Friday, May 15, 2009

It's The Heart

I had heard a lot about the Miss USA response to gay marriage and finally read a bunch of stuff about it myself. You know the story, the beautiful California girl that said she thought marriage should be between a man and a woman. I know when you stand up for what you believe you can expect attack. And attacked she has been, but to me, this isn’t about gay marriage.

We’ve got bigger problems. The photos that are being dug up of her are not God-honoring. Even if it was just like a "wardrobe malfunction", she should never have been dressed like that to begin with. She actually sat on a couch with Donald Trump and let him say he thought those pictures were beautiful. Marriage is supposed to be between a man and a woman, but we are also supposed to save those intimate features for our spouses eyes alone.

We all make mistakes and there’s forgiveness, but she is justifying it instead of repenting of it. She said that it’s just a part of modeling to wear swimsuits and lingerie in photos. I argue that if you are a Christian, you do not.

Now all the right wing groups are jumping on the bandwagon because she said one thing they agree with and all the other issues are in the background. I’d like to hear a Christian radio commentator ask her about her commitment to following the promptings of Christ while being photographed half-dressed on a cliff.

And this begs the question, Is it Godly to spend your whole life pursuing outward beauty? Entering contests for people to judge you, having surgery and parading around in a bikini and high heels in front of people?

I used to like watching pageants. I couldn’t understand why Mike didn’t like them. He explained that they are basically pre-pornography to men. Watching women dressed like that just leads to wanting to see more. It takes your mind into places it should not go. He doesn’t want to see that and does not want our son to either. And neither do I now that I think about it.

Why do we think this is okay in our society? Pornography is rampant. It’s easier and cheaper to get than ever. Most people condemn it. But this is okay? To have 50 young girls parading around half-dressed on national television. I beg to differ.

I don’t want my daughters to get caught in the trap that being beautiful on the outside is the most important thing. We can strive to look nice for sure, but I don’t want them to compare themselves to women and their fake, surgically altered looks. We are created in God’s image to serve Him.

1 Peter 3:3-4
“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.



And I don’t want my God dragged into this kind of ugly controversy. It is opening up the door for people to mock God and his ways.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.

I'm sure there are differing opinions on this, so feel free to let me know your disagreements and thoughts!

4 comments:

Sarah Johnson said...

Thanks for filling me in on the whole story! I've just heard bits and pieces. And great thoughts! Always look forward to your blog.
- Sarah

Bonny said...

You know there are So. Many. Things. about Miss California that I simply cannot relate to. I'm more than a little frustrated that she's being held up (by some) as this big paragon of virtue. For me, it's not even about the posing for the pics. It's about the (repeated) lying about them.

Joel and Jenn said...

Michelle,
What you wrote is literary all the background info I have on this issue so I was curious to know... Is she saying that marriage should be between one man and one woman because she's a christian? Is she actually claiming to be a christian? I don't think we can say that just because she is pro marriage that she's a Christ follower. In my opinion, if she's not a Christian than it becomes more difficult to judge her view on her posing in underwear. We can't expect that she'd think it's wrong if she doesn't see her body as the temple of God.

One other thought is in reference to your line, "I don't want my God dragged into this kind of ugly controversy." I don't want God mocked either, but I do think that our God is big enough to handle it and to use an ugly situation like this and redeem people through it.

When I read about this girl here, my heart broke - not for the way God is being portrayed or who is getting on what side of the argument, but for the girl with a God sized hole who has found using her body in an unwholesome way to fill that hole. She's bears the image of God and has more value than she knows. How will she ever know? It makes me think of the ministry at my church where women try to reach out to girls in clubs. They usually go once or twice a month. They try to really talk to the girls and help them. They go out to lunch with them and bring them gifts on holidays. It's so easy for me to condemn what they are doing, but am I willing to reach out... so far, no. May God continue to work in my heart.

Mommy Missionary said...

Jenn you make some excellent points! I never read a quote of her claiming to be a Christian. However, she appeared at her church in San Diego and read from the bible, attends a Christian college (probably not similar to NWC) and told Dr. Dobson that she felt Satan was tempting her by asking that question. So, it seems that she would claim to be.

I agree that God is bigger than this. I dread the whole coming cultural debate on homosexual marriage. It will be impossible for us to stand for truth without being called bigots or intolerant. I think this type of controversy makes it easier for people to say that. I think you are right though - he is big enough to use this for his glory.

I also feel for women that don't know that God thinks they are valuable. I love that your church tries to reach out person to person. I feel compassion for Miss USA and what she's been through. I hope that God can use this in her life for his glory as well.

Thanks for the points! Really - I love it!