When we try to make our bodies to look a certain way or to be something they weren't meant to be, we are in fact, gazing at and in a sense worshipping at the altar of body perfection.
Have you noticed how extreme body perfection is these days? Women and men spend hours and hours exercising to achieve sculpted muscles that have to constantly be worked on because those kinds of muscles aren't how we were made to be. They don't last unless all your time is spent in addressing them (And the extremes people go with plastic surgery. It is expected in some circles).
Have you seen the women who have -- well actually I don't know what they've done -- but their waists are so tiny -- probably less than 13 inches around. People look at them and take pictures. They get attention for their bodies. Their bodies must have been harmed to achieve such horrendous results.
Did it start with the handheld mirror? This obsession with appearance? Peter talks about it. He tells the ladies to quit paying attention to their garments and hair and think about their inner beauty first.
Now, people are making themselves look like video game characters or dolls. This is so unhealthy and harmful.
And we have a whole bunch of the population who think cutting away body parts will make themselves into another biological version of themselves.
The enemy is laughing at us. He's gotten us running around trying the latest fad so we have no time left to think of God. The extremes in appearance have gotten so extreme, I don't think they could get worse. But they can and will.
We are called to be content. Paul writes, "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." He's talking about stages of wealth, but we are called to learn to be content in all things. Our bodies are a big part of this.
Have you ever noticed a toddler? They are busy learning and playing and exploring. Toddlers never wish they looked different.
This is in no way telling you to neglect your appearance or health -- our bodies are gifts from God. We are to cherish them and take care of them. We are to honor them as God's creations. This approach to our bodies is a whole lot different than trying to sculpt them into something they weren't made to be.
I watched a video clip of a famous actress who plays strong, tough beautiful female leads. I feel for her. Her appearance is how she gets into the limelight. She is talented, but her beauty has helped her get where she is in the movie industry. The video clip I watched shows a woman who has done extreme things to her body that can't be healthy and can't be easy to maintain. Her body in profile almost looked cartoon-like it was so extreme.
Let's glorify God in our bodies. Let's choose to do this. Let's choose to be grateful for the bodies he has given each of us and cherish them. Then, let's help them get healthy enough to function, to do all God calls us to do. This is different for everyone. Exercise is great. Loving to work out is totally fine. People get rid of stress in all sorts of ways. Your body is your body. You know what it needs. Give it that.
God made us all -- some of us are tall; some are short; some are average. Some are wide. Some are skinny. Some have almost translucent skin. Some have skin has dark as a moonless night. Some of us are graceful. Others are clumsy. God loves variety and differences and he calls us to embrace them -- not destroy them.
It is the enemy's work to get us to think there is an beauty ideal we must reach toward. What a lie! We are all beautiful.