I FIND BEAUTY FASCINATING. It’s true that sunrises, art pieces and orchids can be beautiful – but the Beauty we’re exploring today is Beauty as it relates to People. Irrespective of your age, race, or cultural background – I'm sure you will agree that Beauty is valued in society today. My question, however, is this: what is True Beauty and what it is not?
A few weeks ago, I did a quick social media survey on Beauty. The intriguing thing was that when it came to defining Beauty - each statement was different, but all were truthful. Beauty was represented in each one of the sentences - but not one captured ‘Beauty’ in its entirety. You see, Beauty is multifaceted. Unfortunately, what society does is take only a few of its many faces - for example, outward appearance - and present them as the entire “truth” of what Beauty is. This, now distorted, image of Beauty encourages destructive behaviour and hurts people.
Let's explore two ways that the definition of Beauty has been twisted in society:
1. Outer Beauty has been assigned more value that inner Beauty
Society acknowledges both inner and outer beauty – but disproportionate weight is assigned to outward appearance. It also deems certain looks as better than others. This can lead to unrealistic bodily expectations, misplaced value and low self-worth. The irony is that there’s nothing wrong with “outward beauty.” It just mustn’t be put on a pedestal and worshipped like it often is.
The Bible has many accounts of women being beautiful in form and appearance: “In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job…” (Job 42:15a). In Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai's beauty (See Genesis 12); Bathsheba was a woman of 'unusual beauty,' (See 2 Samuel 11); Queen Vashti was also a 'very beautiful woman' (Esther 1:11). However, we are also told in Proverbs 31 that this Beauty is passing, fleeting, vain and so quickly fades.
One of the most profound things I have ever read on Beauty is a scripture about Jesus from Isaiah 53: “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” Jesus Christ – God Himself - did not present Himself in a form we would deem beautiful. How fascinating!
2. Beauty has been made out to be synonymous with sex appeal
Beauty is captivating. It is transcendent. It is uplifting. BEAUTY IS NOT SEX APPEAL. This insidious lie hides behind the boxes of ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ Beauty and convinces people that the more sex appeal they have - the more beautiful they are. People are not sex objects – and while sex is a gift with its own Beauty (within marriage), I repeat: BEAUTY IS NOT SEX APPEAL. The number of young girls who have laid down their dignity and purity, choosing instead to become masters of seduction - all in the name of Beauty - is heart-breaking.
So, what is TRUE BEAUTY?
1 Peter 3:3-4 has this to say: “Let your true beauty come from your inner personality, not a focus on the external. For lasting beauty comes from a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is precious in God’s sight and is much more important than the outward adornment of elaborate hair, jewellery, and fine clothes.”
In the AMPC version it reads, “let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God.”
THIS is Beauty that is wholesome and pure and lasting; Beauty that blesses the Father’s heart and, for that reason, is Beauty worth embracing.