Genesis 9:20-23
Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness.
Commentary
Notice the respect for preserving modesty in the text. Set aside the fact that Noah should not have been so drunk that he didn’t know whether he was clothed or NOT! Notice the actions of the brothers in the respect for keeping the body properly clothed and not looking upon nakedness.
Where is that in the 21st Century? Christians dressing in just as revealing ways as non-Christians—how can that be?
Cover it up! The sons covered the nakedness of their father. It was the father’s responsibility to remain properly attired, but he didn’t and the boys took over.
One brother taking care of another family member or one sister encouraging another sister to speak to nakedness can all be described as acts of love done with the intent of covering up nakedness in the body of Christ.
Anytime a Christian is out and about in a coed environment they should be concerned with the degree of nakedness they are revealing. Christians should be more modest than the world around them.
Never let yourself get to the point where someone else feels it their duty to cover up your nakedness.
Thighs, breasts, midpoint of the stomach all need to remain covered with cloth. After Adam and Eve sinned God established the standard by clothing our first parents Himself and from that moment forward set the standard that men, women, boys and girls are not to run around partially naked—even if everyone else is doing it!
