TOPLESSNESS, THE CHURCH AND THE BIBLE
TOPLESSNESS, THE CHURCH AND THE BIBLE
By R Tyler
P.O.Box 620763, San Diego, CA 92162-0763
oldservant@gmail.com; oldeservant@excite.com; Jabez1Chr4@hotmail.com
Eugene A Nida of the American Bible Association tells of a very interesting topless incident in East Africa in his book "CUSTOMS AND CULTURES, Anthropology for Christian Missions" ( by Eugene A. Nida1954, Harper & Brothers, New York). A large African tribal group in East Africa had turned to Jesus and a very strong, well organized and thriving Church community had developed. The problem that arose had to do with the fact that in their culture only prostitutes wore bras and/or blouses because they were the only ones able to afford them. A woman wearing a bra and/or blouse wore a silent signal to any interested men that they were available for sex for pay.
A delegation of Western missionaries wanted to visit the community and the leaders of the African Church were delighted to have fellowship with them. The problem was that the missionaries advised the Elders that their women would have to cover their breasts with clothing during their visit because of Romans 14 and 1 Cor 8 and 10 issues (See them at the end of this post).
The Elders informed the foreign missionaries that it was quite impossible for their women to wear clothing over their breasts since that would ruin their testimonies as godly women and it would expose their women to all manner of unwanted and unsolicited reactions from men thinking that they were prostitutes because they covered their breasts with clothing as the local prostitutes did.
The compromise they agreed upon finally was that while the foreign missionaries were in the church and community, the Christian women would stay home or indoors somewhere out of sight. One would assume that the wives of the foreign missionaries met with the topless Christian ladies while their missionary husbands met with the men. The topless Chritian women did not appear in church or in public again until the foreign missionaries left. It seems to me that today's application in the context of the Scriptures below in the Western world today is that if you believe it is acceptable to partake of toplessness with likeminded people, you would do so after making sure they are likeminded, but if you knew that a Christian believed heterosexual toplessness is wrong outside of one's own marriage, then you would neither partake of toplessness in a way that the Christian would know about it, and you would not discuss what you personally do or believe about heterosexual toplessness with such a Christian.
PARAPHRASED/AMPLIFIED FOR APPLICATION:
***1Cor 8:
8 It is true that a particular kind of [clothing style] will not bring us into God's presence; we are neither inferior to others if we abstain from [toplessness], nor superior to them if we [practice] it. 9 But take care lest this liberty of yours should prove a hindrance to the progress of weak believers. 10 For if any one were to see you, who knows of this matter, [practicing toplessness], would not his conscience (supposing him to be a weak believer) be emboldened to [view topless women as well but with doubts]? 11 Why, your knowledge becomes the ruin of the weak believer--your brother, for whom Christ died! 12 Moreover when you thus sin against the brethren and wound their weak consciences, you are, in reality, sinning against Christ. 13 Therefore if [my toplessness] causes my brother to fall, never again to the end of my days will I [be topless around my weaker brothers], for fear I should cause my brother to fall. [Derived from 1 Cor 8:8-13]
PARAPHRASED/AMPLIFIED FOR APPLICATION:1 Cor 10:27 But if any one [including unbelievers] invite you [to a topless event], and you are minded to go, [partake of the toplessness] that is set before you, making no inquiry [about what others think of it] for conscience sake. 28* But if any one say to you, "[This is sinful, evil and offensive!", Do not [partake of the toplessness], for his/her sake that pointed it out, and conscience sake. 29* But conscience, I mean, not your own, but that of the other [who declared the toplessness to be evil and offensive]. For why is my liberty [to be topless] judged by another conscience? 30* If *I* partake [of toplessness] with thanksgiving, why am I spoken evil of for what *I* give thanks for? 31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever [toplessness] you do, do all things to God's glory. 32 Give no occasion to stumbling, whether to Jews, or Greeks, or the assembly of God.
PARAPHRASED/AMPLIFIED FOR APPLICATION: Rom 14:1
Do not receive him that is weak in the faith for the purpose of distinguishing, discerning,
and judging deliberation, or questioning about what is true [about toplessness],
a questioning that involves hesitation, doubting, disputing or arguing [about toplessness].
. . . 20 For the sake of [toplessness] do not destroy the work of God [in the life of another]. All things [including toplessness] indeed are pure; but it is evil to that one who [partakes of toplessness] while stumbling [in sin] because of her/his doubts about its rightness . 21 It is right not to [be topless], nor [wear G string bikinis], nor do anything [like posing nude while disretely covering one's genitals with something opaque] in which thy brother [or sister] stumbles [
violating one's conscience and so inducing one to sin by acting in doubt],
or is offended [ or
stumbles or is enticed to act without faith or think sinfully, unfavourably or unjustly
of another]
, or is made weak [
morally feeble, without strength, spiritually powerless].
22 Have you faith [to believe toplessness is right and so practice it]? Have that conviction to yourself [privately, personally and/or discretely with likeminded others] before God. Blessed is the one who does not judge oneself in what [belief or practice of toplessness] one allows [himself with a firm and convinced faith in its rightness before God]. 23 But one that doubts [about the rightness of toplessness], if [that] one [partakes of toplessness], [that one] is condemned; because that one [partook of toplessness] not because of faith [in its rightness]; but whatever [topless behavior or thought does not originate from] faith [in its rightness before God] is sin.
