We Christians put a lot of stock into our faith. Consider the following passage, meant for women:
If asked which type of beauty is more important, many men and women would quickly agree with Peter that it is inner beauty. "This is the type of beauty that will last," they might say. When it comes to acting on that belief, however, it is much more difficult. Women might not want to let go of a fixation on their appearance, for fear that they will no longer be considered beautiful by men; while men may not truly want to consider looking beyond the outer beauty of a woman, whether because he believes the physical attraction wrought by physical beauty is the most important type of attraction, or because he believes being with a beautiful woman will help him to gain status in society.
This means that there are those of us who don't truly believe what we read. On the same point of outward appearance, however, consider Halle Berry:
Maybe Peter was on to something. This is but one topic among many in the Christian faith, but it is one that our culture returns to time and again as a means for acceptance. It is this need for and focus on physical beauty, though (and the lust that can accompany it), that traps so many men in bondage; and it is the same wrenching need to feel physically beautiful that crushes so many women-- even those considered beautiful by others-- for failing to meet what so many think to be a standard of approval. In no way is physical beauty itself a bad thing. There is, in fact, good reason to admire outward appearance: it is the most visible form of beauty. Like money, and every other possible god in our lives, however, it is the prioritizing of physical beauty to a place of prime importance-- as a standard of self-fulfillment-- that will leave us empty.
The same argument that is made for physical beauty can be made for many other areas of life, as well: money, power, anger, family, friends, work, and recreation all are fair play when it comes to choosing one way of life or another. We are, then, left with a choice. To whom will we listen when we hear conflicting versions of what is considered the right way to live? There are several voices, in fact, many of which can seem reasonable. It is the conscious choice to hear and follow God, however, that leaves us free: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
You should know that I am writing this more for myself than for others. I hope that, in the process, I begin to learn these lessons, that I begin to trust God to an extent that I believe in and act on the things he says.
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight" (1 Peter 3:3-4).
If asked which type of beauty is more important, many men and women would quickly agree with Peter that it is inner beauty. "This is the type of beauty that will last," they might say. When it comes to acting on that belief, however, it is much more difficult. Women might not want to let go of a fixation on their appearance, for fear that they will no longer be considered beautiful by men; while men may not truly want to consider looking beyond the outer beauty of a woman, whether because he believes the physical attraction wrought by physical beauty is the most important type of attraction, or because he believes being with a beautiful woman will help him to gain status in society.
This means that there are those of us who don't truly believe what we read. On the same point of outward appearance, however, consider Halle Berry:
"Beauty? Let me tell you something, being thought of as ‘a beautiful woman’ has spared me nothing in life, no heartache, no trouble. Love has been difficult. Beauty is essentially meaningless, and it is always transitory."
Maybe Peter was on to something. This is but one topic among many in the Christian faith, but it is one that our culture returns to time and again as a means for acceptance. It is this need for and focus on physical beauty, though (and the lust that can accompany it), that traps so many men in bondage; and it is the same wrenching need to feel physically beautiful that crushes so many women-- even those considered beautiful by others-- for failing to meet what so many think to be a standard of approval. In no way is physical beauty itself a bad thing. There is, in fact, good reason to admire outward appearance: it is the most visible form of beauty. Like money, and every other possible god in our lives, however, it is the prioritizing of physical beauty to a place of prime importance-- as a standard of self-fulfillment-- that will leave us empty.
The same argument that is made for physical beauty can be made for many other areas of life, as well: money, power, anger, family, friends, work, and recreation all are fair play when it comes to choosing one way of life or another. We are, then, left with a choice. To whom will we listen when we hear conflicting versions of what is considered the right way to live? There are several voices, in fact, many of which can seem reasonable. It is the conscious choice to hear and follow God, however, that leaves us free: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
You should know that I am writing this more for myself than for others. I hope that, in the process, I begin to learn these lessons, that I begin to trust God to an extent that I believe in and act on the things he says.
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