Christians and Beauty Pagents
By now, everyone is aware of the situation with Miss California Carrie Prejean in the Miss USA pageant. She spoke against gay marriage and it cost her the pageant. I don’t want to focus on that incident, nor do I want to focus on the media’s coverage of it. What I want to consider is the Christian perspective of beauty pageants.
We’ll start with the most obvious verse: “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt 5:28). Now, I’m not stretching it much to say that there is only one reason to watch a beauty pageant. That is to watch beautiful young women prance about in bikinis, showing off their bodies. This is a clear violation of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:28. No one can tell me that they aren’t looking at the young women in the pageant with lustful intent.
A pageant, like Miss USA, creates a serious stumbling block for Christian men. Romans 14:13 tells us never to put a stumbling block in the way of a brother. That is, a fellow Christian. By participating in a pageant like this, self-professed Christian Carrie Prejean putting a stumbling block in the way of her brothers in Christ.
You could always argue that Christians should just do what I do with beauty pageants–not watch them. As someone who struggles with the sin of lust, I can tell you that that may be much easier said than done. Granted, I was on harder stuff than beauty pageants. It took me years to kick the porn habit and I still struggle with it every day. So it may not be a simple matter of looking the other way during a pageant–our hypothetical brother in Christ might not be able to curb temptation.
I’m not arguing for all beauty pageants to be eliminated. But I want my sisters in Christ who might be considering following Miss Prejean’s example to think about the lustful feelings that they will inevitably stir in my brothers in Christ who haven’t yet developed the willpower to look away. Do you want to be responsible for someone else stumbling, sister? Read Romans 14:13-23 and Mark 9:42.
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Posted on April 24, 2009, in Sin and tagged Sin. Bookmark the permalink. 8 Comments.
Josiah Concept Ministries 
Cory,
What courage, candor and transparency my friend and an example to us all. Through sheer boldness you have confided in us your “weakness”. Be assured no amount of “willpower” will ever keep you (perpetually) from this temptation. Willpower is of the Self and not Christ, I say this to your credit, not as a critique. You are fighting a battle that is already…lost.
We know in our flesh dwells no good thing. There is nothing so nauseating or pathetic as the flesh trying to be holy. So then, what is the answer? The remedy? To walk in the spirit in an attitude of total dependence upon Him (in us) is not a reward, but the very means. In the spirit there is no duality, no potential for both good and evil, only good. Hence we hear Paul imploring us to “walk in the spirit and you will not (it will be impossible) to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, the lower nature. That old man of sin can not please God (obey). To attempt to gain the victory in and of ourSelves is a Satanic ambition which the flesh (the man of pride) seeks to perpetuate in us. A type of Self righteousness. He died, only Christ is alive in us now, we just dont yet know and walk in this truth.
God can begin with a man when he comes to the place of total despair, when he jettisons any confidence or expectations of righteousness within himself, when he ceases to be impressed with what or who he is apart from God. A dead man (adam) can not keep the law, for…he who has died is free from sin. Romans 6:7.
Only in this manner will we tread victoriously upon the head of the serpant of self-will.
Christ IN you, the hope of (your restored) glory.
The self-control that I exercise in not viewing pornography, beauty pageants, or the like is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. I didn’t mean to phrase myself so that it sounds like I developed the self-control; rather, I know that it flows from the Holy Spirit.
Amen Cory, thank you.
Cory while I have no issues with the wonderful observation of scantily clad women personally, I commend you on taking the path of maintaining your faith in this situation. I get tired of hearing the Godly suport Carrie when as you state her actions are in direct conflict with the Bible she wants to be “correct” with. Her hipocrisy is blantant and all the Christians supporting her creates easy fodder for us unbelievers.
Though I may not believe in your God I can still appreciate consistency and you have shown that with this post.
Thank you for the support! I can’t believe that people are supporting her, frankly. Her answer appealed to her upbringing, not the Bible. She isn’t standing for anything in Christianity that I’ve seen, and you’re right about the hypocrisy.
“A pageant, like Miss USA, creates a serious stumbling block for Christian men.”
Yet according to your Satanic doctrine of Calvinism, God’s own micromanagerial control of the universe established it!
I wish the media and some Christians would stop assisting Miss California, Carrie Prejean in promoting herself as a representative of morality and Christianity. The fact that she strips down and prances around in a little bikini for all to judge how “hot” her body looks shows she is not a good Christian role model. I write for holiness.com and do teach that marriage is between a man and a woman based on scripture. So, I’m not speaking about Miss California as one of those who are offended that she said marriage should be between a man and a woman.
http://www.holiness.com/ChristiansInPorn.htm
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