In whose image are we made?

by Bethanie Mann

When I think of the concept of ‘body image’, I think of the questions, ‘How do I look?’ and ‘What do others see when they look at me?’

I find the biggest influences on our understanding of body image come from various streams of media and the people around us. I’m working as a sales assistant in a clothing retail store, and daily engaging with both men and women about their bodies and their criticisms of their own image. This deeply upsets me, yet how much more would God’s heart ache to hear these things?

This has led me to fear that in today’s society, there is an underlying expectation to impress each other with a certain body shape, owning the trendiest brands, or layering ourselves with expensive items. This is driven by the idea that by complying with these expectations, you can increase your level of beauty and add to your value. However, I have found that these expectations do the opposite.

I didn’t realise how much I cared about other people’s opinions, until one day at school I overheard someone ask, ‘Who’s that fat girl?’ And the response came, ‘That’s Bethanie’. ‘Is that all I am?’, I thought to myself.

I had never previously cared about how I looked and was comfortable with being called weird, even taking it as a compliment. But fat? ‘Is that all my worth comes down to?’, I asked myself.

This stewed inside me until I ended up losing 20 kilograms in 20 weeks. The method I chose though was by no means a healthy way to lose weight. Yet, I still did not value myself or like the way I looked – even though I seemed to have more friends and got the boys’ attention.

I also soon discovered that a friendship or relationship built on seeking other people’s approval is built on sand. When the storms hit, my so-called friends disappeared.

This led me to engage in comfort eating, and I found myself back at square one with no friends and loathing myself even more than I first did. When I looked in the mirror, all I could hear was a little voice that echoed, ‘Who’s that fat girl?’

I have since matured in my faith, grown from experiences and learnt to find my worth in Christ. But I would not, however, suggest that appearances do not matter. Rather, how we present ourselves is a reflection of what is on the inside.

Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter six, ‘Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price’.

While we may stare at the mirror, highlighting the things we do not like about ourselves and how impossible it is to attain society’s expectations in the realm of body image, we should ask ourselves instead, ‘How does God see me?’ After all, is his opinion not the only one that matters? God created us and he does not make mistakes! We are made in God’s image, we are his ‘very good’ creation, his ‘handiwork, created in Christ Jesus’ (Ephesians 2:10).

However, what about the items we wear on the outside? The style and brand of clothes, hair, make-up, jewellery, tattoos. Do we use these things to ensure we are honouring God? Peter does warn against wearing lots of expensive clothing and jewellery, as beauty comes from within (1 Peter 3:3,4).

Yet this doesn’t mean we can’t have these things. Rather, we must examine whether they honour God. A wedding ring, for example, though it may be expensive, brings glory to God through his gift of marriage and the vow made between a husband and wife.

I have two tattoos, which give me an opportunity to share the gospel when I’m asked about them. One depicts a cross, and the other is a sunrise/sunset as a representation of Lamentations 3:22,23 – ‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’

So, do looks really matter? Firstly, God is more concerned with what is on the inside rather than outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). And I think the more important question is, ‘Do we reflect Christ?’ We can also ask ourselves, ‘Are our bodies reflecting God’s image for others to see?’ As we live in a world of sin, this image will always be distorted yet, with the help of the Holy Spirit, perhaps we can treat our bodies as God would like us to.

My encouragement is to consider the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22,23) as a way we can honour our bodies and give glory to God. We can show love and joy towards ourselves and others no matter what our or their outward appearance. We can be at peace with the body God has given us and show kindness towards our body in how we care for it.

We can show goodness and gentleness as we consider the planet and the clothes we wear; show self-control through the types of food and drink we consume, or the amount of clothes we own.

No matter what shape we may be, or what we wear on our bodies, Paul encourages us in his letter to the Romans, ‘I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship’ (12:1). Therefore, let us worship God with our bodies, giving all the glory to him.

Bethanie Mann serves as Child, Youth and Family Worker at The Ark Salisbury Lutheran Church in Adelaide’s north-east. A former trainee at Tandara Lutheran Camp at Halls Gap in Victoria, she graduated from Australian Lutheran College with a Bachelor of Ministry in 2023. Along with working jobs in retail and hospitality, she is also a director of the Lower Murray South East Christian Life Week in South Australia.