Women, Beauty & Media

Women, beauty & media

INTRODUCTION •

You may hear people say it is what is on the inside that matters but mass media overwhelmingly sends a different message.

Society teaches us that it is what is on the outide that matters most. Humans are indeed visual creatures, gravitating to what is aesthetically pleasing to the eye but not only that, our views on beauty are significantly influenced by the images we see in music or on magazine covers, billboards, Internet or TV. Women in particular are constantly barraged with images of “ideal beauty.” Much more than men. Teaching young girls and women alike, that a pretty face and figure is valued above what is in their hearts and minds. But when it comes to God, he always sees beyond one’s outer appearance, judging what is in the heart.

3

•

FEMALE BEAUTY Female beauty is often defined by the fashion industry in the western world. In today’s trends, we notice that models are becoming thinner and thinner. The ideal size of a runway model is 0. Plus size models range from size 6 to 10. Both of these sizes fall below the average size of women in America, which is 12 to 14. So what are the repercussions. You are left with models plus the girls/women admiring these models going to great lengths to achieve a thinner size. Even if it means developing life threatening disorders such as anorexia or bulimia or going on extreme diets or smoking cigarettes to curb their appetite.

4

OUR BODY IS A TEMPLE

An eating disorder or poor lifestyle habits, such as smoking, destroy the body. This is contrary to life, which was created by God. Instead it leads to death. Furthermore, God stated in the bible, that our bodies are a temple. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.� (I Corinthians 6: 19-20)

5

SELF LOVE We glorify God in our physical bodies by taking care of it, avoiding behaviors or substances that will destroy it or are sinful. This is showing love and respect for God’s creation, us. This is an example of self love, which we learned about for last month’s theme (Please go to “Testimonies of Faith” page and review podcast series “We Cannot Know True Love Without God’s Guidance.”

6

PLASTIC SURGERY

Plastic surgery has become increasingly popular over the years, with more than 11 million cosmetic surgeries performed in the US alone during 2013. Over 90% of consumers were women. We see not only celebrities, but everyday people willing to go into debt, go to foreign countries or place their lives at risk to have not just one but several surgeries to achieve that “perfect� body and face. There are notable individuals that have altered their faces or bodies so much that they don’t even look human. Many people have died on the surgery table for the sake of beauty.

7

VANITY

So is plastic surgery in itself a sin? It does not specifically say that in the bible.

However, anything done excessively, that can jeopardize your physical health or more importantly, distract you from serving God, becomes a sin. And what is the motivation behind excessive plastic surgery? It is one’s vanity, which comes from Satan. God warns us against vanity in the bible, specifically with women.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.� (Proverbs 31:30)

8

BLACK WOMEN

We have mentioned in previous lessons on our website, that the true descendants of Israel are found amongst Black Americans. You can find more information on this matter in Deuteronomy Ch. 28. You may also review “Our Identity� on the Christian Academy section of our website. God placed a curse upon the descendants of Israel. We were sold to alien nations, lost our language and being intermingled with other nations, we have lost our true identity. Israelites are not as they were once before. For so long, everything about blacks has been looked down upon and thought of as inferior. Black women in particular, are rarely portrayed as the ideal standard of beauty in the media, even to this day. What do you see? You see the blonde hair, the fairer complexion and the blue eyes. Our noses are too big, our hair is too kinky, our skin is too dark. This might not always be said directly but it is implied everyday in media. We even have articles posted about why African American women are the least attractive. This is no coincidence. This is the results of the curse in Deuteronomy Ch. 28.

9

BLACK WOMEN

The mothers of Israel were beautiful, first and foremost, because they had the word of God but also because they were blessed outwardly with beauty.

Recall Sarah, Abraham’s wife. She was taken away from Abraham by a king because of her great beauty.

Judith, a heroine in the bible, rescued the people of Israel by beheading Holofernes, the Assyrian General, because he was deceived by her beauty. But black women are now influenced by Westernized ideas of beauty. Many have bleached their skin or spent exorbitant amounts of money to straighten their hair or wear wigs/weaves. They wear color contacts or use plastic surgery to look more European. They despise who they truly are. Many blacks hate their identity because of the discrimination and hate they have experienced from other races.

10

BLACK WOMEN

11

PROVOCATIVE MEDIA

The media has become more provocative, lewd and unclean. All for the purpose of promoting lust, which further leads to acts of adultery, fornication and even sodomy. The media sends a strong message. That women are more valued for their physical appearance, their ability to attract men or even other women for that matter. It is much less important to have a good personality, intelligence and most importantly, to serve God. The fashion trend includes shorter hemlines and plunging necklines, all to expose a woman’s nakedness, which God speaks against. Promiscuity is glorified and modesty seems to be the thing of the past. Please note we are unable to fully showcase the extent of promiscuity in the media through pictures on this presentation, because this is featured on our church website, which is dedicated to God.

12

PROVOCATIVE MEDIA

Look at some of the most popular female entertainers, both in music and TV, like Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Madonna, and Miley Cyrus. Think of their music lyrics, instagram pictures, magazine covers or the apparel they wear. Is it not provocative or lewd in nature? And it is this provocative behavior that has greatly contributed to their success and fame. These women are admired by little girls and adult women alike. Their behavior, style and clothing are often emulated as opposed to righteous women in the bible. As a result, there are more and more wicked women and a virtuous woman is hard to find.

13

COMMON GOOD VS SIN So is it sinful for a woman to feel or try to appear attractive? Absolutely not. It is good to exercise and eat healthy to keep your body in shape.

There are after all great health benefits when you do this and remember your body is a temple. There is nothing wrong with wearing clothing that you feel makes you look attractive, so long as it doesn’t reveal too much nakedness. There is nothing sinful about wearing make-up, taking care of your skin or styling your hair so that you feel good about yourself. This is known as common good but remember to put everything in its proper place. We must do things in moderation. Feeling good about yourself can quickly turn into vanity if you fall under the influence of Satan. This means that you begin to fall short in the laws of God for the sake of your vanity. For example, deciding not to pay your tithe, so that you can save money to have a rhinoplasty (plastic surgery for nose). Or dressing in a very provocative manner in order to appeal to the opposite gender.

14

CONCLUSION

Like all of his saints, God is and will continue to reach out to his daughters, directing us to his word and law. It is in the bible, that we as female saints, learn how to be a virtuous woman. A woman that places the laws of God at the forefront of her life.

By doing so, she will refrain from appearing or behaving in a lewd manner. And if she is married with children, she will fully embrace and take pride in her role as wife and mother, letting God guide her. She will realize that as indicated in the scriptures, the curse of Eve will not always remain and the disparity between men and women will be lifted. We are the daughters of Eve, Sarah, Queen Esther and Mary the Mother of Christ. We are beautiful because we have the laws of God. Therefore, we will continue to rise and speak his truth. Amen.

15

SPECIAL THANKS This presentation was developed by: Elisabeth C. Pointer

16

QUESTIONS? For questions regarding this presentation please contact us via email at info@householdofisrael.org or by phone at 219.949.9308.