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MIXED
SWIMMING
Religious
Hypocrisy
Pharisees practiced certain monstrous sins, but salved their stricken conscience
by practicing their wicked deeds with a religious facade, i.e., the non-support
of their parents by declaring their property and wealth as "Corban" (it
is a gift, by whatsoever those mightest be profited by me; and honour not his
father or his mother, he shall be free - Matt. 15:5-6).
With characteristic Pharisaic insincerity, this "religious
man" could say all his means with which he could be
expected to support his needy parents were devoted to God
by an inviolable vow. Consequently, he was not expected to
support his parents and could hide his blatant sin behind
a religious vow (Mark 7:9-13). He could clearly break God's
Law, yet appear Godly!
Religion which is the fruit of a depraved, carnal heart
is fully capable of heinous sin, directly contradicting the
clear spirit and letter of the Law of God. Our Lord publicly
described these inconsistencies and hypocrisies, both to
warn true believers, and to rebuke Pharisees and Scribes,
calling them to repentance: "all therefore whatsoever
they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye
after their works: 'for they say and do not,' (Matt. 23:3).
It is worthy of note to observe the descriptive terms our
Lord used to characterize such religious' hypocrisies: "Woe
unto you," "hypocrites" (Matt. 23:13), "ye
blind guides" (Matt 23:16), "ye fools and blind" (Matt.
23:19), "ye are like unto whited sepulchers" (Matt.
23:27), "even so ye also outwardly appear righteous
unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" (Matt.
23:28).
It is incumbent upon all of us who name the name of Christ
to recognize it is not our religious habits and customs or
the culture around us that are the standard of right and
wrong, but the clear commands of the Word of God.
Presumptuous Sin
There are those so bold in their rejection of Christ and love of their sin
that they will not mince words like the Pharisees. This is the soul who exclaims, "I
know it is wrong, but I will do it anyway and no one will stop me!" This
is rightly called presumption: "the sin with the high hand," for
which there was no sacrifice, no propitiation, only judgment (Num. 15:30-31).
David, recognizing the capacity of his lower nature, though
he was a regenerated soul, cried out, "Keep back thy
servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion
over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent
from the great transgression" (Psalm 19:13). Peter describes
these brazen, audacious sinners who, though they are religious
teachers, as actually being lost men: "But chiefly them
that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and
despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they
are not afraid to speak evil of dignities," (2 Pet.
2:10).
We learn from David that even a regenerate soul is capable
of presumptuous sin and consequently, we ought to have a
healthy, well-informed fear of our innate depravity. Most
presumptuous sin is committed by those described by Peter;
unregenerate blasphemers; rebellious, self-willed and dissolute.
Paul's nickname for these souls is: "they are the enemies
of the cross of Christ" (Phil. 3:18).
However, one does not have to be a drinker or philanderer
to live so wickedly as the lives of the Pharisees would attest.
Their sin was cloaked under religious hypocrisy whereas the
presumptuous sinner sins with a "whore's forehead" (Jer.
3:3) - one so jaded in sin they are incapable of blushing.
Contradictory Concepts
An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which apparently
contradictory terms are combined, i.e., "good Devil," "beautiful
sin." Certain practices in modern Christianity come
to mind as oxymorons, i.e., "Christian rock music," "women's
pants," and "mixed swimming." [The author
must mean “Christian” mixed swimming.] These
transparently contradictory concepts ought to be apparent
to any sincere believer with the wisdom of a twelve year
old. However, we are so capable even as believers, of being
desensitized to the repugnance and abomination of sin, we
can be a party to it, or allow it with very little compunction
of conscience.
It was this proclivity of even regenerate souls to adapt
to monstrous sin that motivated God to command Israel to
separate from Canaanites: "ye shall make no league with
the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars
. . ." (Judges 2:2). "They shall be as thorns in
your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you . .
." (Judges 2:3).
Process of Desensitization
The principle elements in compromising with sin and sinful culture until desensitization
occurs are three: shock, accommodation and emulation. At first, a Biblically
enlightened conscience will be shocked when exposed to terrible sin or sinful
practices. Failing to follow God's admonition to "Flee youthful lusts" (2
Tim. 2:22), a healthy believer with a normal lower nature will find creative
and imaginative means of accommodating what at first shocked and troubled
his conscience. Finally, after accommodating sin long enough, he will find
ample justification to emulate the wickedness, and ends up committing those
acts himself.
This has happened to God's people down through the millennia,
and is happening to us in our age and culture as well in
the lives of those who have allowed it.
Mixed Swimming: An Example
of Desensitization
Mixed swimming might more honestly and more appropriate be termed "mixed
nudity." How else can we be consistent and morally honest with our Biblical
heritage of holiness? Popularity of and acceptance of mixed swimming notwithstanding,
it is wicked, morally indefensible and behavior that ought not to be named
among true believers.
Many nineteenth century believers were aflame with missionary zeal and a God-given
desire to live holy lives. May I say they would be scandalized in the extreme
were they to see contemporary believers shamelessly cavorting around in modern
swim wear, unblushingly exposing major portions of their body for all who wish
to see. Are they prudish and Victorian, and are we more enlightened as we recreate
in various degrees of nakedness? May I submit we have become desensitized to
sin and have adopted the ways of the heathen! Moody, Spurgeon and their contemporaries
would be justified in crying out against our shameless nakedness.
Defining Acceptability:
the Occasion or the Principle?
To put this in perspective, imagine dear Brother, if your wife and/or
your physically mature daughter are in the privacy of their bedrooms, clad
only in the most intimate of foundation garments. Would you invite them in
this condition of dress to meet your male friends? If you would invite them,
would they allow themselves to be viewed by masculine eyes in such a scantily
clad condition?
Hopefully, you are offended and horrified by even the thought
of such a suggestion. And, hopefully, your wife and daughter
would be similarly scandalized at such a compromise of their
privacy and modesty. Or,
would you sir, cavort around the living room in your underwear
as your wife is hosting a ladies' tea? Hopefully,
these outrageous illustrations would reveal you still have
a Biblical sense of modesty, decency and shamefacedness.
Sadly, many believers would only be ashamed at the type
of garment in a wrong setting, not at the exposure of their
nakedness. The same woman who would rather die than expose
herself to the eyes of men while in her foundation garments,
will then thoughtlessly and shamelessly expose herself simply
because she is wearing what is called swim wear. Dearly beloved,
the sin and scandal is not in wearing inappropriate garments
on wrong social occasions, but in the nakedness itself!
Nakedness is Shameful
Scripture is universal in its condemnation of nakedness
as being "shameful" (Exo. 32:25; Rev. 3:18, 16:15)!
Even priests were cautioned about their clothing and carriage
so no one could view their thighs. And, because God is clear
that "the eyes of man are never satisfied" (Prov.
27:20), we recognize it is our vision that is the primary
gateway of beginning sexual arousal. Job affirmed this principle: "I
made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon
a maid?" (Job 31:1). The man who says that the nakedness
of women does not bother him is either not physically developed,
a pervert, a liar or dead! Pornographers understand the unquenchable
sexual desire in carnal men and flagrantly utilize this weakness
of men's lower nature against them to enrich themselves.
Lustful Gazing: a Pervasive
Reality
The only difference in a man visiting a pornographic web site and pornographic
store as opposed to viewing scantily clad women in swim wear is in the latter
case, he does not have to purchase his viewing. Hopefully, women in swim wear
will at least cover some areas of their bodies. However, this is small consolation
to them as they are still sufficiently naked as to be the object of lustful
gazing from any man who wishes to titillate his depraved fantasies.
Defrauding
Dear Sister, of what eternal value is it for you to exhibit your varying stages
of nakedness to the prying and lustful eyes of men, though you can legitimately
say your swim wear is "socially acceptable?" Are you not in fact
defrauding men, whether your nakedness is socially acceptable or not?
In the realm of human sexuality, a woman defrauds a man
by unlawfully raising his sexual expectations or desires,
without at the same time providing a righteous means of lawfully
fulfilling those desires. God forbids all defrauding, "thou
shalt not defraud thy neighbor" (Lev. 19:13), and specifically,
He forbids defrauding in human sexuality, "that no man
go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because
that the Lord is the avenger of all such . . ." (I Thess.
4:6). In other words, she may only act and dress that way
in front of her husband, not some other man!
Degradation of Nakedness
I have learned in over three decades of working with young women, that they
are fully cognizant of what they are doing when they dress and act in provocative,
alluring, coquettish ways. The woman of this world, in a pathetic, degraded
yearning for male attention and acceptance, finds her security in focusing
on fleshly externals: "whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning
of plaiting the hair, and or wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel
. . ." (I Pet. 3:13). However, the believing woman focuses on internal
character qualities in a quest to please the Lord. Such qualities may be
of little or no interest to a lost man, but a Godly man will take approving
interest of such character development: "But let it be the hidden man
of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek
and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (I Pet.
3:4).
Dear feminine heart, you will undoubtedly have many men
looking at you as you expose your shame and nakedness in
swim wear, but what have you accomplished? You have demonstrated
a worldly heart by focusing on externals rather than God-pleasing
internal character development. You are defrauding men by
making yourself an object of unmitigated male lust. Therefore,
you are degrading and demeaning yourself in principle, the
same way a prostitute does. She does it for financial remuneration
through a shameful physical act, whereas your "quid
pro quo" (something for something) is the lurid and
lascivious male attention you receive even though an actual
physical act is not consummated.
You may comfort yourself, dear Sister, in the social acceptability
of "mixed swimming" just as the Pharisees did for
their covert sins, but they found out a Holy God was not
impressed, and He categorically denounced them. You will
give an account to the Lord Jesus at the judgment, not to
the Gallup Poll, fashion designers or dissolute "beach
bums" who have been gazing upon your body.
Husbands/Fathers, Protect
Your Wife and Daughter!
Dear Brother, what kind of man would allow the lewd and wicked eyes
of lustful men to fantasize about the bodies of their wife and/or daughter?
Swim wear is usually the most flagrant exposure of a woman's body, but she
can also be immodest and defrauding in much of what is considered acceptable
fashions of the day. Since nakedness is Biblically shameful, a wise and Godly
man will insist his wife/daughter be dressed according to three principles:
long, loose and layered.
Clothing should be sufficiently long to cover their bodies,
not teasingly, provocatively short or revealing. Their clothing
should not be form-fitting. Many women may say they are covered,
but the type of cloth or style of fashion is so clinging
that it accentuates and calls attention to her sexuality
instead of covering it. Layering of clothing prevents any
revelation of body parts that should only be viewed by her
husband, not some other man.
For a Godly woman, modesty is always in style, regardless of what the fad and
fashions of the world may dictate. Her heart is seeking the Lord, not the lurid
stares of base and wicked men for some distorted sense of security and worth
it brings to her ego.
Modesty is Also Appropriate
for Men
Brothers in Christ, we may mince words and practice
the wicked insincerity of Pharisees and somehow justify our
presence in swim wear if we choose; many are doing so to
their satisfaction. However, multitudes of younger and older
women have confided that sculpted, virile men in varying
degrees of nakedness have been a temptation and stumbling
block to them. Her temptation in looking at a partially clad
man may not be as compelling and controlling as it is for
a man's surging lower nature in looking at a woman, but it
is still defrauding! But beyond what you may do to women
as they view your nakedness, what are you doing to yourself
in that environment?
Do Not Just Avoid an Act
of Sin: Avoid
the Steps to its Commission
Pharisees were quick to affirm, "thou shalt not commit
adultery" (Matt. 5:27). However, as they demonstrated
in so many areas of their lives, they may have observed the
letter of the Law, but were very diligent in finding creative
ways to circumvent the spirit of the Law.
The physical act of adultery is preceded by temptation,
specifically the temptation of sight and subsequent evil
fantasy, hence the warning of Prov. 6:26, "Lust not
after her beauty in thine heart . . ." Note the inward
fantasy of depravity. That even righteous men are capable
of such base behavior is clearly illustrated by David, "he
saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful
to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman
. . . and David sent . . . and took her . . . and he lay
with her" (2 Sam. 11:2-4).
Note please the progression. Nakedness was seen. This initiated
evil fantasy, which was followed by the act. A Pharisee would
say sin only occurred in the act of adultery. However, our
Lord speaks with asseveration in Matt. 5:28, "But I
say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after
her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." A
Pharisee may try to be cleverly insincere to cloak his goals,
but a Holy God casts this all aside and calls it sin!
I challenge you dear Brother, before a thrice holy God,
as you are in the company of developed women in the varying
stages of nakedness their swim wear displays, and as you
gaze upon their bodies, try telling the Lord your innermost
thoughts and imaginations are pure and without lust. The
fact is, you have committed adultery in your heart, and given
the right circumstances, you may be only a few steps away
from the actual act of physical adultery, because the lustful
desire in a heart can lead to the sinful act.
Pharisaic argumentation resulted in a religious facade,
but with wicked hearts and lives. Using such wretched insincerity
today, we could identify outwardly with the cause of Christ,
and at the same time participate in such transparently carnal
activity as mixed swimming with no stricken conscience.
Sober
Reflection Needed
For those desiring to participate in mixed swimming, were you in a government
run directly by God, you would be in deep trouble. . . . However,
we are in a free country, and you may as a thoughtless lemming, follow multitudes
in donning their "colored underwear," otherwise known as "swim
wear," and indulge your insatiable lust to your heart's content. But would
you at least be honest about your lust and sin and stop trying to justify your
behavior under the guise of social acceptability. Cleverly disguising your
motives does you a disservice. Honest, open sinners are closer to repentance
than those who are creatively justifying their carnal lusts.
Ronald Williams, Hephzibah House
508 School St., Winona Lake. IN 46590
http://www.hephzibahhouse.org/literature.html
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