a beauty that speaks of permanence

Perhaps I should begin with a disclaimer. None of the qualities I hope to describe below can be applied as easily as make-up and mascara. Because this kind of beauty deals with "the hidden person of the heart," simply touching up the physical won't cut it. We cannot live out the beauty of biblical womanhood apart from the sanctifying work of the gospel and the power of the Spirit. This is what sets us apart, makes us holy, and develops true beauty. The times that I have become frustrated with my lack of holy beauty is always a direct result of ignoring the ultimate source of imperishable beauty: Jesus Christ. Now, with that said...

Let's begin with a question. According to God, what defines a beautiful woman? Out of all the voices and pictures and opinions of what true beauty is, what does our Creator and Savior esteem as beautiful? In so many ways I deeply appreciate God's definition of beauty because mere physical attractiveness is obviously varying and perishable. Unlike our culture which has a "pattern" of what beauty encompasses, God's standard is less somatic and much more transcendent. Here it is, straight from His mouth:

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. (1 Peter 3:3-4)

According to God, beauty shouldn't have a "best if used by" date on it. Nor should it be explained through external techniques. Beauty revolves around something you can't really see. It involves your attitude, your presence, your thoughts, and your standards -- and the manner in which you present them. In a world where women are respected for being assertive and dominating, God calls for gentleness in a woman. This is not a "pat on the head" kind of nature. It is entirely more than that -- and I love this definition.

According to the Greek, "gentleness" is a meekness toward God and a disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. Gentleness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person isn't occupied with self at all. This attitude is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will (Gal 5:23).

Beauty is a quiet spirit. It does not demand attention or proclaim it's presence. It does not depend on a pretty face or skin tone to thrive. But by it's nature, beauty reflects the presence of God in a soul. If a woman is truly beautiful by God's standard, there is no denying that something is different about her. When held up to the glossy-faced models on magazine covers, the judge is left speechless because the two are opposites in value. It's like comparing a piece of paper to the ocean. One can almost be seen through, the other's depth cannot be calculated.

I want this permanent beauty. I want people to be drawn to what's behind my eyes instead of the clothes I wear or the structure of my face. Because whatever physical beauty I have, it will fade. If the object of my life is to glorify God (Matt. 5:16), then I pray my attitude, my trust in God, my submission to the Spirit, my disposition and gentleness points clearly to Jesus Christ. I want God and His sanctifying work to define the conclusion of beauty. As God perfects the spirit within me, the more I hope people stop looking at me and behold the beauty of God.

the distortion of face value

In the spirit of my last post, I found this video to be quite validating to a few of the points I hoped to make. This is just a taste of the twisted tactics the world uses to define for us what beauty is. May we understand and remember that true beauty should be more than a pretty, edited, enhanced face. Complexion should only be the beginning of a loveliness that lies beneath our skin, a loveliness that only Christ can create.



"No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted..."




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air-brushed charms

I awkwardly steered my overloaded shopping cart into a checkout aisle and patiently waited for the line to dissolve. Grocery shopping always exhausts me. Maybe it's because I wait until we are scrapping the cupboards for breadcrumbs before I head to the store, forcing me to create my own mini-Everest inside a shopping cart. (New Year's Resolution #317: get better at meal planning!) I leaned against the cart as I waited in hopes of catching a second wind when my eyes met the sleek, outspoken magazine covers glaring from their shelves.

Oh those glossy, air-brushed faces begged for me to look, admire, and compare. Their hair, skin, eyes, complexion, curves and clothing (or lack thereof) seeped with a perfection I obviously lack. And not only did they assault my vision with the silhouettes of modern attraction but they also tempted my reasoning with vain promises: "Loose 10lbs in just 10 days!", "Ways to look younger in minutes!", "The body he dreams of!", "Tame your tummy!" and much, much more disgusting propaganda. It was here amidst my innocent quest for carrots, sour cream, and dishwasher detergent that I realized, perhaps with more consciousness than I've had in a while, that our culture is entirely obsessed with superficial beauty. And it's slowly corrupting us.

Almost everyday we are forced to decide between valuing and gravitating toward worldly attractiveness versus a holy beauty. We obviously recognize what the world considers beautiful. Go to the mall and look at the mannequins or stop by your local convenient store and pick up a magazine. Or better yet, observe the confused and insecure young women speckled across our nation who find their identity and value by how closely they can imitate the women plastered across those magazine covers.

Worldly beauty always flaunts itself -- so it's easy to spot. At it's core it is selfish and arrogant. "Just look at me" it demands. And with enough make-up, hairspray, designer clothes, and maybe even a little surgery (or at least a good editing software), you could attain to this fickle description of beauty. Yes, this paragon may turn a few heads, but their fascination will travel only as deep as your bronze-tinted foundation.

In the end, physical beauty (which is all the world seems to value) doesn't last. All the wrinkle cream, anti-age scrubs, and hair color in the world can't dilute the truth that physical beauty fades. "Charm is deceitful, beauty is vain..." (Prov. 31:30) But this is no cause for panic (so take a deep breath). God has an entirely different purpose and measure for beauty -- a beauty that speaks of permanence and holiness instead of shallowness and vanity.

(To be continued...)