Posted by Kate Megill on Friday, 6 February 1998, at 8:36 a.m.
Dear Ellen,
This is a very important topic for us as women! Thank you for bringing it up.
Let's look at scripture and see if it addresses this issue.
Someone shared the passage about Paul buffeting his body.
Col 2:8 addresses the mindset that many of us struggle with...looking good to look good. "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ."
This is a particular struggle for me as well. I, too, am about 45 pounds overweight (and at 4'11 1/2" it looks alot more like 75!). The Lord has shown me over the past 5 years that my mindset about what the world says is attractive was a total lie and that I had bought right into it. Satan was having a field day with me! There are some basic issues in caring for this temple of ours that we might want to consider:
-good grooming...being clean and tidy (whether that means make-up or not is up to you)
-frumpy does not equal spiritual!
-exercise is IMPERATIVE for our health...in "olden days" exercise was not necessary in that most of life was aerobic in nature! Try doing laundry in a tub with a washboard, ringing it out by hand and then hanging it up to dry and kneading 4 loaves of bread by hand and you will agree with me! I am not talking about "body sculpting" exercise, I'm talking about anything aerobic in order to strengthen our cardio-vascular system and to help us keep down our fat down. (although I am NOT saying body sculpting is wrong! but we need to look at our attitudes, are we doing this because of the empty deception of the philosophies of the world?)
-looking attractive to our mate is VERY important...if he would like us to meet him at the door in dresses and pearls, we need to work toward that end! (of course attractive and sultry are two different things!)
-modesty is a good thing!
-eating well balanced meals is critical in creating and maintaining healthy bodies which we will need for many years to carry on the ministry God has planned for us.
-particular health risks may require special steps to address them (i.e. I am at high risk for diabetes and osteoporosis so my exercise program includes weight training as that is the new "thing" in helping prevent both of these diseases).
These are just some thoughts for us to consider. It is good for us to be concerned about our looks for our husband's sake, we want to be attractive for him. It is not good for us to be concerned about our looks for the world's sake.
In 1950's "ideal" dress size for a woman was 12-14 (which Marilyn Monroe was), today it is 2-4 (which almost no one is!). Does this tell us something about why we shouldn't be concerned about the world's understanding of beauty and looks? They vascillate (sp?) year by year!
I think that article had a good point in that many women spend more time in pursuing the beautiful body than they do in the Word with the Lord of their souls. When I was a new believer, the gal who discipled me (and about 50 other women) told us we should make sure that we spend at least as much time in scripture that we spend getting ready in front of the mirror! Not a rule, but a good perspective.
We would do well to try to find God's perspective on these things. I for one don't want my daughters struggling with the same things I've struggled with for the past *** years.
In His Joy and Grace,
Kate Megill