Should Culture Define Beauty?

Most of us are familiar with the adage which states that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes, our reaction to people of other cultures puts a lie to this axiom. This is also seen in the criteria for choosing winners in most international and local beauty pageants. If beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder, what gives the judges of such pageants the right to impose their choices on all of us? You tell me that someone is “the most Beautiful Girl in the World”, yet the generality of the public did not have an opportunity to contribute to the selection process!

 This article does not however, focus on merits or demerits of the criteria used in selecting beauty queens. Our interest is purely spiritual and it centres on God, the creator of beauty. We are told in Genesis 11:1 that descendants of Noah who survived the flood had one language. This implies that they were culturally homogenised because language is a major determinant of culture. Obviously, God was not perturbed about this. All they needed to do was obey His command to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth”. But these people had their own ideas. They said to themselves, “Come let us build us a city and a tower, whose top will reach to heaven, and let us make a name for ourselves, otherwise we will be scattered aboard over the face of the earth”.

This was a very unwise decision on their part, considering that it was rebellion against God that led to the flood which they escaped from through the merit of one man- Noah. Anyway, God was not in the mood to tolerate their folly so He scattered them Himself by unleashing on mankind thousands of tongues that are being spoken across the world today. God did not only confused their tongues, He also rearranged their Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to reflect their new identities.

It is not surprising therefore to see the marked differences in cultures, physical appearances and lifestyles among the various races, tribes and ethnicities in the world. Let us take Germans for instance. They are sticklers when it comes to following rules. They are not fans of small talks, nor are they very expressive in their interaction with strangers. Germans would not greet strangers with a hug and they prefer to stay at least an arm’s distance or more away when having a conversation with another person. Those of us from Africa would see such people as snobs because we are more expressive. We love to hug even strangers. Africans are boisterous and friendly to a fault. Of course, the Germans would have some negative things to say about us as well.

Another culture worth examining is that of Israel. Many foreigners naturally perceive Israelis as brash an aggressive, an assessment that is far from true. An article titled ‘Things to Know About Israel’s Local Culture’ posted on theculturetrip.com by Reuben Lewis explained reasons for the conjecture. According to him, Hebrew language is characterised by its brevity and commanding nature. Whereas an English speaker might say, “Please may I get some water?” an Israeli would say, “Efshar mayim”? Meaning, “It’s possible, water?” Also, while an English speaker might say ‘No thank you’ in response to being offered tea, it would be acceptable in Israel to reply simply with lo (no). When Israelis are encountered in their local environments, they are extremely warm and hospitable. They are also very expressive in their relations with foreigners and are free with their kisses, handshakes and sweets.

We will now jump to Asia to sample some of the cultures there. The Japanese in particular are known for their sound work ethics. In fact, an African who visited the country observed that Japanese people worship God with their work. They are also very health conscious. This explains the preponderance of facilities for morning exercise across the country. Rajio Taiso, a radio exercise program introduced by Emperor Hirohito in 1928 is still broadcast daily in Japan. It plays every morning for 10 minutes and it is mostly followed by school children and the elderly (japanology.org).

On the other hand, neighbouring Asians are more collectivistic in their culture. In simple terms, they de-emphasise the notion of separate autonomous self, in favour of group identity. Even an individual’s physical appearance is often seen as not only a reflection of the individual’s own internal self but also a representation of the family, extended family, and perhaps the Asian community as a whole (K. Y. Kawamura, sciencedirect.com).

We have only scratched the surface of the marked differences in the culture of some nationalities to emphasise the fact that each has a unique role to play in God’s eternal plan. If we agree that language influences the cultural milieu of the different ethnicities and race on earth, is it right for us to use any criteria influenced by the perception of a particular group of people to measure beauty? For instance, does the American idea of beauty align with that of Asia? I know for a fact that many African men prefer chubby women. Does this make them inferior to their European counterparts who go for skinny or slender women?

I am also persuaded that God made all things beautiful. In the creation account recorded in Genesis 1:1-31, every milestone was sealed with the phrase “And God saw that it was good”. In fact, after He created Adam and Eve, the assessment changed from ‘good’ to ‘very good’. So, what gives man the authority to decide the criteria for measuring beauty? This question is important for many reasons. There are many people, including Christians who live their entire life under the shadow of the world’s disdain because they believe the lie that they do not measure up in the beauty department.

There are also those who are so conscious of their so-called beauty that they expose their nakedness in an attempt to draw attention to themselves. These are people with “peacock spirit”. The Lord Jesus asked a pertinent question in Mathew 6:27, “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? In chapter 5:36, He asserts that none of us can make a strand of hair white or black (of course the people who produce all sorts of dyes would insist that they can!).

What it all boils down to is that we owe God a debt a gratitude for creating us with unique personalities, cultures and languages. Indeed, our Father loves diversity. This is also expressed in nature as manifested in different species of fauna and flora. When the enemy attacks us with doubts to question our unique destinies and physical appearances, we must do what the Lord Jesus did when He was tried in the wilderness before the commencement of His earthly ministry.

He resisted satan with the word of God. If the devil tells you that you do not measure up to the world’s standard for measuring beauty, tell him that you are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God (Psalm 139:14; Genesis 1:26). Tell him that you are the apple of God’s eyes (Psalm 17:8). Remind him that he is destined for the Lake of Fire and that you will spend eternity with God (2 Corinthians 5:1). Also tell him that you are God’s child (John 1:12) and the beloved of God (1 John 3:1).

             The value of a thing is determined by its worth and purpose. You are precious to God. You are a treasure in earthen vessel. Almighty God would not have sent His only begotten Son to redeem you from the hands of satan if you were worthless. It is the glory of God that makes you beautiful. Not make-up. Not your attires. It does not matter what God has given you to cover your nakedness. Your beauty shines forth because of His Spirit that indwells you. So, next time the ugly devil and his filthy demons throw thoughts at you to make you hate what you see in the mirror, tell them that you are the son or daughter of the One who is beautiful beyond description and too marvellous for words! Most importantly, you are of the Royal Priesthood, a prince and king in God’s Kingdom. Hallelujah!