The best types of article do this – spur deep reflection and so many thoughts that I feel like I need to write a blog post on the issue too.
When I read “The False Identity of Vanity” by Katie Polski via Tim Challies’ Ala Carte blog selection, I found myself agreeing with so much of it.
Indeed, as illustrated in C.S. Lewis’ book The Great Divorce, some would choose to ‘eternity in hell’ rather than feel less beautiful as compared to other bodies.
It also reminded me of the Getty’s song “Two wonders now that I confess / My worth and my unworthiness”. For whilst we should not be vain, we should also have full confidence that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Lord. This does not mean physical beauty, but the inner loveliness of a beautiful character.
But there is another aspect to vanity that is equally harmful, and that is seen through Lewis’ fantastical illustration. Sometimes, vanity surfaces from deep insecurities over one’s appearance. While seemingly contradictory, a person who is consistently ashamed of their appearance or often worried about how they look in comparison to others is also expressing vanity.
Many women struggle with this in one form or another. Whether we walk around gloating in our beauty, or deliberately drive the bus back to hell to avoid company that causes us to feel outwardly inferior, it is all vanity, and connected to a blurred vision of our true identity as a believer in Jesus.
– Katie Polski
This was a good reminder, that we should not use “I don’t look good/ presentable enough” to serve in various forms of ministry, as if God cared about looks.
However, these two paragraphs got me thinking:
I think about Mary who knew what giving birth does to a women’s body, but no one speaks about her stretch marks. She passed down to us an example of what it looks like to wholeheartedly trust in Jesus. I think of Priscilla, a tentmaker, and a woman who helped plant churches. No one talks about her rough hands or leathery skin. She passed down to us an example of what it means for a woman to serve in ministry and to evangelize unabashedly. And I think of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. We don’t reflect on her wrinkled skin from the many years living a nomadic life in Canaan. She passed down to us an example of resilience and unwavering loyalty to her husband.
These women were not perfect, but they trusted in God, and it’s that faith that is remembered, and not their outward appearance.
Priscilla was not just serving in ministry, but she was involved in full-time paid work, which is something that is frowned upon in evangelical reformed circles these days. I think not enough has been said of Lydia (seller of purple cloth), Priscilla and the Proverbs 31 woman, who all work with their hands to provide for their families. Indeed Priscilla was a tentmaker in the original sense of the word, a maker of tents to sell, and if so, why should Christian women always be expected to only work in the home (hallowed as that is). Certainly there should be grounds for each to do as their conscience allows.
Whilst I felt Priscilla was inadequately depicted, I actually disagree with how Sarah was portrayed. I wouldn’t say she “passed down to us an example of resilience and unwavering loyalty to her husband”. The greatest legacy or disservice Sarah did to the whole history of the world was to offer Hagar to Abram in a show of impatience, lack of faith and foolishness. She took matters into her own hands. She laughed at God’s promise. She was certainly pretty, but ultimately an airhead.
The whole line of Ishmael and the current horrific war in Gaza can even possibly be traced to her. She would be a wholly negative example, if we had to cite her at all. Of course Abraham was just as bad in all his lies and half-truths that she was merely his sister just to save his own skin. And all in all, humanity just has a deplorable track record when it comes to sin and you or I would have done no better.
But yes, I agree with the rest of Katie’s article. Indeed, we must remember Christ has bought us for His own. I will trust in my redeemer, precious Saviour, wellspring of my soul. My identity is as a daughter of the most high King. And I must live as one who sees inner worth as He does, and not waste time or effort fretting or trying to ‘turn back time’, whether it be in the area of wrinkles, freckles, thinning hair or sagging body parts. All is consecrated as unto Him, and He sees deeply into our minds, hearts and souls. What is on the surface is only skin deep.
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