01 Dec 2009 Leave a Comment
in Beauty, media, Modesty, Speech
Ever heard the saying, “Monkey see, monkey do” ? That’s a good definition of our generation in regards to the media. We’re constantly fed the idea that looks are everything. Think of all the money teens alone spend on clothes, make-up and hair care items. Think of all the clothing companies that target teens. Not only are we told looks are everything we’re told that unless you’re ‘noticed’ by people of the opposite sex you don’t have good enough looks. Movies, radio, billboards, magazines all tell us having a boyfriend or girlfriend is necessary to keeping a popular status. They tell us it’s just a fun game and that ‘everybody’s doing it’. For those with pricking consciences they say, how will you know what kind of husband or wife you want if you don’t ‘shop around’? One underlying tone I’ve noticed is the media telling us not having premarital sex is somehow immature.
What’s going on here? We’re being told to go with the flow and forget all our ‘religious principles’ during our teen years. We’re told, “There’ll be enough time to start living righteously once we’re older, right? So let’s have fun now!” But that’s not what God says. Paul, an apostle and leader of the early church, wrote a letter to Timothy, the young man he mentored. In that letter Paul says, ” Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Tim. 2:22 – NIV) Paul also told Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Tim. 4:12 – NIV – emphasis added) Even now as young people we should be living our lives in such a way as to glorify God.
The world tells us we have to look, act and talk a certain way to be ‘cool’ or popular. But what if what the world tells us to do doesn’t match up with what the Lord tells us in the Bible? The world says to dress a certain way and to show off your body to gain attention. Let’s see what the Lord says. In 1 Timothy 2:9 (NIV) it says, “in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls of costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.” And this doesn’t just apply to women. Guys the way you dress can be immodest too. Now when the world says to act a certain way, does the Lord approve? Matthew 5:16 (NIV) says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” The actions the world tells us are ‘cool’ often do not glorify God. And what about the way we talk? The world is trying to tell us how to talk too. Speech is important. It’s a tool. We can use it for good or evil. God tells us in Titus 2:7-8 (NIV – emphasis added) ” in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”
Let’s stop listening to what the world says and start obeying the Lord. His way is always best. We must keep ourselves pure, not only for our future spouses, but so that we can be presented pure and holy to Christ. The Bible often uses the analogy of the Church as a bride and Christ as the bridegroom. A bride should be pure, we want to be pure for Christ.
nataliecorder
