Expert: Rev. Stuart Woodward - 5/31/2010

Question
Hello. I read a scripture that said or at least implied that showing one's thigh is nakedness. Is this applicable for today? Just curious.

Answer
Hello Owen,
Thank you for your question. I am not at all sure which scripture you are referring to so it is very difficult to respond precisely. I presume this scripture would be Old Testament and if so we should be very careful about building legalistic concepts from it. There is much in scripture that reflects the culture in which that particular part of scripture will have been written and sometimes we need to see beyond the precise wording to the underlying principle. For example the Jewish people had to obey clear food laws. These are not to be imposed upon us in the New Covenant. Indeed when in Acts 15 the Council at Jerusalem met to to decide what the Gentile believers should be required to do the instructions were very limited and even one of them Paul seemed to regard as optional (eating food offered to idols). However included in those instructions was that we should keep from sexual immorality.
With regard to your question, the only principle at stake is this one of sexual morality. If showing a thigh is designed to arouse a member of the opposite sex or it is likely to do so then we have to think again. However, even here we must be careful. Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) is part of scripture!! If we are simply about to go for a swim or something like that then there is probably no problem.
My own view is that that is what the New Covenant teaches us. We no longer simply follow a list of dos and don'ts but have to think out what is appropriate in the light of what most honours God and best upholds His moral standards.
I hope my comments are of some help and pray that God will bless and lead you.
Stuart Woodward