Instead of finding freedom in self-forgetfulness, we continue to view ourselves through others' eyes, in a practice fittingly called self-objectification. It casts us as objects in our own lives, not as agents of change, which is what we, as children of the God of restoration, have been called to become.
Whether our desire is to be seen or to be unseen, fixating on how others view us isn't a healthy way to live. Being a Christian woman doesn't mean putting a Christian twist on the things that our culture expects of us. It means trading up for something better. As we're bombarded with the belief that women are decorative rather than powerful, we need something else to hold on to—to remember that Christ has a vision for each of us that's better we've allowed ourselves to believe.
As we're inundated with conflicting messages about what the body is for, we need a compelling alternative. Unsure of how to cope, our solution often is just to submit ourselves to rules upon rules, all the while feeling uneasy in our skin.
In rediscovering our bodies as good, the conversation about modesty becomes less about shame and more about restoration. In those frequently quoted biblical passages on modesty, the authors don't create a set of culturally-bound standards and leave it at that.
They praise a woman's strength and inner beauty, acknowledging these traits as timeless and godly—values that have survived countless debates on outer "modesty."
My prayer is that we'll pursue modesty heart-first as a tribute to creation, in an effort to live at peace with one another, and—understanding that only God knows our hearts—in freedom.
Emily Maust Wood is a freelance editor and fitness coach. She lives with her husband and shelter dogs, collects old books and broken things, and worries about where her running shoes come from. Charmed by the idea of restoring an old home, she chronicles the adventure at lacorbeille.wordpress.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment