There is a wrongful teaching in churches that “beauty fades, charm does not last.” (Proverbs). This Scripture gets twisted, its meant to be comparison between Godly Women and Seductress, not beauty in general. We are drawn to beautiful things because we were made for Paradise, and what God has made is beautiful. It is said when the Lord made Eve, Adam shouted, “zazazoot! That’s it!” Eve was certainly beautiful.
Does Satan try to seduce with beauty? Yes he can, but even God made Lucifer beautiful when he was good, “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.” (Ezekiel 28), but then Satan corrupted his beauty, “So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.” (Ezekiel 28:16-18). The issue here is not that beauty destroyed Satan, it mentions he also corrupted his wisdom; what happened is Satan took everything God had made him, his beauty and wisdom, and turned it to corruption.
This is the problem saints, beauty in of itself is not evil, it can be corrupted, but so can everything! That does not mean we should hate beautiful people, things, nature, and so forth. We are drawn to beauty because God made beautiful things! Woman is the most gorgeous being on Earth! Her beauty even the great artists tout in their masterpieces. Nature contains so much beauty, the rolling waves, the golden hills, the forests, deserts, and so forth. Animals are clade in beautiful colors and designs. So it stands to reason, beauty is not bad, it can be corrupted as Satan was, but that does not mean we as Christians should adopt The Lady Poverty look and hate nicer things! We love beauty because it lifts up the heart to see it in a world that can be dark and depressing.
Now some may use the following verses against beauty and finer things, “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.” (1 Peter 3:3-4). The apostle Peter is talking about not only seeing to outward adornment, but to build up that which is within, the things of the Spirit. He is addressing not letting your beauty alone be outward which is better translated in The New King James Version, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:3-4). The words “be merely” is crucial, it qualifies its alright to wear gold and look beautiful but do not neglect the inner beauty of the Spirit. King Solomon even admits our Lord God made things beautiful, “God has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart..” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). His words connects to the Peter one, that there is beauty without and eternity within; its not either or, but do both! To be clear those words of Ecclesiastes about “God made everything beautiful in its time,” is written by the same man who says “beauty is vain” in Proverbs but lauds the beauty of his love in Song of Songs (Song of Solomon 4:7) which proves you should not run away with one verse for a doctrine!
The passage by St. Paul about women not having elaborate hairstyles and etc, “I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” (1 Timothy 2:9-10) I believe is a cross reference to Peter, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the [a]incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:3-4). The concern was not that beauty and adornment itself was evil, but that women of God focus on good deeds and the inner beauty; meaning do not be shallow and lack the fruit of The Spirit. I do not believe these verses support a Amish or Shaker dress and lack of adornment! That is twisting the point of these verses that are concerned with women growing spiritually; you have to remember these were Gentile women who lived on the latest fashions and tended to outer beauty at the expense of inner beauty; so Paul and Peter are trying to redirect them to what was neglected; its like how Jesus our Lord would say an extreme statement to shift people from the other extreme they were on like divorce; the Jews making divorce easy when God hates divorce save for in cases of adultery and abuse where he allows it. We have to remember its about the spirit not the letter, “who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6). Peter and Paul in those verses about beauty and adornment were concerned with women’s spiritual growth.
Esther was beautiful, “He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai.” (Esther 2:7), Sarah who was Abraham’s wife was beautiful, “When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance,” (Genesis 12:11), Solomon’s bride was beautiful, “Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves,” (Song of Solomon 1:15), Rachel, Jacob’s wife was beautiful, “Leah's eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance.” (Genesis 3:26-27). Many of these beautiful women were part of God’s Plan! We know not if Mary was beautiful, but the point is beauty is not the enemy of good. One can love beauty and eternal things; do good and enjoy beauty. Amen.
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