Beauty Matters
I miss friends back home. Part of the reason I don’t want facebook is so that I won’t get sad seeing pictures of everything back home, but I kind of need one to keep in touch—apparently, people won’t answer their phone, but in three seconds they’ll respond to a wall post. Ugh, this generation..
But I miss being with friends at restaurants, sleeping over at everyone’s pads, trips to Downtown SD and all of that good stuff. Pictures are the stuff that bring about good memories! I miss kodak moments and it sounds stupid, but I miss dressing up and having a night out on the town with whoever.
Life is very different here in Kansas.
I don’t hate it at all. In fact, I’ve grown much more spiritually in this environment than I have back home, so I’m so glad I am here instead of there. But I kind of miss that element of going out and having fun. Not to say it’s not fun here, since there is a lot of fellowship from just being around the dorms, but even so, it’s still a bit different from actually going out and kicking it. And as for dressing up, it’s kind of not an option here at Barclay. High heels and fancy dress is somewhat like screaming silently, “My focus is more on my outward appearance instead of on Jesus!” Ahhh, it’s really kind of frustrating. I normally like taking pride in my aesthetic to a degree, but I find that even this is taken away from me in following Paul’s admonishment of improper use of Christian liberty in 1 Corinthians.
I suppose I miss beauty in my everyday life. Not to say that there is no beauty where I’m at now (in this environment or in myself), but I am still somewhat struggling with the simplistic lifestyle that I am called to. I am training myself now to be content with simplicity—to not need anything but Christ, and possibly basic necessities. I am training myself away from a lifestyle of relentless spending, make-up, stilettos, dresses and aesthetic in general. I know I’ve been doing pretty well, but I do miss the glamour of it all. I don’t necessarily think it is sinful, although a dependence on it may be. I would just like to express myself in the way I am used to, with the right mindset which I believe I now possess.
It’s just frustrating sometimes being at a college where even the slightest bit of aesthetic composition is looked down upon. My habit of training my body on the daily, in the form of exercise and healthy eating, is even questioned by numerous people, thought of as possibly sinful due to the fact that it may be a result of narcissism; I feel that the Christian culture is quite judgmental of anything that depicts care for one’s aesthetic, whether physically or by way of external beautification.
Can one not fix themselves and represent beauty in such a way that would give glory to God, the ultimate image of beauty? On a sidenote, why is the idea of a Miss Universe being a Christian thought of as impossible? Was Queen Esther not bestowed with such beauty that it would outshine numerous women in the nation, yet she was able to save the Jewish people from genocide? What is the huge fuss of beauty being contradictory to Christian values?
I don’t know if it’s a cultural issue or not. I just know that even back home, women at my Church are not looked down upon for looking their best. Granted, they shouldn’t look like they’re going to the prom and their heart for the Lord is complimented in turn, but a woman’s presentation of beauty in my Church, is thought to give much glory to God. Women are the crown of God’s creation; that is why there is Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Whatever every single year, because all the world sees the beauty that women just are. Women, created in God’s image, are to depict His beauty. So can Christian women, with right heart and intention, beautify themselves in such a way that would demonstrate God’s Creation of beauty?
I really think I make a valid point here. There is a difference between dressing as a whore does on the street corner, and dressing modestly in such a way that would still give a woman the ability to appear glamorous. I’m not talking about skin-bearing, form-revealing beauty. That would be sensual beauty, a kind of beauty that should be reserved for the marriage bed. I’m talking about beauty unattached to the screwed-up mentality of this overtly sexualized world. I suppose I write because I’m a bit frustrated with whispers of my being “materialistic” and “pretending to love God” because of the fact that I know how to walk in 6-inch stilettos. Is that really what Christianity has gone down to?
I suppose I just miss when I could enjoy my own God-given beauty and others could enjoy it, as well; it would be nice to be appreciated for presenting myself aesthetically without someone questioning my dedication to the Lord or cracking jokes about vanity. Back home, external beautification is appreciated in the Church and not admonished. In Haviland, Kansas, dress-and-high heels are almost limited to weddings and banquets.. it’s kind of ridiculous how much judgement I receive over my choice of dress.
I think part of the reason why Christians judge so much in this arena is partly because of a lack of culture within the Church. Culture is so pushed out in the Church, that even a culture of beauty is looked down upon. Just as a “ghetto” black man ex-gangbanger who truly loves the Lord is quickly judged within the Christian realm, so is a woman who enjoys beautifying herself. Seriously, the Church needs to let up on the legalism and start realizing that people from different walks of life can actually know who the Lord Jesus Christ is. One does not need to look and speak a certain way in order to be under full submission to His Lordship.
Of course, I see the issues presented here. Aesthetics, not done with proper heart and mindset, can be the result of narcissism and self-idolatry. I understand that many Christians shy away from presenting themselves aesthetically (even unto exercise!) because it will render them as vain and self-consumed, both sinful values. However, I don’t believe this is applicable to all who enjoy the merely God-given idea that is beauty. All human beings on this earth appreciate and revel in beauty, but out of all peoples on this earth, Christians should be the most appreciative of it all because we know from Whom such a vision came from. Beauty is a good thing, sanctioned and created by God. This is quite evident in the Creation account, and so much so that by looking at nature, Paul tells us in the book of Romans that it is enough to condemn man because God’s glory, God’s beauty, is so manifest throughout it! God does not create ugly things. So why is woman and her beauty looked so down upon, so discouraged, within the Christian culture?
I guess I am just an oddball here at Barclay. I’m the token independent Asian girl with a “ghetto hip-hop” background that could probably dress up and preach at the same time.. who loves Jesus. I cannot tell you how many times throughout my life I have gotten the comment, “Well, you don’t look like a Christian girl.” And I’m like, “Uh.. what?” and they clarify, “Well, you like to doll-up/dress-up!” A part of me enjoys the fact that I break many norms that the typical Christian girl is supposed to be, but I don’t like that there are norms. I want people, nonbeliever women, to see that we Christian women can be “normal” too—you do not need to be drab and plain and “Olive-Oyl”-status in order to be a follower of Christ. I just want to show, prove even, that you don’t have to fit into the typical Christian mold in order to be real. Christian girls should be able to wear heels without beef. Geez.
Anyway, just wanted to quickly state an issue I’ve found somewhat trying over the last few months that I’ve been here. People talk and gossip all of the time, but God knows my heart. I think I’ve really taken letting go of my Christian liberty to the fullest extent, virtually eliminating all beautification issues from my daily life for the sake of others and their weaker mindsets regarding the same. However, I honestly believe that by presenting myself in a manner of beauty, it too is honoring God, just as going au naturale to class can be honoring to Him.
My point is that one can honor God in (to its highest degree) extreme beauty as one can in extreme simplicity. Christians just need to stop judging women by what they wear, and need to begin judging the heart.
I think anything of beauty is a representation of God—beauty is a glimpse into the eternal, and I seriously mean that. I’m not speaking from some kind of make-up guru mindset. I’m speaking as a Christian woman saying that feminine beauty is representational of the beauty of God. Taking care of one’s temple and presenting that temple in a beautiful fashion, I believe, is very God-honoring and pleasing in the sight of the Lord. Beauty in and of itself, is an art form; an expressive piece. It is not always done out of selfish ambition, as Christians seem to think. I myself enjoy the beautification process because it emphasizes the way that God created me—it heightens, highlights and radiates what I naturally am. Coupled with my Spirit and love for the Lord, I feel completely beautiful. I enjoy beauty because God created it, and as such, I enjoy being that which is called beautiful.
Anyway. One of the few posts that I don’t think needs a prayer at the end. I just hope Christians can be less judgmental, that’s all.
All the praise and glory and honor goes to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour, and Creator and Champion of Beauty, externally and spiritually.
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