Mariposa Kisses (aka Dianne's Blog)

Summer is upon us. The fabulous aromas entice our senses: neighborhood barbecues, gently warmed sunscreen, freshly chopped veggies and herbs, and dripping watermelon from our kids' faces. We all look forward to Fourth of July parties, summer vacations, and a plethora of picnics and outdoor family events. The MLB season gets exciting as well with those unexpected trades and a number of surprising upsets (GO PADRES!!!).

But there are some things we dread, like getting into a bathing suit so we can splash around in the pool to avoid the oppressive heat. Or putting on that tight pair of shorts that seemed to be a lot looser last summer. But maybe you're not one of those insecure types; in contrast, you feel incredibly comfortable in your silky smooth skin, which means that your struggle is a bit different. You long for people to notice your sculpted legs and your toned abs. You crave the attention and dress accordingly to show off that new tattoo that decorates your lower back. Or maybe it's that new skin-tight tank that you bought to show off what you've got???

As Christians, we walk a fine line, a tightrope really. Or you could call it a double edged sword. On the one hand, we should be confident in ourselves, certain of who we are in Christ, not caving in to low self esteem. Yet on the other side, we need to be very careful how we express that satisfaction, by representing Christ at all times. If you feel offended so far, please keep reading because God truly does care about the issue of body image in our culture and in our church. So stick with me!

For those who feel depressed because they aren't pretty enough, tall enough, tan enough or whatever else "enough" comes to your mind, you need to rest in your true identity in Christ! You must surrender your heart, body, and mind over to the Lord in order to find immeasurable value from His perfect love. The truth is that Satan wants you to feel like you're a loser. If he can keep you trapped in that lie, then he knows you'll never win. You'll even avoid certain ministry opportunities because you'll think you're inadequate for the job. But remember, you were bought with a price, the one that cost Jesus His life. So don't let the enemy claim that victory. Instead, attack Satan with this Biblical truth:

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made... My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:14-16).

If that passage isn't enough to get you back on track, start right at the beginning of the Bible and read from Genesis:

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air...' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them... God saw all that he had made, and it was very good..." (from Genesis 1:26, 27, 31).

You are incredibly valuable. You matter to God and you also matter to me and to a ton of other people here at Sandals Church. We care about your heart and not so much about what you look like. You aren't too ugly, too fat, too skinny, or too different looking to worship here with us. We welcome you! We want you here with us!

And for those who feel a bit too confident, you have a job to do as well. Go to the Lord for your sense of self worth as well! Let it be from HIM and not from the attention you receive from others for being physically beautiful. Don't pile on another plastic surgery to your summer's to-do-list. Why not donate vanity's fund to an amazing ministry opportunity instead? I mean seriously, think of the people you could feed in a third world country instead of using it towards another Botox injection or another laser surgery for this or that.

Also, be modest with your attire. You might look like a runway model, but you don't have to dress like one, especially when you're at church. Let your witness draw others to Christ by how you act and ALSO by what you wear. If your "short" shorts don't actually cover your behind, then they're too short. And if your bathing suit covers less than your undies do, then it's too small. Certainly, it's one thing if you're in a friend's backyard with the gals working on a tan, but not if you're at a group event with the guys who WILL struggle with lust because of it.

Keep it practical and decide what your goal is before you even get dressed; if you don't pre-think it, then your human longings will dictate your outfit for you. Temptation will step in like a crisp piece of forbidden fruit and before you know it, you're dressed to flaunt it. Are you wearing that low-cut shirt so that so-and-so will notice you? Or are you choosing to wear the extra tank under that low-cut one so he will have an easier time sitting next to you as he listens to Pastor Matt's sermon?

Make sure you take this challenge seriously because it's a relevant issue in our culture today. And it's one where Christians tend to blend in with the world, especially during the long and hot summer months. Of course we all fall short in this area, whether we're single, engaged, or married. The truth is, we all like to turn a few heads because it makes us feel cool, accepted, and attractive. But when we become deceived by Satan's lies, we need to rethink our mindset.

Our value shouldn't come from other people's accolades of our physical beauty. We should long for spiritual affirmation instead that is based upon our spiritual maturity, our growth in the Lord, and our faithfulness to God's eternal agenda for our lives. By choosing to dress modestly and by getting our acceptance from God instead of from the world, we honor Him and we also protect our fellow believers from stumbling.

Imagine in both cases, how our world would be different if physical beauty wasn't the primary goal in most people's lives. Gals and guys often feel downcast because they don't look good enough on the outside. Ironically, even the "perfectly" figured lucky-ducks often feel like they're STILL inadequate. In both situations, people just want to be loved and accepted for who they are on the inside. I mean, it's pretty messed up when neither group is happy. The truth is that no-one's really content without the Lord in the center of their life. And that means obedience to GOD alone and to HIS agenda for how we live.

Instead of trying to look amazing for the world's favor, let's focus on spiritual pursuits, like the one Paul challenges us with in Ephesians:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand" (Ephesians 6:10-13).

So then Paul gives a ton of detail about the Believer's attire. He clues us in about the outfit that we all need to wear whether we're the ones who struggle with poor self esteem or those who battle with pride and arrogance. Check it out:

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (verses 14-17).

In closing, remember who you are! Whichever way you slice it, you will struggle. You'll think you're too lame or you'll focus on how you're too amazing. But don't despair! Grab your Bible and get on your knees. Pray!!! Ask the Lord to help you so that you can focus on His plans for your summer. Think about how you can honor the Lord with your time, money, and talents while dressing appropriately to all those barbecues, birthday parties, and baseball games. And just to challenge you with one more awesome passage of Scripture, check out Paul's sobering admonition in Romans:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers (and sisters), in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will" (12: 1+2, my parenthesis added).

Labels: Bible, body image, Christian