Beauty in Idolatry?

thesweetermelody:

Two years ago, if someone was to ask me why the majority of females’ body image is so distorted, I would have answered with confidence. I would’ve laughed it off like water down a ducks back. “Why, it’s because of the media, of course!” And in a sense, this isn’t entirely incorrect. We live in an age where beauty is limited. Beauty is not in the eye of the beholder. Trashy magazines pump out gossip that certain celebrities are getting fat because a roll of pudge has followed their stomach as they’ve bent down on the beach. Photoshop programs are the new perfection.

But it goes deeper than Runway deciphering which body shape will be the latest for this season. It goes beyond size two models and actor’s starvation diets. It started thousands of years ago.

When I was in college, I was studying Visual Communication. What this basically involves is the mastering of how to manipulate the human mind into buying a product by tapping into the psyche. There are certain patterns, shapes, colours, visuals that consumers are attracted to. We were learning them all. My major was photography, so perfection was the curse of the trade. My lecturer, after once examining a photograph of mine, told me I needed to refine the image. I, puzzled, asked him how he meant, and he replied, “You know—make the fingernails longer, get rid of her fat bulge under the neck, and the aloof freckles.” It is a savage world in which we live in.

But there was one lesson that is permanently etched into my mind. One day, I had theory. I slumped back into the faded pink padded chair in the lecture theater, and braced my sleep deprived brain. As the lesson progressed, one phrase caught my attention. My Greek professor stood out the front and announced, “Today, we are to discuss aesthetic beauty.” Being the typical female, I automatically attuned my ears. The lesson has been never forgotten.

In ancient Rome, sculptors would chisel away at marble to perfect their gods. Just like our times of unrealistic and unattainable beauty, these artists would make these gods to be superhuman. They would resemble the form of a human—two hands, two feet, a torso etcetera; but these gods were unrealistic. Chiseled, toned abs, pelvic muscles too big, thighs too long, biceps too elongated. In fact, these “gods” would not even be able to move if they had been real. It was all intentional. This wasn’t a mere slip of the tools. When these statues were mounted, and put in their places at Rome’s pagan temples, people strived to become like one of these gods physically. These idols set the fashion, the body shapes. Men would spend hours in the gymnasium. Women would fritter away time on their makeup and hair to be just like Venus or Ceres.

Are you noticing the trend here? The pattern? Our standard for beauty is deeply rooted in paganism, idolatry, and unrealistic measures. An obsession with beauty is idolatry. Literally.

Now, I’m not saying that looking nice or wearing makeup is a sin. Nor am I saying that putting effort into your physical appearance is either. Biblically, we are supposed to look after our temporary temples. The clothes you wear were inevitably once or still are a fashion trend. But girls, becoming obsessed with looks, weight and charm is where the problem lies.

It is competitive in the female world to possess as much sex-appeal as possible, and to slave away at perfecting the “art” of seduction. What I have learned is that the Bible only mentions things that are alluding to something greater. Allow me to explain. In Proverbs, there we meet the harlot. It simply states, “And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart” (7:10). The Lord would not have put what she was wearing in His Word, if He did not appoint it as important. We are to dress modestly, we are to dress with dignity, and we are to respect our brothers’ eyes. The Lord clearly enforces that we are not to worry or obsess over what we might wear. He has clothed you for today (Matthew 6:28-31). 

Idolatry is a major sin against the Lord. No one can serve to masters (Matthew 6:22-24). One look into the Old Testament is sufficient to say that He is a jealous God over His people. When the people go astray into idolatry, the Lord loosens His grip, and enemies have victory over them.
And so it is with us. Once God is no longer upon the throne of our hearts, it is easy for the enemy to gain a foothold into our lives—particularly in regards to our personal image. 

This isn’t a motivational post. I’m not going to coddle the flesh. Truthfully, we are all ugly without Christ. We will only find freedom from the notion of self-esteem when we take our eyes off ourselves, our image, and place them securely onto Jesus. We are fearfully and wonderfully made—but it’s only a reflection of the Maker’s hands, and a sample of His beauty. 

Sisters, we should be wary of allowing what this world deems as beautiful to become an idol in our lives. Don’t let it become an obsession. We are only found worthy, only found beautiful because of the Blood of the Lamb that was slain upon Calvary. He is our portion, and our all in all. 

Notes

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  9. myheartcompletely reblogged this from thesweetermelody and added:
    con. vic. tion. Seriously. This...heavily these past couple
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    Beauty in Idolatry?
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