I won't get too theological with this one, but I will post a few verses. All these "free the nipple" campaigns and protests seem very ridiculous to me. Before explaining anything I'm going to say it right here: Both genders should have the freedom to be "topless"or neither gender be topless.
From a young age I've always been hesitant to remove my shirt for various events, be it at the beach, getting into a pool, or changing clothes in public. Something within me told me it wasn't okay, even as a male, to take my shirt off. It didn't bother me too much when others did, but I strongly felt that I shouldn't even when others implored. There have been exceptions, but those are rare.
It seems as though in American history male bare breastedness was one of those topics from the 1930's onward until it became accepted more or less by society and law. I do not think it is ridiculous for women to fight for the ability to be bare breasted in public, I think it is ridiculous that they have to fight for that right. People have argued that a woman's breasts arouse sexual temptations, however this goes both ways.
Through mere observation I have found that women too become tempted to fall into sexual thoughts at the sight a shirtless man. This in mind has led me to conclude that both genders are attracted to one another's nakedness. Another thing I found is that not everyone is attracted by the appearance of a chest, even among men. These two conflicting ideas have birthed two ideals that society should take up: Men and Women should be allowed to express their shritlessness when necessary, or neither Men or Women should be allowed to be lacking clothing. In an ideal world we could do whatever we want, but we have sinned and no longer live in an ideal world.
As a Christian that believes everyone should have the right to exercise their free will I think people should be able to wear as much or as little as they want to, but there is the topic of sin. In the Bible states that all of creation was not inherently evil, but it does command us not to cause one another to stumble (if one of us struggles with sexual lusting, then we should not expose them to sexual things). I could tell you that if you struggle with these things simply to look the other way, or I could strongly advise that we work together to avoid causing one another to fall.
What are my final thoughts then? You're not going to hell if you see somebody naked, if this were true you cannot be a Christian and a medical doctor, or a scholar, or an artist. However, the moment desire the body in a sinful way you have sinned. In public, especially on hot and sunny days, it would be more practical for you to invest in clothing and fabrics that are cooling or UV resistant to protect your skin, than to damage your body by removing your clothes in a public setting.
This is a very complex topic with many aspects to take into consideration, when Adam and Eve fell God made clothing for both of them. To me that means they were clothed equally. We all bear the weight of sin equally and only through Christ we are saved. In the end you all can do as you please, but as for me and my kin, we will serve the Lord.
Bible references:
Genesis 1-3
Joshua 24
Romans 14
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