Beauty-who defines it?

     My almost 17 year old brother, wrote this paper on beauty for school. I loved it so much, that I wanted to publish it! He explains who defines beauty so perfectly! Enjoy! :)
Beauty and the supernatural

Could beauty directly correlate to something supernatural? If so, what does beauty look like? According to what societies have been saying for the past few centuries, beauty is based on or associated with pleasure. Beauty is either subjective or objective.  If someone were to say that beauty is subjective that means that beauty is never stable and based on opinion, but if beauty is subjective, it seems pointless to even use the word. However, if beauty were to have any meaning, it would have to be objective. To say it is objective means that there must be a standard that everyone must agree upon. Standards that everyone agrees upon are nearly impossible unless there exists  a supernatural being or God that created beauty, which means that true, unchangeable beauty is objective. Objective beauty can be seen through personality, nature, art, etc. however, man sees this beauty subjectively, because it is human nature to see things as subjective, but ultimately beauty is still objective.

In order for something to be beautiful, there has to be a God because beauty is ultimately objective. Assuming that beauty is objective there also must be truths about what is beautiful and what is not. Richard Swinburne says that “If God creates a universe, as a good workman he will create a beautiful universe” (Swinburne). However, if there were no Creator that created the universe, there is no reason to assume that the universe is beautiful. If there is no Creator or God that created beauty, how does one know what is beautiful? Some might say that it is whatever society creates it to be. This argument could go several ways; however, if society creates what is beautiful, good, true, etc. then that person would be putting their faith in humanity as the ultimate source of knowledge to create definitions of what is beautiful. If this is the case, how does an individual know that beauty is actually beauty? What if “beauty” is really pure ugliness and vice versa?  If there is no supernatural being that creates what is good or beautiful, than humans can only have theories upon what is beautiful, good, or true. Beauty must be obtained from what is good or true. According to Joe Puckett, “beauty touches our emotions in ways that others cannot.” He goes on to say that there must be a God that made “beauty to experience the aesthetic power of the world around us” (Puckett 98). There is a story of Einstein proving to a professor that cold, darkness, and evil are only the absence of heat, light and the love of God. There must be a God that exists and creates beauty. Beauty relates to God because God is beauty.

Within the early nineteenth century, Einstein created a formula in math that was originally m=ec^2 that later turned to e=mc^2. What this formula did was to show how mass was created by energy. It would take a tremendous power of energy in order to create the universe's mass and that energy lies within God. Energy is everywhere and makes up everything which would in many ways explain the way in which beauty relates to God because energy is abstract just like beauty. If God is real, there must be a soul and spirit within an individual's body that shows forms of human beauty.

When humans look at beauty, most of the time it is attributed to what is on the exterior. However, beauty goes beyond the surface and lies within a person's characteristics. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (The Bible). It is through a person's spirit that people can see what is good or beautiful, these different forms of beauty, according to Galatians 5:22-23, are “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” This is how true beauty should be looked at. However, society has made beauty into something that pleases their senses or “flesh” which, in many cases, are ugly. Generally, society is not grateful for what they have which causes them to want more of what is beautiful in their eyes. C.S. Lewis points out in Mere Christianity that “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world” (Lewis). True beauty can only be found through a supernatural being or God. Beauty that man creates causes many people to want something more which only the Creator can fulfill and that is the point of Lewis’s quote.

There are different levels of beauty such as, natural beauty that God creates and there is beauty which are products of man. However, products of man that are “beautiful” can be seen in a subjective sense because man makes the beauty rather than God. For instance, when humans create art whether pictures or cars, their art could be seen as subjective. No matter if man creates beauty, it still has to relate to what is good which ultimately means that beauty is objective. The nature of the flesh within a human has a  subjective nature even if there is a standard of beauty. This is because man is not perfect to understand what is truly beautiful. However, no matter what, beauty is objective which means that it does relate to God

Can beauty directly correlate to something supernatural? It can and this beauty can be seen all around the earth and the universe. Beauty must be objective and, therefore, relate to God who made all things. Normally, a man looks at beauty through subjective eyes because he has no sense of what true, objective beauty is. This beauty can be seen in the spirit of an individual and also can be seen through the good characteristics. Beauty can be seen as subjective, but ultimately beauty is objective. Those who say that beauty is ultimately subjective are in many ways putting their trust in humanity for the source of all knowledge. Therefore, beauty directly relates to God and this is because God is beauty.

Having a Child-Like Faith

As I was going on my jog this morning, I couldn't help but notice the beauty in the air. The clouds that God created, the trees, grass, and flowers that were there. Everything was so beautiful!
I couldn't help but be reminded of our faith in Christ. Yesterday, at church, the exhortation was about faith.
Hebrews 11:1-3, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."

Faith is what you live by; faith is accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ. Hope and faith keep us going. Believe in God and let the spirit work in you.

 Having a child-like faith can be difficult at times. We're reminded in Matthew 18:4-5, "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me."

It's amazing how children trust. They trust that when their parent and/or sibling picks them up, they won't fall.  We trust that when we sit on a chair, it won't break. We put our trust in so many things on a daily basis. I pray that I will have more of a Child-Like Faith as I walk in the ways of the Lord.

Authentic Beauty

While I was in Russia, I was talking with some Pastors in the Living Room at the "Purcell's House", I excused myself to go grab some more water, when I was gently touched by my hand. An older woman, who I had been getting to know the past couple days, "Mrs. Craig", took me by my hand, looked at me very sweetly, and said, "You are so beautiful!" I smiled, and politely thanked her as I walked away.

Having someone tell you something, whether about your looks, or the things you do, is always so encouraging! :) So, encourage others! It may be hard to do at times, but I can guarantee you, that it will make their day! :)

So, what does authentic beauty look like? What does being Feminine look like? Are we suppose to be a set-apart young woman from the culture? What should our lifestyle look like? Please join me as we study these Biblical principles, and how we can make it apart of our lifestyle!

To start off, here are a couple verses that talk about beauty:
1 Peter 3:3-4 ESV

"Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."
Proverbs 31:30 ESV 

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."
Psalm 139:14 ESV 

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV 

"...For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Peter 3:4 ESV

"But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."

As you can see, beauty is mentioned often in scripture! Beauty is more than just nail polish, make-up, and hair. Beauty is so much more! It begins in the heart. Our perception of our beauty and femininity is often shaped by the culture in which we live in. As we seek to live the set-apart life, we will not likely be understood or appreciated by the world around us. often even in the Christian world. But we are not on this journey alone. God is with us, and is tenderly shaping us into His - lilies among thorns in this generation. In His presence is the fullness of joy, and the true, authentic beauty! :) Have a wonderful day!