. And if God is for it, we’re for it.

So we’re Jim and Kim and been naturists for 20 plus years.

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Go to part 2.

Check out www.nakedandunashamed.org while you’re at it.

Surface Level Understanding

Can you imagine learning to fly an airplane by only reading manuals? Having read about how to safely and effectively lift the plane into the sky and maneuver it in the air and land again, would you be so confident as to try to fly alone? Book learning cannot be the sole piece of pilot training required to successfully take to the air. There must be a practical and hands on approach to learning with one who is an instructor or at least already a pilot in order to have the best results and avoid a crash, serious injury, or death. This is true of most learning: to drive a car, to play guitar, to lift weights. You would not rely on having book smarts alone for any of these disciplines. What is needed are hours of practice, reps, building muscle memory, conditioning body and mind for the task you are learning or training to do. Otherwise you are left with only a surface level understanding. One must consciously and intentionally move from the theoretical to the experiential to enjoy the rewards of whatever is being learned.

I believe the same is true with the belief and practice of naturism. I say this because I know of many who are currently in the place of being interested in and not opposed to the idea of it, but have yet to actually try non-sexual nudity in a naturist park or nude beach. I know this because that was me for a time as well. I suppose some people jump in the deep end (literally and metaphorically) on a whim or impulse and have an immediate “baptism” or adoption of a new way of life in one instance. For others, as it was with me, it starts with curiosity, research, and a time of pondering before an attempt is made of trying the theory out in real life. There are moments of “dipping your toes in the water,” staying nude after showering and doing regular things nude around the home. There are sometimes opportunities to trek outdoors nude by yourself when plenty of privacy is afforded. For me, I joined a community of naturists online before I had been socially nude in a shared physical space. 

Then came the moment for the proverbial “ripping off of the bandaid.” Sink or swim. After I had learned all about the practice and encouraged my wife to learn with me, we had a moment where we conducted a grand experiment. We were going to go beyond the theoretical and move swiftly into the practical and experiential. Our “diving into the deep end” would take place in Florida with 5 other Christian naturist couples in one clothes-free airbnb for a whole week. We would see if all we had been learning was true or not.

It was and it did not disappoint! Transformative is an understatement. Watching YouTube videos, reading articles, interacting with naturists online, reading books, even studying the Bible and praying all led to this moment of taking our clothes off and interacting with others as we really are without anything to hide behind. The head knowledge gained during that time had to be transferred to our heart and to the rest of our body. Superficial knowledge alone was not sufficient to convince us of life change, but the real life application did the trick, and immediately! There is no going back now.

The whole point of this article is that “believing in” is not enough. There has to be a doing. Also, learning the history, the benefits, and the therapeutic effect that naturism can bring a person is not near as convincing as is trying it out for yourself. Neither I nor anyone can convince anyone just by singing the praises of naturism with words and stories. Having your own experience is the only way to fully know and understand what we try to communicate. You want a full understanding and not one that is only surface level.

Surely, some who try may find that it’s not for them. My take on that is that there is some shame or religious indoctrination or something else to work through in those cases. The very activity of naturism could be the cure they need, but they need to commit fully. One author suggests two visits will solidify the positive effects of naturism. If your first experience is awkward or too nerve racking, he suggests to give it a try a second time, and then decide if it’s for you or not. For most earnest seekers of truth, I believe the first experience will be life changing.

I’ve often said that the only down side to naturism is that it ruins most textile activities or vacations. A “nakation” where you can go clothes-free for an extended period of time is amazing. It keeps you ready for the next time, which usually can’t come soon enough. When you see your friends and family enjoying clothes-obsessive activities during their recreation time, you can’t help but think to yourself, “You’re doing it wrong!” They aren’t. They are just doing what everyone does. I just know of a more satisfying and relaxing way for me to rest and play.

A Washing Machine Revelation

By John Figleaf

We hated our washing machine from the very first day we bought it over seven years ago. It frustrated my wife intensely, which caused me to dislike it very much also. After all, “if Mama ain’t happy – then nobody’s happy!” After my wife’s disabilities increased and I had to take over the laundry, I begin to literally hate this machine that would never seem to work like I wanted it to. It would tangle clothes, go off balance, and often sit and go into “sensing mode” for no apparent reason. From the very first day I began to curse that machine calling it all kinds of derogatory names and even kicking it and pounding on it with my fists! I’m really not a violent guy, but this was a bit of a phobia I had towards it – for seven long years!

Recently, after a really frustrating day with the dang thing, I finally had it and was going to get a new one. This one was going to the junkyard – that is until I looked at the prices of new ones! Yikes! Even the cheap ones are expensive! Ok, now I’m looking with a new mindset of perhaps living with this monster of a machine a bit longer.

I don’t know if it was the Holy Spirit or just me in desperation, but a thought came to my mind. John, you’re cursing this machine all this time. Why don’t you try blessing it? Quickly recognizing the biblical truth before me, I right then and there repented for cursing my washing machine and started to call it blessed out loud. I even declared it to be part of the Kingdom of Jesus and is therefore blessed in my household!

Well, wouldn’t you know it – shortly thereafter the Lord opened my eyes to what was wrong with it and how it could be fixed. I say, “opened my eyes” because I literally was blind to a simple method of making it work correctly. I’m a mechanical kind of guy. I should have recognized the problem easily, but I believe my cursing it literally blinded me to the obvious – and blessing it literally opened my eyes to changing this machine from a monster to a very pleasant and useful piece of equipment.

Shortly thereafter, I began to ponder about how this cursing thing had affected my life in various ways. Naturally, I began to review my journey out of lust and pornography into Christian Naturism – and the similarities began popping up all over the place.

• I was constantly cursing my body.
• My body was a monster – rarely acting the way I wanted it to. Always going off balance and getting tangled up in stuff it shouldn’t.
• Just as I would kick and beat on the washing machine, I would abuse my body by looking at porn and doing destructive things with it. It was the same love/hate relationship I had with the washing machine. I had one and had to use it for better or worse.
• Just like having a phobia about that washing machine, I would look at my body as evil and corrupt and must be dealt with very harshly.
• I also began to see how many woman could hate their body and call it cursed – hoping to get rid of it and upgrade to a new model!

It wasn’t until I fully realized that my body is blessed because it is the Image of God that I began to be “repaired” and now my body works properly. I call it blessed and it exists in a blessed environment in the Kingdom of Jesus. My being nude is no longer going off balance with lewd. My nudity is no longer tangled up in the spin cycle of the world. The lie that my body is cursed has been washed away! I am clean, whole, and functioning very nicely without clothes. Who needs a washing machine anyway!