Should a Christian man (husband) show off his body?

Sorry guys, it is the ladies turn with this post. I've written several posts about the value and benefit of showing off a woman or wife's body. Now it is time to answer some of the ladies questions and talk about the value and benefit of showing off a man's (husbands) body. For many years, there has been a double standard in the western world's culture, where it is more acceptable for a woman to show off her body and more taboo for a man to show off. Hollywood has been showing fully nude women both front and back sides in movies for years, but showing a fully nude man from the front side has often been taboo (x rated). Culturally, it has been more accepted for a man to look at a naked woman and less accepted for a woman to look at a naked man. Is it wrong for a woman to look at a man's penis? What does the bible say about a man's penis?

Gen 17:13 "Every male born in your house or bought with your money is to be circumcised without exception. So my promise will be a sign on your flesh, an everlasting promise." What is a sign? A sign is a public display used to communicate a message. God chose the male penis to be a sign of a promise, an act of faithfulness that showed that these people belonged to God. Like a wedding ring declares that a person belongs to another, the circumcised penis was a sign that these men belonged to God. Did God really mean for the circumcised penis to be a sign that other people will see?

It would not be a very good sign if the penis was hidden and covered up. If we read the next verse  (Genesis 17:14), we learn more about what God expects, "Any uncircumcised male must be excluded from his people, because he has rejected my promise." How could people (men and women) exclude a man, if they could not see whether he was circumcised or uncircumcised? In order to obey and fulfill the instructions in Gen 17:14, the people would have to see a man's penis.

In 2 Samuel 6, there is a very interesting story about King David dancing in the streets wearing what appears to be only an ephod (a type of vest or chest covering). David's wife despised his careless actions and she confronts him when he returns home, (2 Sam 6:20) "you exposed yourself before the eyes of the slave girls of the palace, like a mindless fool might expose himself!" The reaction of David's wife (Michal) indicates that David exposed himself and was seen by other women (female servants working in the palace). It embarrassed David's wife that other women saw him. David explains that he was dancing before the Lord, and he goes on to say that even if he is humiliated in the eyes of his wife, he will be honored by the female servants. How does God react? In verse 23, we learn that Michal remained childless her entire life. A quick recap, a wife complains about her husband exposing himself to other women and God prevents her from having children.

The prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 20:3) went naked for 3 years based on a command from God, which was another sign for many people to see. That means that Isaiah was walking around showing off his body, which would have included his circumcised penis. Men and women would have seen him walking around. This was not wrong and sinful. On the contrary, Isaiah was doing what God wanted and he was obeying God and people were seeing what God wanted them to see. This was for a specific purpose, so I'm not saying that men should walk around naked for 3 years. But if God chose the circumcised penis to be a sign and God chose a naked man to be a sign, then maybe God is more comfortable using a naked man than we are seeing one. And maybe if God is choosing a penis to be a public sign, then maybe it is ok for a woman to see a naked man, including his exposed penis.

Boost your Wife's Self Esteem & Confidence

Designed to be Seen
God designed a woman's body to be seen. In Genesis 2:19, God brought all the animals before Adam. Adam looked at the animals and gave them names, but Adam did not find a suitable mate or helper. This was a visual display, almost like a parade or pagent. Then God made a woman, and when Adam saw her, he knew she was the one.

In Gen 12:11-14, Abram explains that Sarai is so beautiful he is afraid that the Egyptians will kill him to take her. Abram doesn't ask her to hide her beauty, he asks her to say that she is his sister. When they enter Egypt, her beauty is on display and attracts the attention of Pharaoh. God never condemned Sarai for showing off her beauty.

Throughout the book of Song of Solomon (Songs), King Solomon compliments the beauty of his wife. Furthermore, he instructs the others to look at her beauty. In Songs 6:13, the friends call to the wife "come back, come back, that we may gaze on you."

The Effect of being Seen
At the beginning of Song of Songs, the woman is afraid to be seen. She asks people not to stare at her in Songs 1:6, because she lacks confidence in her appearance. By the end of chapter 6 and beginning of chapter 7, she has grown more accustom to being seen and actually returns to the friends so they can gaze on her. As you read through Song of Songs, you see a woman who is becoming more confident in her appearance, and more willing to allow people to stare or gaze on her.

You don't have to read the bible to figure this one out. Most beauty pagents are for women to show off their beauty. You don't see many pagents for men to show off their bodies. Women have a natural (God designed) desire to show off the beauty of their created bodies. When a woman fulfills this objective and receives attention, she feels good about her self and often she builds her self esteem.

One of the most effective ways to boost a woman's self esteem is to show off her beauty and allow her to be seen and appreciated by other people. Women's bodies were designed to be seen and appreciated. When you look at an elephant, the nose stands out from the rest of the body. When you look at a lion, the mane stands out from the rest of its body. When you look at a giraffe, the neck stands out from the rest of its body. When you look at a zebra, the stripes stand out. And when you look at a woman God designed certain body parts to stand out and attract attention. An elephant should not be ashamed and hide its nose. A lion should not be ashamed and hide its mane. A giraffe should not be ashamed and hide its neck. And a woman should not be ashamed of her body and hide its beautiful unique curves.