To follow up on my last post about modesty in the church, I also think we need to address the issue of body image. And contrary to the title of this article, I have had body image issues like the majority of people.
This was yet another unintended consequence of teaching modesty incorrectly. There was so much emphasis placed on the way we looked that, of course, it was easy to become consumed with “looking flawless.” Not to mention, the rise of social media created a perfect storm for women in the church to be hit very hard with a comparison complex. Not to say this cannot affect men, because it certainly does, and we need to be an outlet for all people to heal.
Part of me wishes social media never existed, or at least Photoshop and filters never became mainstream. We see the way other people look and tear ourselves down for not being perfect like them. We quickly forget that the picture was altered a thousand times to look that way. I have nothing against editing pictures, but I am against altering yourself so much in a picture that it makes you hate what you see in a mirror. I even heard stories of women who forgot they edited past pictures and compared their current selves to a version of themselves that never even existed. It can be incredibly dangerous to one’s self-esteem when we have unrealistic expectations. Let us never forget that our bodies are temples, but they are not meant to be worshiped. We can become consumed with having the perfect body, and we can make an idol out of ourselves.
We also need to treat our bodies with respect, which means not tearing them down. Would you let someone tell your best friend she was ugly? Disgusting? Gross? I sure wouldn’t, so why do we talk to ourselves that way? Our bodies are meant to host our souls, which is a much higher purpose than getting a ton of likes on Instagram. Our souls are also eternal, but our bodies are not. If we truly believe we leave our earthy bodies behind, then we should focus on what stays with us forever.
“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee, he has given us his Holy Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 5: 1-5
This is a reminder that although our current bodies are hurting, tired, and dying, we have heavenly bodies that will never grow weary.
In the New Testament era, there was the opposite problem: people cared so little about what they did with their bodies that it affected their relationship with God. They thought since they left these bodies behind that, they could abuse their bodies by having sex with whomever, eating whatever, and getting drunk consistently. Paul reminded us that what we do with our bodies matters because it represents our soul’s master. So, who is your master? What have you done with your body this past week? Have you used it to honor God or yourself? In fact, you cannot say your heart is close to God if your body strays from him and his commands.
We need to find a balance of caring about our bodies with respect but not being obsessed with becoming a perfect version of ourselves that will never exist. It can never exist because we live in a fallen world with sickness, death, stress, anxiety, and depression; all of those things affect us physically. The enemy wants to distract you with your body instead of focusing on eternity. Eternity without sin and one with joy, peace, love, and compassion.
If social media is affecting your body image, delete it.
It’s not worth it.
If your friends are encouraging unhealthy eating habits, create space.
It’s not worth it.
If your church or small group is creating guilt and shame within you for the way you look, leave.
It’s not worth it.
Time and time again, scripture reminds us that the inner workings of our hearts matter the most. A healthy you starts with a healthy understanding of who God made you be. He did not make you to be without wrinkles, cellulite, or pimples. He made you be faithful, kind, honest, patient, good, and self-controlled.