Hermenuetics

Comments

Thanks for a reminder that I've invested considerably less time in my inner beauty than my outside. Must be why I wanted to tell women in my [new] spiritual formation group last week, "I don't usually look this miserably bare and pale and flawed!" I had to show up with no make-up in order to show up at all. Unnerved, I was . . .

Posted By: Pamela D. McClure | February 8, 2011 8:50 AM

Thank you. I developed an allergy to wearing makeup in High School and could not wear any for more than a couple of hours without breaking out in hives all over my face and swelling up like a balloon.

I was forced at a crucial time in my formative years to accept how God had formed me and to this day I wear no makeup. I haven't even tried in years to put it on.

On a side note, my husband appreciates that I wear no makeup. He still tells me (after almost 23 years)how much more he enjoys kissing me and not my makeup.

But I too needed the reminder that I need to invest in my spiritual beauty. I have accepted how God formed me, but haven't necessarily applied the energy I could on my inward beauty.

Posted By: Diane Adams | February 8, 2011 9:08 AM

Thank you for this insight! I actually am one of those women who rarely wears makeup. I like it but basically don't care enough to have enough time in the morning to put it on. I have been wearing it lately to cover up some acne but rarely do much more than just use some mineral powder concealer and mineral powder foundation and an eye color.

I have read before that women wear makeup for other women, not for men. This article just confirms this theory.

Posted By: Leslie | February 8, 2011 9:20 AM

Great post! After years caked in makeup, I slowly began to peel off the layers. Beginning my spiritual journey 15 years ago, I came from the modeling industry, sufficiently drenched with every artistic makeup found including the green contact lenses. Today, I barely wear lipstick, although I still enjoy brow and eye liners, but the rest feels heavy and out of place. This took years, not days, to grow out out of, and I believe only through the help of the Spirit's leading.....

Posted By: Pamela | February 8, 2011 9:37 AM

Makeup should be used to enhance and compliment the work of God, not to cover and adjust what we perceive as mistakes.

I don't believe there is anything wrong in trying to look your best - whatever that might be for you. Not because of what other people or society in general thinks, but because taking that time to care for yourself is one way to tell yourself that you count. That you are worth it and important just like other people.

Often when women lose confidence in themselves and have a low opinion of themselves, their 'self-care' shows it.
While it's important to put care into our spiritual selves first, caring for yourself physically is also important.

Posted By: Penny | February 8, 2011 10:03 AM

As the author points out, spiritual discipline is very individual. For her, going without make-up qualifies. For me, it would be seeing beyond what people look like to their heart, when it would be so much easier to respond to their outward appearance.

In addition, as Christians, we can sometimes feel self-righteous about what we are doing or not doing. It's a real spiritual discipline for me to find humility, when I am tempted to feel superior to others because of what I do or don't do.

Posted By: Suzy | February 8, 2011 10:36 AM

I think when we begin to think too much about it is when we are in trouble. Today I entirely forgot to dust some face powder on. I am 49 and confident of how I look. Some days I wear make-up and some days I don't. It's just not a big deal. I don't feel any more or less without it. I use it, it doesn't use me.

Like Penny, I don't examine other people either to try and determine why they do what they do in regards to make up, unless I have the occasional knee-jerk reaction to really heavy make-up. In that case, I generally feel very sorry for people thinking they have bad skin or very low self-esteem. Then I'm just thankful for my naturally clear skin and Hispanic olive skin with few wrinkles. Blessings

Posted By: Joni | February 8, 2011 12:22 PM

A male clergy colleague sent this to me. Just thought you should know that men are thinking thoughtfully about these issues, too.

He sent it to me because three months ago, I decided to abandon make-up and contact lenses. It was an issue of stewardship of time and money. Btwn wrestling with contacts and putting on the minimal amt of makeup I did wear, I spent 7 hrs a month on these things. I could be doing much more for God with this time.

I looked at my husband, who does no more than most men to "get ready for the day," and thought about the way culture has shaped me as a woman to waste my time on these things. I started paying attn to the women I know and love and realized that not very many of them wore makeup. So I changed it all at once. With glasses instead of contacts and no makeup, I definitely do not look as "pretty" by cultural standards, but I consider this a long-term, if not permanent, fast in my life. A fast to point me to ways that loving God with my time and my money is more important than pleasing others. It's still hard sometimes, but I try to think about the fact that I love the insides of other people more than their outsides, so why shouldn't I try to develop my inside rather than rely on the made-up outside? Trying to live with that integrity.

Posted By: Jenny | February 8, 2011 12:53 PM

I was reminded of a Lenten season when I 'gave up' makeup for Lent. It was a challenge at the time and I continued for may years after that Lenten season was over. I've spent many years without makeup and other years wearing it. I've found that both times can be vehicles for a closer relationship with God.

I really don't believe it's about whether we wear it or not - but about how we view ourselves and what we spend our time focused on. I can be bear faced and no more attuned to God's presence in my life than when in full coverage make-up mask. At the present time, I usually wear makeup and truly enjoy it. Not as a means of covering up, but really just having some fun!

And as others have said, I think that our biggest danger is feeling superior to others. Which after reading the article and many of the comments, I felt like some might condemn me (or at the very least feel sorry for me) because I choose to wear makeup. I've never worn makeup to please others or for others benefit - only my own enjoyment and fun with trying out different looks. Am I less spiritually disciplined because I choose to wear make-up...perhaps, but perhaps not. I'm thankful to know, without a doubt, that God loves me either way! :-)

Posted By: Johnna | February 8, 2011 1:56 PM

As a male I appreciate your perspective and hope that many of your readers will consider your challenge. However, in those cases where a woman feels the need for a little "help" I quote my grandpa on the subject - "A little powder and paint makes a woman what she ain't."
Peace to you.

Posted By: Chuck | February 8, 2011 2:01 PM

I hate that our society tells men that they look great the way they are while it tells women that we need a little something extra just to look normal. I don't have a moral problem with makeup. I do, however, have a moral problem with our society that tells women that the only thing that matters about them is their appearance, which is never good enough, and that says women's bodies are a public commodity.

Posted By: Anna | February 8, 2011 3:36 PM

I have to admit, I feel a bit disturbed by this article, mostly because I wear make-up every day and I am not intending to change, and I don't feel the need to change. So I want to make the case FOR wearing make up:
Firstly because, even though it is called make up, I am not MAKING things UP: I happen to have tiny eyes and very fair eyelashes and I look about 12 when I step into my classroom without mascara and a bit of eye-liner. I'm not making things up, but more making things stand out.
Secondly, because I don't consider myself vain: I take off all my make up on a friday night and spend the whole weekend bare-faced, I don't even brush my hair most of the time!
The reason I wear make up is that I have been battling severe acne for years and I am left with light scarring and uneven skin tone (think BLOTCHY, not flushed), why would I expose myself to jokes and nasty comments that make me feel bad when, with a touch of foundation I can look healthier and avoid nasty comments?
Thirdly because I know my true beauty is on the inside and that people worth having in my life will be looking at my soul and spirit and not my face, but we are seriously deluded to think that the appearance doesn't count a little bit: it DOES. God made us all pretty and we should aim to maintain the state of prettiness we were born with, and if it takes a smudge of lip gloss for people to witness the genius of God's creation, then so be it.
Fourthly, because my make up is not a mask, I am not hiding behind it: what you see is what you get, I am not trying to be who I am not. My eyes are still tiny, grey and sparkly, my cheeks are still chubby and my fingers are still short and sausage-like (in a good way!), but I find it a nice way to accessorize what I was born with; wearing purple eyeshadow makes my eyes look more blue, and bronze eyeshadow makes my eyes almost silver, where is the wrong there? I am not creating the illusion of beauty, it's already there, I'm merely using what I already have and play with it! And I do it for myself :-)
I stopped wearing lipstick because it's too much hard work and I hardly ever wear nail polish anymore, but where is the harm in exfoliating twice a week, moisturizing my face everyday and having regular hair cuts?
I do not profess to know better, but I do not think the real debate is should we wear make up, it is rather WHY DO WE WEAR MAKE UP? If it is to hide real, deep insecurities, then maybe it's time to face these issues? I am very secure and proud of the way God made me, so I show it off, with and without make up!

Posted By: little charlie | February 9, 2011 7:23 AM

Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater, ladies. Why does it have to be such an "either/or" situation? You can "develop your inside" without deliberately making yourself look more plain, especially if you have a husband you'd presumably like to look attractive for.

"I was forced at a crucial time in my formative years to accept how God had formed me and to this day I wear no makeup." Great for you, but I'm not so sure that it was "God" who "formed" me with cystic acne through my teen and early adult years, and then rosacea after that. I can still "invest in my spiritual beauty" if I care to without causing people to (literally) remark that I got a sunburn or ask me if my blood pressure is up.

Thanks to Little Charlie for a voice of reason here.

Posted By: Lucie | February 9, 2011 8:56 AM

One of my husband's favorite sayings is, "If the house needs paint, paint it!" I am tending to agree with Little Charlie--Who needs people asking you if something is wrong with you if you happen to be someone who needs makeup in order NOT to draw attention to yourself? Of course, if one wears makeup in order to draw attention to themselves then they have a different problem! I am one who both wears makeup & doesn't wear it, but I used to have acne (thru age 45) & felt I needed to wear makeup in order to hide the ugliness of acne. Looking normal allowed me to be able to focus on my inner self rather than being self-conscious about my outer self.

Posted By: LeeAnn Cheeley | February 9, 2011 9:39 AM

I personally love make-up, but I have had to learn over the years that it is a luxury, not a necessity. In more recent years I have felt less of a need to have to put on makeup in order to start the day, I usually do this because I want to. The one hang up I have is my eyebrows are very sparse, and even if I don't do full makeup, I feel better with at least a little eyebrow liner to fill them in. Even this, I have had to coach myself on; no one else probably cares! It can definitely be a daily struggle.

Posted By: Stephanie | February 9, 2011 12:23 PM

Interesting, but a bit disturbing to me, especially the line: "And I wonder what our doing away with it, not all the time but on occasion, as an experiment, might do in awakening our spirituality"

The part that was disturbing was the caveat, "not all the time".

As a woman who generally doesn't wear makeup, it makes me feel rather alienated that even in the middle of an article about the purported spiritual benefit of not wearing it, it simultaneously says don't skip it all the time.

I realize some women like to wear makeup. I find it uncomfortable and stressful to wear it. So that sentence is really alienating

Posted By: Ann | February 9, 2011 2:29 PM

I don't wear makeup hardly ever-only to events like weddings where I fear I'll offend my host by showing up bare-faced. I think besides hiding the faces God gave us, good or bad, makeup sets up unrealistoc expectations so that instead of regarding faces who've battled acne or eyelashes you can barely see as common & perfectly normal, we view them as embarrassing. I also think as Christians we should think of the impact on a poor family's finances when the mother feels she *has* to wear foundation, blush, eyeshadow, & mascara to go out of the house. For families who scrimp & save & hope the food lasts until next payday, makeup expenses could be a big burden. Let's not make them feel IRS a necessary one by being part of a makeup culture.

Posted By: Maman A Droit | February 9, 2011 5:06 PM

Fun article that raises good questions. Similar thing with hair color. I'm starting to have to color my hair at 45 and it brings about this whole new awareness that most women are coloring their hair. What if all of us just went gray or white like (most) men do? What if none of us wore make-up, like men do? Lots of money and time saved.

Believe me, I'm not preaching here, I'm coloring, at least for the near future. It's just interesting to think about.

Posted By: Pam | February 9, 2011 7:27 PM

Hi ladies, thanks for all your thoughtful and thought-provoking comments! As I have followed the different responses to my post I realize that it can be a polarizing topic. My aim was neither to demonize women who do wear makeup, nor was I hoping to minimize its pitfalls. There is a temptation in this discussion to swing the pendulum too far in either direction, so I would like to offer two clarifying points in an effort to maintain a healthy balance:

1. The act of wearing makeup, in and of itself, is not wrong. God gave us creative powers to reflect His character as we engage the world, and makeup can be a form of art or self-expression. Makeup is not always about covering up but can be about playing up our best attributes, drawing attention to them in a way that is honoring to God and celebrating His creation. Whether you choose to wear makeup or not, what matters is that you "offer your body as a living sacrifice" to God (Rom. 12:1). This can be done with or without makeup.

2. The act of taking off makeup should not be about legalism or self-righteousness, nor am I suggesting that it is a mandatory practice. It is simply one of many ways to search your heart for potential idols. For some women, makeup isn't a struggle at all--perhaps they struggle with other forms of "symbolic makeup." For others, makeup itself is essential to their confidence and in such a case it should not be taken lightly. But whatever it is that constitutes the essence of your security, if it is not God, it should be placed in its proper position behind the Lordship of Christ. My aim was to encourage you in that process, wherever it may take you.

Blessings to you all as you search your hearts and "awaken" to the makeup--whether it is literal or figurative--behind which you might be hiding, or in which you might be resting.

Posted By: Sharon Miller | February 9, 2011 7:36 PM

I'm 51 and my wife is 49. We've been married 27 years. She rarely wears any type of makeup. I found this article astounding. It would have never occurred to me that makeup usage could be be a serious spiritual issue.

Posted By: Scott | February 11, 2011 2:46 PM

Make up is neither here nor there for me. Why feel the need to look unkempt as an act of worship? I think the Lord expects us to care for and groom our body; it's part of being healthy, portraying a caring God, and being thoughtful to others. That said, I've left the house without makeup more than not since my kids were born. If there is a need that supersedes my comfort to put on makeup, well, it's not an issue. I guess I almost battle the opposite side of the fence. Is it really necessary? It's a chore to keep up our body. I've never been a raging beauty, so maybe I've learned not to rely on appearance for self-esteem. Still, it's about balance. But while we are at it, what about healthy body weight. Now, that is a more loaded subject.

Posted By: Maria Kind | February 11, 2011 5:45 PM

As a male speaking as a male, I could not applaud the author more for her decision and actions, and I've heard many other women express the same.

Posted By: Mark Miwerds | February 11, 2011 6:42 PM

I wear makeup for myself and also not to be distracting to others. Without makeup I look like "death warmed over". In the 40's there were quite a few preachers that preached against wearing makeup. That was fine if your skin looked healthy. My dad was a pastor who bucked that trend of no makeup and believed if "a barn needed painting, paint it." When I look into the mirror before I go out I want to look healthy and joyful as I feel inside so I need the makeup.

Posted By: Beady Blossom | February 12, 2011 4:59 PM

Sharon, thank you for this insightful post.
I cannot tell anyone else what is right for them, but I can tell the story of how God worked within me.
I am wading my way through Dallas Theological Seminary working on my masters in Media and Communication. I am a mother of four, and a part time art teacher at a Christian school.
While I was taking a class on the End Times, the Lord brought to my attention one particular verse; "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming." 2 Peter 3:11,12.
The Lord spoke to my heart specifically and I felt the echo of these words, "Stop wearing makeup. I will help you with this."
I balked! I hated what He had to say! I found every excuse to pretend I only heard my imagination speak to me. Yet, I recognized the reality of the sin makeup was perpetuating in my family and in my own life.
The Lord pointed out that makeup was causing the following in my life:
jealousy, competitiveness, fear of what others were thinking of me, fear that my husband would not like me if I stopped wearing it, earthly/worldly thinking,wondering if other men found me attractive, displaying to my children that the outside mattered more than the inside (the opposite of what I verbalized), and a here and now selfish focus that was inconsistent to what the Bible promoted.
Wow. I fluctuated still on this issue. I would go months without makeup, then I'd pick it back up again. (I struggle with skin issues like break outs and rosacea)
Finally, when my 10 year old daughter said, "I can't wait to wear makeup, because I feel ugly without it." I realized I had to stop to show her the true meaning of beauty.
This is a very hard discipline for me. It means truly focusing on an unseen realm. It is a daily sacrifice that says to God, "I believe Your Word, (favor is deceitful and beauty is vain, but the woman who fears the Lord shall be praised." Proverbs 31:30) more than I believe what the culture around me says about beauty.
I still struggle with the extent of the sacrifice I am making, but I'm experiencing inner peace for the first time in years. Yes, it is hard, but a life of sacrifice is what God calls us to. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual [fn] act of worship." Romans 12:1. I know this is what God wants for my life, and I am acting in obedience. God is blessing my life and the lives of those around me in so many ways because I am making this sacrifice.
When I look at the high schooler in my art class whose face is covered in acne, I think, "I need to show her that a woman's life is more than just what is visible on her face."
When I hear my daughters complain about their hair or the way they look, I can say with all honesty, "life is more than just how you look. What is on the inside is more important than what is on the outside." It feels good that I am living the truth of this out, not just saying it.
I cannot say what is right for the majority of woman out there, but I can say that this decision is right for me. I love the Lord, and I'm finding that my love for him is only growing as I submit to Him in obedience in this discipline.
My prayers are with all you women out there as you sort through what is right for you in this area.

Posted By: Kristy Marshall | November 28, 2011 9:47 AM