Folks, I have a very difficult question for you today. What is the theology of the body for the Christian woman and man working in the Modeling Industry, performing body modeling, such in the case of Carrie Prejean who’s a self-professed christian. What do you think? I’m seeking for an honest dialogue. Is there anything wrong or inappropriate for a christian woman or man showing off her/his body in the public sphere (for example , as in the role of being or playing a model/supermodel, whatever you want to call it? )
More recently, Ms. Prejean was on the Focus on The Family Radio program for an interview with Dobson, discussing her Christian faith and the recent controversy about her position on same-sex marriage. Dr. Dobson insisted that he will not talk about her being a model and a Christian (?). In other words, Dobson avoids the theological judgment about the ethics of the christian body. But he surely talked about Prejean’s disapproval of same-sex marriage and used her (politically?) to advance his own agenda against same-sex marriage!
I’m inviting you to consider, to think theologically and ethically about this matter. Consider the ramifications of your response for Christian ethics and witness. Also I ask you to respond to another poignant question: what is then the difference between a playgirlmate or playboymate exhibiting her/his own body on a playboy magazine cover or at a playboy talent show to a Christian woman or man seemingly performing a similar act, although in a different context, to the eyes of the nation? Where does one draw the line? How does that relate to Christian modesty, to the theological and ethical understanding of the Christian body? Again, I’m just questioning, exploring, seeking for an understanding and honest conversation. Hence, I welcome you to join in the conversation.
* Please, please, please don’t attack Carrie Prejean or make the conversation about her. The objective of this post is about discerning a sound theological ethical framework for the Christian body, more particularly as in the case of body modeling.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Carrie Prejean, Ethics of the Christian Body, Focus on the Family, James Dobson, Modeling, Theology of the Body
Man its tough CJ as I have wrestled with this many of times. I guess the perspective would what venue are you doing it for. For example. I don’t know many men who watch the Miss America pageant. I could be wrong but in my 31 years of life, I have never heard a man speak about it or even talk about it, other than when someone is found nude somewhere else. For something like a playmate, then her very purpose of wearing no clothes is to cause men to lust and desire her, to pin her up on the wall and to do other things (I think you know where I am going) to her picture. Her entire purpose is for sexual stimulation, so is it with exotic dancers. Calanders, swimsuit issues…. their entire purpose if for sexual stimulation.
For a guy who uses his body in the same way it is wrong. His body belongs to the Lord for His glory (same for the woman) and if he uses to stimulate sin (which lust is) for anybody else both his wife (her husband) then I would have to label it what it is sin.
The hard part is the gray areas. For example women and men who model underwear in catalogues on on the front of some underwear package. Online models who mode lingere or even a Victoria’s Secret model. I don’t know if they are doing it for lust or not, or if they are doing to sale underwear or clothing. The same would go for a novel cover.
I would ask my wife to refrain from such an act as it may draw unnecessary lust, when it can be avoided. Not only that millions of people have seen her in ways I would be uncomfortable for her being seen when the church gathers. I think if a young disciple would see my wife modeling that type of cloting, on a calender, or even on a Miss America pageant that it would be hard for him to look at her and not remeber how beautiful she was with very little clothes on. Especailly with the clothing today and especially flipping through a lingere book or even a J.C Penny’s catalog/sales paper, with very provactive underwear.
But for that let me throw on another layer, what about water parks and swimming pools. Many Christian women wear this type of clothing to the beach and water parks, and sometimes churches put on such functions. I have found myself struggling even in my own community pool and definitely at waterparks as modest bathing suits have become quite rare.
Whats your thoughts sorry if I am all over the place, but I guess I would appeal to the sisters causing others to struggle (and brothers) and not using their liberty in such a fashion. My wife wears a cover up when we go to the water park and a big t-shirt when at the community pool, but I know many others who don’t have the same conviction.
Let me also add, looking at that photo I wouldn’t want to talk with her at all about anything. I would want to run very far away and pray for strength, and to be honest I am 99.9% attacted to dark women. I would have a hard time looking at her after looking at her like that.
Are you sure you’ll run fast enough?
Last thing CJ,
I also think the scriptures that cover modesty if not used as proof texts can’t be used in this situation. I think Paul and Peter are both referring to women who had begun to use their liberty and it was effecting the body when the church gathers (at least Paul) and then Peter is saying don’t use your looks and dress as way to be beautiful but be of Godly charachter and in in Peter the contexts is husband wife and in Timothy the gathered church. So it is hard to not say that this isn’t a matter of liberty, because if you pull too hard you could end up in a mud pile of legalism. I would just recommend against it because of the possible complications, but at the end of the day, I would have to say it is a matter of liberty. Though I would rather appeal to some law to control such behavior, I can’t do that and at the same time be faithful to exegesis.
Lionel:
Let me say something complementary: I think Christian modesty could be overdone too. Don’t you agree? I’ve seen it happened. Some people dress as if they were living in the Middle Ages at the expense of Christian modesty:)
I know the context is primarily husband and wife oriented. But how do you deal, let’s say, with those who are not your wife and young single Christian guys and women who dress inappropriately to church or elsewhere? How do you deal with these people? Do you just leave them to their own conscience? or Do you even approach these folks in love…so to exhort them (?). How do you help a brother or a sister in Christ, without being “judgment” or too “critical” (as they say it) . Let me give you a personal experience that occured not too long ago in our church. There was a young woman about 25 or 26 years old who sat in the pew in front of us (my wife and I and our 5 yr old son). She was wearing a mini-skirt on that day. As soon as she stood up to sing my wife and I were utterly in shock because of what we inappropriately witnessed. Another related example transpired when my wife and I went to pick up Terrence from his Sunday school class, one of the Sunday school teachers apparently half-dressed ( yes a mini-skirt again) bent down outside the door to pick up some stuff for a child. Again we saw what we did not want to see. NOt only us witnessed “that” several other guys were passing by were starring.
Oh well… what more can I say? I’m just grieved about these things. And I don’t want to play the role of the Holy Spirit, Sir!!!
The whole beauty pageant thing is sickening to the core. I don’t belong to any religion and I find it deeply immoral, embarrassing and quite frankly, pointless consumerism. I don’t care if I see any shape of nudity at the beach but this sort of exposure and supposed role modelling is obscene. And I really can’t see Jesus celebrating it.
Steph: If I ever have a daughter I will not pay her way to the beauty pageant contest “thing” or supporting her to be a Miss USA, Miss New Zealand or so and so..:) Too bad I only have boys.
I agree with you that Jesus and his teaching do not support this kind of “nonsense.”
Lionel nailed it, CJ. The test is in the motivation behind the activity–the TRUE motivation. I have been in marketing for over 13 years and I can tell you that the majority of body modeling in advertising is aimed at titilation–a blatant plea to the sexual desire of the viewer. Unfortunately, it works. That’s why we are so inundated with it. At the bottom of it all, though, is increased sales…money. What brings in the bucks.
On the sprirtual side, it is a war against our witness, an attempt to sidetrack us, get us stuck in the mud, turn us into ineffective Christians. I think you know what I’m getting at here.
Anyway, what to do? You asked where to draw the line. As far as Christians being involved with such things, you know what the Word says about living according to God’s standards, so I won’t go into all that (unless someone out there needs to hear it again).
As for the whole idea of “ethics of the Christian body,” today’s Christian is going to HAVE to change the way he/she sees the human body in order to survive this sexual onslaught. We must learn to look at the body as a beautiful creation of God, putting aside attractions and beating down lusts. We must reserve our sexual thoguhts for that one person that God gives us as a mate. Men, we must stop looking at human bodies as sexual objects and see them as God sees them–temples of the Holy Spirit, gifts, awe-inspiring creations, a crowning achievement of Creation, not as pieces of meat for us to play with physically or mentally.
We have to change the way we think about the body. If we do, the sexual advertising ploys will appear as they really are–degrading, dishonest, juvenile, twisted. The ads, the catalogs, the contests, the websites, the books, whatever, will all lose their appeal because we will be walking in the Truth regarding these wonderful creations that are our bodies. We are so much more than sex hormones, aren’t we?
So, how to start? Mediatate on this verse: “…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) He will get you started.
Hope this helps.
Dan:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject. Of course Lionel nailed it as always! Interestingly, in our contemporary culture the body is a site of symbols and representation. I gues you could make it whatever you wish. Unfortunately I don’t any difference in the Christian circle. Am I being too judgmental or fundamental? Call me old school if you will. I strongly believe that there’s a proper biblical pattern for body modelling or modelling the God-given body.
I lament over this matter especially because of little importance given to the body and its discursive outlook both in our culture and in the christian community, respectively. What troubles me the most is that we as Christians make very poor theological reasoning on this matter . As you suggested Dan, “We have to change the way we think about the body.” We need to rethink, reformulate our thoughts biblically and theologically about the human body. Our bodies and thoughts are not our own, but the Lord’s.
Amen. Ultimately, it’s the law of supply and demand. Destroy the demand, and the supply will dry up. This is what Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No to Drugs” campaign in the 80’s was all about. As men, we have to mentally destroy the demand for sexual gratification outside of God’s boundaries, including visual gratifications…and you guys know what I mean. When we destroy the demand, what do you think it would do to the supply of such images/contests/sites/mags/lifestyles? It’s all about mind control–through the power of God, of course, since we are such weak vessels. Imagine the power we could have to change things around in our culture if we could master this area! God, help us to do it!
CJ,
My thoughts exactly.
I have some thinking to do.
Do share your thinking with us.
I have a post in mind, dealing with canon and character ethics.
on my last reply,
it was going to deal with Prejean, Palin, and Hillary Clinton too, and how politics has become a beauty pageant in and of itself.
CJ,
To your questions, I think much of this has to do with the disconnectedness of many chuches today. Now you may not like what proceeds; however….
. Truth of the matter is this Sir. Because 100% of our instruction comes through formal teaching (pulpit, sunday school, small groups (though they are falsely perceived to be relational) we lack any authenic discipleship.
As Paul instructs Timothy the elders were to instruct the younger men and the older women (female elders) were to instruct the younger women. However, today our lack of relationship produces what we see. You see as the culture goes so goes the church and only authentic discpleship through RELATIONSHIPS can prevent this. So if you or I were to share with these women that there skirts may be too short, the lack of relationship and intimacy will prevent any life impacting change.
I didn’t want to get on a soabox about this but I think this is the problem. Some older women involved in their lives should be able to say “young sister in Christ, I think what you are wearing may cause problems for other men and women within the body of Christ and definitely outside, thus providing a venue of sin for those in the church and hurting the witness of Christ outside, you are to be a resident alien”. But because we leave all that up to the pastor and relationships falter, then, well… we have young girls who would make Satan blush with their dressing and many older women are dressing 20 years their minor.
The flipside is just as dangerous, I wouldn’t want my wife looking like she lives on a reservation either; I just know after 11 years of marriage if I am lusting on what she is wearing, I know a young man who ain’t getting any is struggling worse!
Amen about relationships. The older generations dropped the ball in training up the younger, and the younger have erred in blowing off the wisdom and experience of the older. We CAN change this. Men, as the spiritual leaders, must take the initiative.
Mum was right by the look of it. It’s all men think about. Gosh I can talk to a man but I can’t remember what he’s wearing or what he looks like particularly. But men don’t seem to be able to talk to a woman without the once over – up and down. Jeepers.
I agree with you Steph. We men face this particular problem you mentioned. So help us God!
I had a friend that used to say, “I don’t have a one track mind. This one is just more important than all the others.” This is a good illustration of the problem. It’s a lie that he bought into from an ealry age. As men, we must cast off the lies that our culture tells us regarding sexuality. We become brainwashed in a way from early on. Women, too, receive their brainwashing and have their own battles to fight. In the realm of sexuality, however, we’re definitely in it together. This is a tough subject for men, and I applaud these brothers who are struggling through it and applying Christian thought to it. Good stuff!
Dan
l believe it is sinful for christians to expose their body parts in the name of modelling and money making projects terms.If a woman or man is wearing lingerie,as we know we have different designs and some are more revealing than others[thongs and G-strings] and walking on stage[public] modelling ,this behaviour triggers and enhances sexual desires or lust especially to men.In Nowadays we are living with many rapists,peverts and everything on media ,adverts promotes sex/lust therefore if christians will refrain from exposing their bodies in modelling they may save many people and kids from rape or lust and promiscuity.How ? For example,if a woman[christian] is wearing a bikini walking on stage and modelling ,majority of men watching her are not just seing her beauty or beautiful lingerie but have formed images seeing her in bed with them[him],they develop increased sexual desires because of her behaviour .Results of above behaviuor is ,these men may not neccessarily perform the sexual act with the actress on or outside the stage/perfomance but after watching her on panties they/he will go and fulfill their sexual needs with either a child ,someone’s wife ,prostitute or anyone who is vulnerably physically or mentally and this behaviuor is called sexual immorality which our Living God hates. In conclusion, it is sinful for a man or woman wear lingerie in public and the only person who is permitted to see your body is your wife/husband.Therefore I believe based on above mentioned example,if a woman wear revealing clothes/lingerie she /he is indirectly and sub-consciously stimulating lust to the spectators and promoting sexual immorality and this is sinful before God.
Hi Lennox,
It’s good to hear from you. I appreciate your excellent comment. As you suggested in your comment, it comes down to Christian modesty and how God-driven modesty looks like.
[...] It’s like the story taken out of the book of Esther. A beauty queen becomes God’s woman and saves the nation. These are what I hear for storylines about Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska and Miss USA runner-up Carrie Prejean. Celucien Joseph of Christ My Righteousness has posted in recent months on the saga of Carrie Prejean and the problematic nature of her (and therefore Christian women’s) involvement in beauty pageants (cuz they are just scholarship contests, right?). (see here and here) [...]
You always come up with some thought-provoking subject. Write it quick before I steal your idea:)
This is a relevant, needed issue for the Church today. I think if I could I would probably get a PhD in Christian ethics and international [social] justice. I’m looking forward to your post.