I am of the Pentecostal faith (!) not that it matters (REALLY), I'm just looking for insight on a particular topic and I'd love to hear what you all have to say about it. As most of you know, the Pentecostal church sees no wrong in wearing cosmetics and dressing "fashionably".
I grew up under these standards and I even worked for a time in a cosmetic boutique, tortured myself being a "fashion victim" (because the real victims in my opinion are the ones who are obsessed with fashion), ect. Over a year ago, I stopped wearing cosmetics completely and I no longer cared about wearing fashions. I share this with you because everyday I struggle over the way I look, I feel very comfortable with the way I look physically now and I enjoy the fact that I don't grant much importance to what's outside. BUT - I find it impossible, living in my small community, to find people who share this same outlook. Even members of my church look down on me for the way I have chosen... Stating that we have been "blessed" with material belongings (?????). I know that the Scriptures say that we shouldn't be vain, and superficial and care about the exterior but as many other passages and stories say, our body is a temple and I'm sure that God wants us to take care of it...
Also, I chose for logical and moral reasons to distant myself from such things, I'd like to understand the reasoning behind God's Word...
I guess I'm just looking for random rants on this topic. I don't get to discuss this much with anybody and it's getting hard to carry this burden alone and without help....
My response (which greatly humbles me that I am such a vain snob!!)
Boy, Melissa, that is a tough one. I probably struggle the other way. A slave to fashion and cosmetics. Slave may be pushing it a tad too far, but I do wear makeup and expensive makeup at that. But not a lot of it. My makeup looks very natural (custom blend), but it does make me look flawless. I don't like to go without it. I do have lovely skin and could get away with it, but choose not to. So maybe I am a slave. Looking good is very important to me, I must confess. I also must confess that I might get a little put off by what you are describing as yourself. I am not a snob by any stretch, but I do like to see that women especially are taking care of theirselves. I don't know why? I would still love you and hang around with you, but it would always be in the back of my head how I could spiff you up a little.
I would say that if this is a conviction from God that you have and if you are at peace about it (although it doesn't sound like you totally are) stick with it. Deep down inside we ALL know that it isn't the outwardly appearence that makes a person.
Now if you were a married women and you were looking frumpy and like you really don't give a rip, I would have concerns. I feel we as wives need to put forth an effort to look good for our husbands. I feel we are showing our respect when we look nice for them. How can we expect them to love us if we do not love ourselves.
Also, if you choose to continue with this conviction, that is great, I do hand it to you, but you do need to have patience with those of us who do not have that conviction. I guess my feeling is that if someone chooses to be different than the mainstream, they might expect a few questionable looks.
We are God's Temple.....use that to how you feel best fits you.
Good Luck
CoffeePlease ( forever wanting to be glamorous)
I grew up under these standards and I even worked for a time in a cosmetic boutique, tortured myself being a "fashion victim" (because the real victims in my opinion are the ones who are obsessed with fashion), ect. Over a year ago, I stopped wearing cosmetics completely and I no longer cared about wearing fashions. I share this with you because everyday I struggle over the way I look, I feel very comfortable with the way I look physically now and I enjoy the fact that I don't grant much importance to what's outside. BUT - I find it impossible, living in my small community, to find people who share this same outlook. Even members of my church look down on me for the way I have chosen... Stating that we have been "blessed" with material belongings (?????). I know that the Scriptures say that we shouldn't be vain, and superficial and care about the exterior but as many other passages and stories say, our body is a temple and I'm sure that God wants us to take care of it...
Also, I chose for logical and moral reasons to distant myself from such things, I'd like to understand the reasoning behind God's Word...
I guess I'm just looking for random rants on this topic. I don't get to discuss this much with anybody and it's getting hard to carry this burden alone and without help....
My response (which greatly humbles me that I am such a vain snob!!)
Boy, Melissa, that is a tough one. I probably struggle the other way. A slave to fashion and cosmetics. Slave may be pushing it a tad too far, but I do wear makeup and expensive makeup at that. But not a lot of it. My makeup looks very natural (custom blend), but it does make me look flawless. I don't like to go without it. I do have lovely skin and could get away with it, but choose not to. So maybe I am a slave. Looking good is very important to me, I must confess. I also must confess that I might get a little put off by what you are describing as yourself. I am not a snob by any stretch, but I do like to see that women especially are taking care of theirselves. I don't know why? I would still love you and hang around with you, but it would always be in the back of my head how I could spiff you up a little.
I would say that if this is a conviction from God that you have and if you are at peace about it (although it doesn't sound like you totally are) stick with it. Deep down inside we ALL know that it isn't the outwardly appearence that makes a person.
Now if you were a married women and you were looking frumpy and like you really don't give a rip, I would have concerns. I feel we as wives need to put forth an effort to look good for our husbands. I feel we are showing our respect when we look nice for them. How can we expect them to love us if we do not love ourselves.
Also, if you choose to continue with this conviction, that is great, I do hand it to you, but you do need to have patience with those of us who do not have that conviction. I guess my feeling is that if someone chooses to be different than the mainstream, they might expect a few questionable looks.
We are God's Temple.....use that to how you feel best fits you.
Good Luck
CoffeePlease ( forever wanting to be glamorous)
My best friend in high school actually vowed that even her husband would never see her without make-up on (she was certain she was going to get up before him every morning for the rest of her life and put on her make-up...) [Also, there's an excellent discussion on beauty somewhere in the middle of the "Marriage- the AC way?" thread...]
, I wanted to be pleasing to God, I was showed the scripture above (in a loving manner) and I seen that I should stop wearing makeup because it is the word of God. So I stoped. I was very self aware of it and always fealt yicky. So I prayed to Jesus about it and told Him how much it bothered me. I was praying the scripture "by my stripes you are healed" and was telling Him that I would like to be heald because it is not His will for us to have sickness. So not to long ago I woke up and my acne was gone!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!!
