Monday, February 25, 2008
self-image
Man, i think i've been humbled this week. I've been asked to speak on the topic of the "idol of body-image," and i realized that i don't know much at all about that. I'm speaking on Thursday and that's coming up, so does anyone have any ideas?? I know this is lame to ask on a blog, but all i've got are some statistics about dissatisfaction with physical appearance and Psalm 139 and some great stuff about our bodies being a temple of the Holy Spirit. 80% of women are satisfied with their physical appearance, so i know it is a huge problem, but can someone help me understand how the idol affects someone? I mean, why is is such a problem, why is it so hard to get rid of...that kins of thing. Thanks in advance!
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8 comments:
Here is a common video on the topic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U
Talking points may include:
- How the Scriptures define beauty vs. how society defines it (even going as far back as ancient Greek sculptures!) and look at where a poor body image (in modern times)stems from, namely, comparing oneself to magazines or billboards or hollywood.
- "That shalt not covet" -- this commandment is probably the least remembered in our society, but brings great ramifications to the topic of body image.
- John Piper could help out here, what does it mean to truly desire God above all else? "The things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and praise..."
Hope this helps! (i need to get back to work)
Joe Arant
Hi Andy
A few thoughts really quick...
I have a handful of women in my life who I believe are in bondage to their self-image, so I've seen some of the effects, particularly the amount of time and money spent on their appearance. Of course, we ought to take care of our bodies and there is nothing wrong with cultivating beauty. But I know people who spend a great deal of time and money "perfecting" their outward appearance. So the whole issue can be seen as a stewardship issue as well maybe. God has given us the gifts of time and money, and maybe we should examine where those gifts are invested--in ourselves and our self-image or in the kingdom and kingdom work? Hope that's helpful.
Great thoughts guys! Dana, i had been thinking about stewardship, but in a different sense. I like the idea of stewarding our time and money, that's great! Keep them coming!
two words:
Total Depravity
Speaking of Piper, he gives these "steps" that could be applied to an unhealthy focus on body image just as well as many other sins. You could get very specific with these as far as what types of things to avoid and holding on to specific promises of God. Hope your talk goes well.
A – AVOID as much as is possible and reasonable the sights and situations that arouse unfitting desire. I say "possible and reasonable" because some exposure to temptation is inevitable. And I say "unfitting desire" because not all desires for sex, food, and family are bad. We know when they are unfitting and unhelpful and on their way to becoming enslaving. We know our weaknesses and what triggers them. "Avoiding" is a Biblical strategy. "Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness" (2 Timothy 2:22). "Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:14).
N – Say NO to every lustful thought within five seconds. And say it with the authority of Jesus Christ. "In the name of Jesus, NO!" You don't have much more than five seconds. Give it more unopposed time than that, and it will lodge itself with such force as to be almost immovable. Say it out loud if you dare. Be tough and warlike. As John Owen said, "Be killing sin or it will be killing you." Strike fast and strike hard. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" ( James 4:7).
T – TURN the mind forcefully toward Christ as a superior satisfaction. Saying "no" will not suffice. You must move from defense to offense. Fight fire with fire. Attack the promises of sin with the promises of Christ. The Bible calls lusts "deceitful desires" (Ephesians 4:22). They lie. They promise more than they can deliver. The Bible calls them "passions of your former ignorance" (1 Peter 1:14). Only fools yield. "All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter" (Proverbs 7:22). Deceit is defeated by truth. Ignorance is defeated by knowledge. It must be glorious truth and beautiful knowledge. This is why I wrote Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ. We must stock our minds with the superior promises and pleasures of Jesus. Then we must turn to them immediately after saying, "NO!"
H – HOLD the promise and the pleasure of Christ firmly in your mind until it pushes the other images out. "Fix your eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 3:1). Here is where many fail. They give in too soon. They say, "I tried to push it out, and it didn't work." I ask, "How long did you try?" How hard did you exert your mind? The mind is a muscle. You can flex it with vehemence. Take the kingdom violently (Matthew 11:12). Be brutal. Hold the promise of Christ before your eyes. Hold it. Hold it! Don't let it go! Keep holding it! How long? As long as it takes. Fight! For Christ's sake, fight till you win! If an electric garage door were about to crush your child you would hold it up with all our might and holler for help, and hold it and hold it and hold it and hold it.
E – ENJOY a superior satisfaction. Cultivate the capacities for pleasure in Christ. One reason lust reigns in so many is that Christ has so little appeal. We default to deceit because we have little delight in Christ. Don't say, "That's just not me." What steps have you taken to waken affection for Jesus? Have you fought for joy? Don't be fatalistic. You were created to treasure Christ with all your heart – more than you treasure sex or sugar. If you have little taste for Jesus, competing pleasures will triumph. Plead with God for the satisfaction you don't have: "Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days" (Psalm 90:14). Then look, look, look at the most magnificent Person in the universe until you see him the way he is.
M – MOVE into a useful activity away from idleness and other vulnerable behaviors. Lust grows fast in the garden of leisure. Find a good work to do, and do it with all your might. "Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord" (Romans 12:11). "Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). Abound in work. Get up and do something. Sweep a room. Hammer a nail. Write a letter. Fix a faucet. And do it for Jesus' sake. You were made to manage and create. Christ died to make you "zealous for good deeds" (Titus 2:14). Displace deceitful lusts with a passion for good deeds.
Meryl
These are great, great thoughts! It was nice talking to you for a bit last night! We are praying for you! Looking forward to hearing how it goes!
Thank you all for your comments! Does anybody have any ideas as to why body image is such a big deal? Why does Satan attack our self image so much? Why is it that most people have the sin of dissatisfaction with the way they look? I know the quick and easy answer of Total Depravity (thank Borg) and it's definitely true, i'd just like to flesh it out a bit in respect to this particular area of sin.
I would say because we are sexized culture (I made that word up). Look at how the media portrays sex and beauty. From the time we are little kids we grow up with the media message. Consider Disney movies, they are practically as dangerous as porn in many ways, as well as tons of other Hollywood movies. We are a media drenched society and I think that media preys on physical beauty.
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