The Minneapolis Star-Tribune (October 23,
p. A18) carried Mary McCarty’
s review of Joan Brumberg’s recent
book, The Body Project . The book is about the difference between how girls saw themselves 100 years ago and how they
see themselves today.
Brumberg analyzes diaries of adolescent
girls from the 1830’ s
to the 1990’ s. Her
conclusion, according to the reviewer:
“In the 19th and early 20th
centuries, girls’ diaries
focused on ‘ good works’ and
perfecting the character. In
the 1990’ s, the diaries
are fixated on ‘ good
looks, ’ on perfecting the body. ”
For example, one diary from 1892 says,
“Resolved…to think before speaking.
To work seriously. To be self-restrained
in conversations and act
ions. To be dignified. Interesting myself more in others. ”
Contrast this with an entry from 1982:
“I will try
to make myself better in any way
I possibly can with the help of
my budget and babysitting
money. I will
lose weight , get new lenses,
already got new haircut , good makeup,
new clothes and accessories. ”
From a biblical standpoint ,
what is remarkable about this
shift from 1892 to 1982
is that it parallel s exactly the
shift described in the
Bible away from what God wills
for women. Consider the
shift of focus from
“good works” to “good
looks. ”
Likewise, I want
women to adorn themselves with proper clothing,
modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearl s or costly garments, but rather
by means of good works , as is
proper for women making a claim
to godliness. (1 Timothy 2:9-10)
Your adornment
must not be merely external —braiding the hair,
and wearing gold jewelry, or
putting on dresses; but let
it be the hidden person of the heart ,
with the imperishable quality
of a gentle and quiet spirit ,
which is precious in
the sight of
God…you have become [Sarah’
s] children if you do what
is right without
being frightened by any fear.
(1 Peter 3:3-4, 6)
Brumberg’s diagnosis
of the problem seems
to miss the mark. She writes,
“Today, many young girl s worry about the
contours of their
bodies…because they believe the body
is the ultimate expression of the
self . ” That may be true.
But it is not
helpful , because it
gives the impression
that something else besides the
body is
the ultimate expression of the self .
In other words, Brumberg
seems to assume that
self is the
starting point , and
expressing the self
is what life is all
about .
The problem, then, would
be just
finding out what the
“ultimate expression of the self ”
is.
The Bible has a radically different diagnosis of the problem. It has a radically different starting place.
The verse I left out from
1 Peter 3 says, “In
former times the holy women also, who hoped in God , used
to adorn themselves, being
submissive to their own husbands” (verse 5).
The biblical staring point in dealing
with the fear of looking unacceptable is God.
Does a woman “hope in God, ” or hope
in the approval of
men? This is the key to
“not being frightened by any fear” (verse 6).
This is the
key to being free from
bondage to the mirror.
The biblical
goal of a woman’ s
life i s not to
find the ultimate expression
of the
self (neither “body” nor
“character”). The biblical
goal in life is to express the all-satisfying greatness and
trustworthiness of God. Expressing God, not self , is what
a godly woman want s to do. Excessive preoccupation with figure and hair and complexion
is a sign that
self , not God,
has moved to the center.
With God at the center—like
the “sun, ” satisfying a woman’ s longings
for beauty and greatness and
truth and love—all the
“planets” of food and dress and
exercise and cosmetics and posture
and countenance will stay
in their proper orbit .
If this happens, the diaries of the next generation will probably
go beyond looks and character, and speak of
the greatness of God and the
triumphs of hi s grace. And
they will more often be
written from Calcutta than
from the comfortable
cabins of rural America.
Source:
Pastor John ©2012
Desiring God Foundation.
By John Pi per. ©2012
Desiring God Foundation.
Website: desiringGod.org
