Thayer Thursday – Naked and Unashamed
Chris Thayer is the Director of Discipleship at Good Shepherd Church in Charlotte, NC where he oversees adult life groups and Biblical education. On Thursdays I share his weekly “Thayer’s Thoughts” for small group leaders, which are based on the previous Sunday’s sermon. Click HERE to watch or listen to the accompanying sermon.
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A couple of weeks ago, I shared how sex often has an unfortunately negative (and theologically inaccurate!) connotation within the church. For various reasons, many of which can be traced back 1,600+ years, sex has been seen as either bad or in some way “lesser than” being single & celibate. I also mentioned how this has sadly been flipped in the modern American church where being married is the norm and being single and celibate is seen as “lesser than” being married. Human beings, for some reason, have a tremendous capacity for polarizing views on subjects. The church’s view on sex and marriage is one of many examples of this.
Having said this, as I was reading through today’s scriptures from the Song of Songs (blushing the entire time!): I was immediately struck by an example of this polarity within the Bible itself; one that points to redemption, however, rather than our capacity for extremes.
When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden – one of the first things they did was cover themselves because they were naked and ashamed. In fact, one of the first acts of God’s graciousness after their sin was making them clothes out of animal skins to cover their bodies. In Genesis, Adam and Eve’s realization of their nakedness immediately led to shame. However, when we read Song of Songs we find a completely juxtaposed story. Rather than being naked and ashamed: nakedness is celebrated.
The husband and wife throughout this book stand before each other naked and remarkably unashamed. In what is certainly not allegorical language but euphemistic language, the husband and wife describe and delight in each other’s bodies. Naked. Unashamed. Celebrated.
Why do I point this out? Because it’s a wonderful example of God’s redemption of humanity in spite of and through our remarkable failings. What was one of the first signs of the catastrophic failures of mankind – is now, appropriately, seen as one of the most beautiful expressions of love between a husband and a wife.
When we read Song of Songs not as an allegorical example of Jesus and His church, but for what it is (a blushingly honest & graphic writing about love, relationship, and sex): the foreshadowing of redemption that comes 900 years later through the work of Jesus shines through. If the shame of nakedness is redeemed & overcome within the confines of marriage – how much more will the shame of sin and brokenness be redeemed through the work of Jesus on the cross. How much more beautiful will God’s divine love for His bride shine through His tremendous act of grace and mercy: sending His Son to die on a cross, raise again, and giving His followers His Holy Spirit!
Chris Thayer
Categories: Biblical Theology, Blog, Hebrew Bible, Relationships, Thayer Thursday
A big thank you for your forum topic.Thanks Again. Marovich
by WilliamciC on Jun 4, 2016 at 2:32 pm