12-29-05
What makes something beautiful? There is a standard that men come up with that they agree upon
within some broader or narrower parameters in a given place and time. The Bible even recognizes this
process and acknowledges the beauty of Sarah, the handsomeness of David, the beauty of the Cedars
of Lebanon, and so on. This acknowledgement does not mean that God subscribes to those standards.
I do not believe that God would agree that Angelina Jolie is beautiful while Woody Allen is not in any
way that is real, for example. God is obviously aware of the current standards and would be aware that
society in general might see those individuals that way. The standards of human beauty have changed
somewhat drastically over the years - plumper to thinner and so on.
When it comes to the beauty of living creatures other than humans the standards have been more
stable. We look for the appearance of nobility, strength, and perhaps color. To a large degree we look
at animals and see what we would like to see in ourselves - though perhaps in the animals we only
imagine it - and call it beautiful. Even with plants and animals, though, beauty is seen somewhat
differently from place to place and time to time.
With mountains and rivers, sky, moon, and stars we find, I think, almost unanimous agreement that all is
beautiful - only the defilement of man can mar the beauty of inanimate creation. I think that is because
this part of creation is less touched by the effects of sin. Cursed by the sin of man it is, but it is indirect
and the result of sin is necessarily different on hill and dale than on creatures who themselves sin.
What about the animals - do they sin? No, but they are near to man in a different and more intimate way
and are thus perhaps more directly effected.
Which brings me back to what beauty might be. Beauty is in some way almost the same as purity.
Perfect beauty would be a purity so refined - or so pure in its original state - that there is nothing to
hide. That is at least a large part of the beauty of children that they can be very transparent. And that
is also part of the beauty of Christ - absolute purity and absolute transparency.
People strive mightily to approach the temporary standards of beauty of their time, but this truth is the
beauty that men and women should seek for it is a beauty that is real and is not temporary. It cannot be
improved by adornment. It cannot be marred by time or element. It cannot be judged by man at all -
man can either perceive it as it is, beautiful, or he can be wrong about it. It cannot be earned by
workouts, surgery, herbs, or magic - it is only available as a gift that can be accepted. God is the only
source and there is no infomercial.
Dale
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