I finally got out to see the latest rage in Christendom. God’s Not Dead.
I have to admit, I always get sucked into the Jesus hype. I was first in line to get tickets for the last Kirk Cameron movie. I’ve got every Sherwood Pictures movie in my library from Facing the Giants to Courageous (and even their not so famous early releases). I like it when Christianity goes big.
But there’s a destructive influence, even in these movies. There is a destructive influence in God’s Not Dead.
All the girls are all gorgeous. I mean gorgeous as in skinny, flat tummy, white teeth and to-die-for hair. They are stylish. They are well-groomed and accessorize.
Why is this destructive? Because it sends a message. Because in their quest to Jesus I don’t want my daughters getting the message THAT is what being a Christian has to looks like. Good Christians don’t have to be gorgeous. When 60% of elementary girls (6-12) are already worried about being fat, that is destructive.
I was one of those girls. Now at 38 years old and 7 kids later, a flat stomach isn’t even on my radar. Appearance isn’t want it’s about. Appearance means so little to Jesus that he actually planned to be average when he came to earth. Isaiah prophesied this about him 700 years before.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. Is. 53:2
I know these movies have to compete in the Hollywood market. I know at the end of the day they gotta make money. But please, can someone out there make a Jesus movie with some real girls? Let’s see a size 12 get the leading role. Let’s see a girl with tummy pudge and blemishes on a bad hair day. THAT is what being a Christian girl looks like for most of us on a regular basis.
But the Lord said, “Don’t judge by appearance… The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
*Disclaimer: I LOVE ALL PEOPLE! Even stylish, would-be-model women. My point is most of the women I know are size 12+. The average American woman is a size 14. I am not dogging gorgeous people. I would just like to see Christian movies reflect the Christian population. We don’t have to be skinny to be a Christian woman. So please don’t read anything else into this post and stop sending me comments or messages that have nothing to do with what I said.
For more on girls and body image check out: “Am I Chubby?”
