On Physical Appearance

A Multitude of Subjects

There are quite a few things to talk about here - everything from weight, to modesty, to foreign objects people stick in their skin. A few passages in particular seem to sum up everything one could possibly think of about our physical bodies, which we will see later.

"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. Therefore honor God with your bodies." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

"Therefore, 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. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2

Weight

Eating disorders are extremely common, and range from eating so much a person becomes morbidly obese, to eating so little they are little more than a skeleton. Neither extreme is a good one. There are countless fad diets and exercise programs that promise men and women alike the perfect body, and some may work, only to result in the person gaining all their weight back because it took a huge toll on their body.

While it is good to take care of your body, obsessing over it isn't always the answer. 1 Timothy says:

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." 1 Timothy 4:8

 Exercising and working out is great and keeps you in shape, but everything in moderation. The same goes for food. While God gave us wonderful foods on earth that are meant to sustain and be enjoyed, the overindulgence and gluttony of food is sinful.

"Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on mean, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags." Proverbs 23:20-21

It is important to not be so focused on the physical that we neglect the spiritual, yet we should not take that as to neglect our physical bodies of ourselves and of others. 

"Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace: keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" James 2:15-16

While it is wrong to judge people and discriminate based on their weight, it's important to discipline your own self and take care of yourself.

Hair

Hair is an interesting subject in the Bible. The culture at that time was very different from our own, and yet the Biblical principles carry over from one culture and century to another.

First, we see in Proverbs:

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness." Proverbs 16:31

The Bible has a lot to say about respect for our elders, so showing one's age is not disgraceful - it is a sign (hopefully) of wisdom and experience.

For men, the instructions are few, and somewhat unclear.

"Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard." Leviticus 19:27

This next one was specifically for priests, but why not?

"They must not shave their heads or let their hair grow long, but they are to keep the hair of their heads trimmed." Ezekiel 44:20

On the other hand,

"A man who has lost his hair and is bald is clean. If he has lost his hair from the front of his scalp and has a bald forehead, he is clean." Leviticus 13:40-41

 Basically, a man's hair is to be neatly groomed (although if he's bald there's no problem) and his beard brings him honor. This next one discusses both men and women's hair:

 "Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering." 1 Corinthians 11:14

Just a couple verses earlier, we see

"For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head." 1 Corinthians 11:6

A woman's hair serves a different purpose than men's hair. It is a covering for her head and it is also her crowning glory. Now realize that if a woman looses her hair because of an illness, as often happens when cancer patients undergo chemotherapy, this is a very different matter, because she is sick and it is necessary. This matter concerns purposefully cutting one's hair so it is like a man's, and a man wearing his hair as a woman would. The Bible, of course, doesn't say anything on the subject of dyeing one's hair unnatural colors, but I'll let you figure that one out.

 Tattoos, Piercings, and Other Forms of Excessive Adornment

If our bodies are temples of the holy spirit, then it goes to say that piercings and tattoos are, in a way, vandalizing that temple.

Leviticus 19 says:

"Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:28

In Isaiah, there is a huge passage on excessive dressing and bodily ornaments. Here goes:

 "The Lord says, 'The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the Lord will make their scalps bald.'

In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, the earrings and bracelets and veils, the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, the signet rings and nose rings, the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls." Isaiah 3:16-23

Now I don't see this as saying that anyone who wears a piercing or tattoo is condemned to hell, but what we see here is the discouragement of ornamenting oneself with the purpose of gaining attention or idolizing oneself. As we saw with the matter of food, God admonishes gluttony in any form, and adornments are one to be careful about. Just as dressing with too little is sexualizing one's body, over-adorning one's body can also have the same affect.

Proverbs 31 says:

"Charms is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

And in 1 Peter 3:

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles, and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:3-4

 So while it is not inherently bad to wear jewelry or nice clothing, the purpose of this should not be to "advertise" yourself to other people, gain attention, or rebel against the norm. The goal in any physical addition or alteration is to glorify God, not oneself, and certainly shouldn't be to please other people.

Thanks for making it through this extremely long post!