"The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked,
but they felt no shame."
Genesis 2:25
I was struck by a meditation today by DA Carson on this verse on the second and third chapters of Genesis:
"WHAT A STRANGE WAY, we might think, to end this account of Creation: “The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame” (Gen. 2:25). Hollywood would love it: what an excuse for sexual titillation if someone tries to place the scene on the big screen. We hurry on, chasing the narrative.
Yet the verse is strategically placed. It links the account of the creation of woman and the establishment of marriage (Gen 2:18-24) with the account of the Fall (Gen. 3). On the one hand, the Bible tells us that woman was taken from man, made by God to be “a helper suitable for him” (2:18), yet doubly one with him: she is bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh (2:24), the paradigm of marriages to come, of new homes and new families. On the other hand, in the next chapter we read of the Fall, the wretched rebellion that introduces death and the curse. Part of that account, as we glean from tomorrow’s reading, finds the man and the woman hiding from the presence of the Lord, because their rebellion opened their eyes to their nakedness (3:7, 10). Far from being unashamed, their instinct is to hide.
This was not how it was supposed to be. In the beginning, “the man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” The sexual arena stands to the fore, of course; yet there is a symbol-laden depth to the pronouncement. It is a way of saying that there was no guilt; there was nothing to be ashamed of. This happy innocence meant openness, utter candor. There was nothing to hide, whether from God or from each other."
...and I was pulled back to a month or so ago reading an article in Huffingpost proclaiming that Harvard was getting naked and celebrating their depravity:
"The expected go-ahead by the Committee on Student Life will entitle Munch to meet for lunch or dinner on campus, promote gatherings on school grounds and apply for grants from the school's Drug and Alcohol Peer Advisors organization, the paper said.
Once an informal gathering for like-minded individuals to discuss their proclivities in the bedroom without fear of being judged, Munch now has "institutional support" to provide reassurance for its members, its anonymous founder "Michael" said in the story.
There is historical precedent. The Iowa State University student government funded a bondage club in 2003, calling it a triumph for diversity, one publication reported.
Now S&M clubs are increasingly popular at elite institutions as "50 Shades Of Grey" climbed the bestseller list, the Observer said. Columbia, Tufts, MIT and Yale have them, though the story did not say whether they were officially recognized. Assault cases from within some groups have sprung up as well, the paper said."
It is sad indeed. We are no longer ashamed. We celebrate every kind of depravity.
On and on it goes on.
It is very sad indeed. What God made for Glory, we have turned to garbage.
But this too, can be redeemed.
If you too are tired of having to tell your kids to not look at the ads on TV during every show at all times, if you are disgusted by the porn behind the counter at the gas station, if you are cringing waiting for the day when your young daughter asks you about the billboards for strip clubs and "adult" videos and novelties than join me in prayer.
Lord, make us ashamed again. Please. We repent that we have allowed what you created for glory to be tossed in the gutter.
Oh Lord, make us ashamed at our sin. Make us wholly yours, so that we can be Holy and yours.
Lord, you made us very good. Please, help us to return as best we can, with your aid.
Lord, we pray for those who are caught without shame. Keep us from pride, for you created them as well. Show them your love, your power and your amnesty.
"WHAT A STRANGE WAY, we might think, to end this account of Creation: “The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame” (Gen. 2:25). Hollywood would love it: what an excuse for sexual titillation if someone tries to place the scene on the big screen. We hurry on, chasing the narrative.
Yet the verse is strategically placed. It links the account of the creation of woman and the establishment of marriage (Gen 2:18-24) with the account of the Fall (Gen. 3). On the one hand, the Bible tells us that woman was taken from man, made by God to be “a helper suitable for him” (2:18), yet doubly one with him: she is bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh (2:24), the paradigm of marriages to come, of new homes and new families. On the other hand, in the next chapter we read of the Fall, the wretched rebellion that introduces death and the curse. Part of that account, as we glean from tomorrow’s reading, finds the man and the woman hiding from the presence of the Lord, because their rebellion opened their eyes to their nakedness (3:7, 10). Far from being unashamed, their instinct is to hide.
This was not how it was supposed to be. In the beginning, “the man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” The sexual arena stands to the fore, of course; yet there is a symbol-laden depth to the pronouncement. It is a way of saying that there was no guilt; there was nothing to be ashamed of. This happy innocence meant openness, utter candor. There was nothing to hide, whether from God or from each other."
...and I was pulled back to a month or so ago reading an article in Huffingpost proclaiming that Harvard was getting naked and celebrating their depravity:
"The expected go-ahead by the Committee on Student Life will entitle Munch to meet for lunch or dinner on campus, promote gatherings on school grounds and apply for grants from the school's Drug and Alcohol Peer Advisors organization, the paper said.
Once an informal gathering for like-minded individuals to discuss their proclivities in the bedroom without fear of being judged, Munch now has "institutional support" to provide reassurance for its members, its anonymous founder "Michael" said in the story.
There is historical precedent. The Iowa State University student government funded a bondage club in 2003, calling it a triumph for diversity, one publication reported.
Now S&M clubs are increasingly popular at elite institutions as "50 Shades Of Grey" climbed the bestseller list, the Observer said. Columbia, Tufts, MIT and Yale have them, though the story did not say whether they were officially recognized. Assault cases from within some groups have sprung up as well, the paper said."
It is sad indeed. We are no longer ashamed. We celebrate every kind of depravity.
On and on it goes on.
It is very sad indeed. What God made for Glory, we have turned to garbage.
But this too, can be redeemed.
If you too are tired of having to tell your kids to not look at the ads on TV during every show at all times, if you are disgusted by the porn behind the counter at the gas station, if you are cringing waiting for the day when your young daughter asks you about the billboards for strip clubs and "adult" videos and novelties than join me in prayer.
Lord, make us ashamed again. Please. We repent that we have allowed what you created for glory to be tossed in the gutter.
Oh Lord, make us ashamed at our sin. Make us wholly yours, so that we can be Holy and yours.
Lord, you made us very good. Please, help us to return as best we can, with your aid.
Lord, we pray for those who are caught without shame. Keep us from pride, for you created them as well. Show them your love, your power and your amnesty.
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