The Theology of Beauty

Few years back, I was shocked to know that the “Miss India” title in India was won by the daughter of a pastor and his ministry minded wife of a reputed church. Why does one contest for beauty? How do you measure beauty? What do you look for in a person? What is our world view on beauty? Why do many girls (more than boys!) lose their value in the marriage market in India and elsewhere, only because they are not “beautiful?” And can one look as beautiful as they are, forever?

What does the Bible tell about the beauty of a person? I find that just like any progressive revelation in the Bible “the beauty theology” is also progressive. In the Old Testament in many places we find men and women being described as beautiful and handsome. Following are few examples: Bible describes Rachel as one who was lovely in form and beautiful (Genesis 29:17). Esther is being described as fair and beautiful (Esther 2:7). Even men were measured for their looks in the Old Testament.  2 Samuel 14:25 says: “In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.” It would be incomplete if I do not mention the following verse also, which concludes the beauty issue in the Old Testament. For, Proverbs 31:30 says “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Is not the fear of the Lord more important than the outward beautiful look?

Now coming to the New Testament, is there any mention of a Mary or a Paul being described as how they looked? Has Jesus ever been described as how handsome he looked either? Jesus, hanging on the cross on the contrary has been described as one who had no beauty or majesty to attract one to him. And there was nothing in his appearance that one should desire him (Isaiah 53:2). We find Peter the apostle, who rightly concludes the beauty issue this way: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.” (1 Peter 3:3, 4)

So what’s the priority -“the inner beauty” or the “outer beauty?” The Bible tells us that our body is the temple of the living God (1 Corinthians 6:19). Therefore it is our bounden duty to keep our bodies healthy and good looking. But we are not called to prioritize that by risking our inner beauty. The inner beauty of ours is achieved by a genuine fear of God. To fear the Lord is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13) How do we hate evil? It is only possible by yielding our inner self to a God who is capable to help us hate evil. I believe that my inner beauty is offered by Jesus. He offers it to all who ask for it. I wish to grow in the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God’s sight. The beauty theology also offers me and the believers of the Bible, a paradigm shift in our thinking about the existing world view of what beauty is all about!