Hannah Wickens reflects on society’s preoccupation with beauty and asks whether Christians are truly living by the biblical conviction that God looks at the heart rather than outward appearance. Drawing on personal experience, cultural observations and scripture, she challenges the Church to reconsider how it measures worth and attractiveness.
Ian Sample, the Science editor at The Guardian recently wrote about an alleged ‘gender attractiveness gap’, recognising that the feminine appeal often supersedes that of their male counterpart when contemplating exterior virtues. He states that age diminishes the divide, but that women are often classified by appearance whereas men are considered by status and earnings.
Sample quotes Susan Sontag’s 1972 essay entitled ‘The Double Standard of Aging’ in which it’s evident that society equates beauty with youth, which is eradicated with age where all are considered equal in appearance. Yet this initial preoccupation with youth has engendered an eternal quest for preservation, particularly amongst women who may opt for artificial solutions, further reiterating this divide.
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Yet it is true that humans are inherently drawn to beauty, as observed throughout time, and what is perceived as beautiful is influenced by cultural conditioning.
Yet it is true that humans are inherently drawn to beauty, as observed throughout time, and what is perceived as beautiful is influenced by cultural conditioning. Western ideals of what constitutes beauty are divergent from other cultures and differ from previous centuries, yet each nation will have a sense of the categorisation of beauty.
Within faith-based culture women aren’t exempt from this external scrutiny. I remember being disappointed when a high-profile worship leader proposed to a gorgeous model, quietly concluding that I had no hope against the likes of her perfect proportions. My dreams of his lavish declarations of love to me (even though we had never actually spoken!), were dashed. I judged him, demoting him spiritually in my estimation due to his choice, which seemed to favour appearance over spirituality (she was new to faith). My heart response was shallow on grace as I too entered the realm of superficial judgement.
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Several pastors joke about ‘punching above their weight’ with a wife who’s apparently better looking than them.
This pattern has been repeated throughout leadership circles in many churches. Several pastors joke about ‘punching above their weight’ with a wife who’s apparently better looking than them. The premise might be sincere; to affirm their wife, and yet it reinforces a bias that might foster insignificance amongst the receivers. And if the head of the church reiterates a cultural norm, it’s inevitable that it will be emulated within that body of believers.
If age is an equaliser, as claimed, then should faith pre-empt natural evolution by asserting Biblical teaching, in which we read that ‘man may look on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart’ 1 Samuel 16:7 – and thereby follow Christ in this regard?
We are each ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139) and our worth is found in that truth, regardless of appearance, alongside the knowledge that unfading beauty is formed from having a ‘peaceful and gentle spirit’ 1 Peter 3:3-4 and not outward adornment. Proverbs 31 says that ‘beauty is fleeting’ advising us that our confidence shouldn’t reside therein. However, it’s also true that throughout scripture significant women, such as Sarah, Rachel, Esther and Abigail, are praised for their beauty and yet they are distinguished for reasons of character.
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We are made in the image of God so each of us has beauty and one might say beauty is subjective as it’s in the eye of the beholder. If we ask God for His perspective, we can discover beauty in everyone for God does not deny Himself and ‘He has made everything beautiful in its time’ Ecclesiastes 3:11. Joy and self-confidence often exude a more substantial beauty than one determined by one’s features. Contemporary concepts of anatomical beauty, celebrating health and vitality are different from say the Victorian era where pale skin tones were applauded, and these ideals will no doubt continue to evolve.
Trusting in the goodness of God and allowing Him to work in our hearts enables beauty to shine forth. Mother Teresa emanated beauty through a yielded heart, each crease in her face belying a deeper truth of care, even though scientifically she may not have conformed to an aesthetic criterium. She wasn’t judged by her appearance but praised for character. Perhaps we could consider revoking an engagement in a global beauty pageant, through judgement of women’s appearance, and focus instead on the internal splendours that radiate a different sort of beauty.
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