I am a girl and I have insecurities about my body.
I am discouraged by the unattainable bodies that the media parades before our eyes on the daily basis. I am frustrated by the subjective standards our society sets up for women and men.
This is nothing new.
At this point, we have all agreed that the way we think, talk, portray, etc about beauty standards has got to change. Here enters what some are calling "The Body Movement".
Open any of the trending popular culture news sites and there are articles upon articles addressing this to some degree. A quick google search on "body positivity", "plus sized models" or even "Women's body image" will open up stories upon stories upon stories. There are articles pouring accolades on celebrities who "open up" about their body weight, issues, or struggles.
There are articles talking about how to love your body. And there are articles that hate on those who participate in body shaming. Then there are the more empowering articles that like a football team's pre-game huddle, rally women with chants of "You are powerful", "You are strong" and "You are beautiful."
In some ways, I love what this "Body Movement" is doing, but in other ways, I feel that we are selling women and men short. We have been screaming at businesses, models, internet trolls, television and movies that we need a more realistic portrayal of body types.
We say that we need it in order to not damage the self-esteem of younger children. We need it to fight eating disorders. We need it because we are beautiful the way we are and deserve to have our beauty portrayed as such.
The problem with this is that we are treating a heart issue like it is skin deep. You cannot simply tell someone they are powerful, strong and beautiful and make it such. This is as futile as slapping a Band-Aid on a gash that requires stiches.
We are only addressing the outside issues and while they are important, we need to address the real problem, which is the source of our power, beauty, strength and value. We need to provide both men and women with a stronger anchor and a deeper meaning to their identity.
1. We need to recognize that we are powerful not because we are powerful but because God is powerful.
"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He make my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great." Psalm 18:32-35
Read the empowering words off Psalm 18, and it is evident that our source of spiritual, mental and physical "power" comes from God. This is enabling because his power is one that cannot be changed, weakened or touched. This is the power that we are armed with. This is a power that is deeper than skin.
2. We are beautiful as human beings because we are made in the beautiful image of God.
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14
This is only one of the many verses reflecting upon human's intrinsic beauty due to the loving work of God. The bible teaches that we are designed in the image of God and that he had an active part in creating each and every one of us. Our image reflects the beautiful image of God. This is a beauty that is deeper than skin.
3. We are strong not because we are strong but because God is strong.
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:29-31
Unfortunately, these verses are not suggesting to start skipping the weight lifting at the gym, but they do offer a workout regimen for our spiritual, emotional and mental strength. See, as humans our hearts and spirits are weak, but God offers strength to those who hope in Him. He knows that we get tired, tempted and worn out; and He graciously extends the strength to overcome the obstacles facing our lives. His strength is beyond fathomable. This is a strength that is deeper than skin.
4. We are valuable as people not because of who we are or what we have done, but we are valuable because of what Christ has done for us.
"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." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you remember the last yard sale you visited? And do you remember that one piece of seemingly "rubbish" that was ignored by each visitor. This unwanted object is surely bound for the trash, but then that one person decides to buy it. Now, that is what Christ did for you. You were lost in the worthlessness of your own sin. But in his great loving mercy, He reached down and paid your freedom with the blood life of His Son. Your value as a human being comes from something so much higher and greater. The price of your soul is tremendous and you were valued so much that Christ gave his life so that yours could be bought. This is a value that is deeper than skin.
There will always be an aesthetic aspect to beauty and mankind will constantly idolize and seek after it. As a girl, I will probably always wish that certain "less attractive" aspects of my body could be changed. And as a society, it is good that we are being more open about having a positive body image. However, we cannot annex self-worth to "The Body Movement". Until we address the underlying issues of where our power, strength, beauty and value really comes from, the only strides we will ever make in "The Body Movement" will be to change our perceptions of aesthetic beauty.
The way this movement is heading, we will have men and women everywhere who are confident in their own bodies, but unconfident in their intrinsic worth.
But, who we are is so much more than skin deep and it is time that we start addressing this problem with more than just Band-Aids.
