I read your answer about seeing a naked person (see that post here - “Clothing Required”).

When I was in medical school, I had to dissect two human cadavers, completely naked.  How do you feel that compares to viewing and studying a live, nude, anatomical model to further art education?

Sincerely,
Dr. Question

Dear Dr. Question,

The difference is that medicine and medical education has biblical precedence – while nudity for the purpose of “art” goes against everything that the Bible teaches.  There are plenty of verses that teach that nakedness is not something to take lightly – all the way back to Adam and Eve sewing fig leaves together to hide their nakedness (Gen 3:7).  Verses like Isa 47:3 and Rev 16:15 re-emphasize the idea that nakedness is shameful in most circumstances… not to mention the idea of lustfulness and fornication being associated with viewing people naked.  Certainly, removing your clothing purely for the purpose of “art” is man’s wisdom and not God’s.

However, the Bible seems to make exception to such things in the case of medicine.  Doctors have to study, diagnose, and treat the human body – even in the Old Testament, the priests had to view the human body to inspect it in cases of leprosy (Lev 13:1-2)… leprosy doesn’t just choose to show up in modest areas.  Luke was a Christian and a physician (Col 4:14), and Jesus talked about people seeing doctors (Lk 5:31).  It seems that the Bible makes a distinction between nudity for medical purposes and worldly philosophies such as nudity for “art”.

I have a question that I'm not exactly sure how to word, so I will try my best.  I know that "socially" speaking, cutting is seen as a bad thing or a "mental problem", but this just doesn't help me.  I've struggled with using this as a means of coping for a long time, and as hard as I try, I still find myself being drawn to, or even almost missing, cutting myself.  Are there any verses in the Bible that might help when I'm in those tough situations?  I'm assuming there aren't any verses or stories of people cutting themselves, but I just want something to relate to...

Sincerely,
Recovering Self-Injurer

Dear Recovering Self-Injurer,

‘Cutting’ is a type of self-injury that is sinful.  Cutting involves physically abusing your own body.  Here are some verses to consider the next time you feel the urge to harm yourself:

1. The Bible says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:39)… would you injure another human being with that type of behavior?  If you wouldn’t do it to your neighbor, you shouldn’t do it to yourself.
2. Your body is a temple to God (1 Cor 6:19).  Your human body is a vessel designed to be used to the glory of God.  Present your body as a living sacrifice to God (Rom 12:1) – you have no right to harm what doesn’t belong to you.  You belong to God; when you cut yourself, you damage God’s property.
3. Cutting is a coping mechanism, a learned behavior that is used to deal with various stresses that life brings.  Cutting is a replacement for trusting in God.  God wants us to turn to Him when things get difficult (Matt 11:28).  Cutting is a bad behavior that needs to be replaced by healthy coping mechanisms – like prayer (1 Thess 5:17).

Cutting is an addiction that can become all-consuming if you let it.  Don’t try and go it alone.  Christianity is built off the idea of help.  God helped us in sending His Son (Jhn 3:16).  There is no shame in turning to others as you struggle with this burden.  That is what other christians are for (Gal 6:2).

I've enrolled in a drawing class as part of getting my Associates in Fine Arts.  Last week, the teacher mentioned that toward the end of the quarter, we will do figure studies, which will include a model coming in to pose nude.  The teacher mentioned that if anyone has religious qualms toward that part, to come see her.  That got me thinking, is this sin or putting myself in a sinful situation?  If it is more of a personal choice or what feels comfortable, I really don't mind.  I've always loved art, and the human form is a very common subject in various styles of art.  I just want to feel confident in my decisions; as far as what God expects, what are the choices I should be making?

Sincerely,
Art Student

Dear Art Student,

It would be a sin for you to look at and paint a nude model.  Though more socially acceptable, nude paintings are essentially low-tech pornography.  The only person you should ever see nude is your spouse (Eph 5:31, 1 Cor 7:1-2).  Go ahead and tell the teacher that you do have religious convictions that make it impossible for you to take part in that section of the curriculum.

I have recently become engaged; we were planning on a March wedding.  Since I have never been married before and am almost fifty years of age, I want the fairy tale... the problem is work and bills right now.  Would it be wrong to get married privately and have a mock ceremony later with family and friends?  Would this matter in God’s eyes?

Sincerely,
The Blushing Bride

Dear The Blushing Bride,

Congratulations on your engagement!  As long as you aren’t deceiving people by having a mock ceremony later (in other words, everyone knows you were married privately beforehand), then you are perfectly fine.  God deeply cares about the institution of marriage (Matt 19:4-6), but He leaves the details of the wedding ceremony to individual taste.  Wedding details are molded by culture, the personality of couple, financial restraints, and dozens of other factors.  If you and your fiancée decide to have a small private wedding and then later renew your vows in a larger venue – more power to you.  Place God in the center of your marriage, and all the rest will just be details.

Hi.  Not sure what to do; my daughter is now eleven-years-old, and her friend is into the peace symbol.  She has it everywhere, her clothes, her room, just everywhere; my daughter is starting to like it; my wife doesn't mind it; she likes it also.  For some reason, I do not like it.  I do not even like seeing it.  It bothers me when I see my daughter wearing it.  There is no other sign but the CROSS; Jesus is our Prince of Peace.  I know it represents peace.  I worry; will they mistake that peace for the peace sign that she wears?  I just do not know what to do.  How can that sign represent peace?  I am worried about her.  I just don't want anything that will dim her light.  I want her to be as close to God as possible, but I don't know what to do.  One thing I always remember is not to bring your children to anger; they will be discouraged.  I talked to her, told her how I felt, and she still wants to keep it, and my wife likes it.  She says there is nothing wrong with it.  What do I tell them?  Do I just over look it?  Would like some advice.

Sincerely,
No Outer Peace

Dear No Outer Peace,

Eph 6:4 could be summarized in the idea “pick your battles as a parent”.  This is not a battle worth picking.  The peace symbol is not a religious symbol (although, there have been times where it represented a fanatical worldview), and symbols are not in contradiction to Christ.  National flags are symbols, and yet, they are permissible (1 Pet 2:13-14); many, many, christians proudly wave the American flag in front of their homes without ever wavering in their allegiance to Christ above all others.  The peace symbol simply means ‘peace’ – it is up to your child and your family to give context to that term.