Ever since Adam and Eve found out they were naked and tried to cover themselves with fig leaves, man has had a problem with clothes. The search for appropriate covering has been guided by necessity, pride, and custom. People in different climes and different cultures have had different standards of dress. Men's attire has ranged from loincloths to tuxedos, while women have been dressing in a wide variety of clothing from bikinis to evening gowns. The Hebrew culture generally frowned on bodily exposure; Noah cursed his son Ham and his descendants for observing his nakedness while in a drunken stupor (Gen. 9:22-25). Even the priestly robes were weighted at the hem to avoid exposure while performing their priestly duties.
The pagan Greeks, however, had an entirely different view of propriety. Their pagan gods and goddesses in human form were naked or very scantily clothed, and so they deified the human body. Much of their sculpture and art reveals a search for bodily perfection, and was based on geometric proportions rather than on live models. Athletes participating in their sporting events, did so nude. This culture of nudity was inherited by the Romans whose art also displayed a propensity for undraped men and women. From Michelangelo's frescos in the Sistine Chapel to the voluptuous nudes of Rubens, from the statue of Venus de Milo to the awesome figure of David in Florence, the influence of Greek culture is seen. Even today, we seem to be greatly influenced by Greek culture. Women's apparel is becoming more and more risque and scanty; the pursuit of bodybuilding has glorified the male torso. Beauty of face and form is a fetish that involves punishing diets, body-sculpturing, wrinkle-removing, face-lifting, hormone therapy, and even life-threatening endeavors to achieve bodily perfection.
The Bible presents a different kind of clothing that is more important than what covers the body. There is a spiritual covering that may determine our eternal destiny. We are told that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against powerful spiritual forces. We are to clothe ourselves in the armour of God, a belt of truth, a breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, a shield of faith, a helmet of salvation, and a sword of the Spirit. Thus clad, we as Christians will be equipped to battle against evil (Eph. 6:13-17). There is another garment that is essential for salvation; that is the robe of Christ's righteousness. We must have that garment on to be invited to the marriage feast in heaven. Ergo, if we are to win the battle and if we are planning to attend the marriage celebration in heaven, don't be caught naked!
