Paige and Miley
Posted on August 28, 2013 in Uncategorized
Wow! I am blown away by the response on social media and the website in regard to Paige’s article yesterday. I think we have hit a nerve for sure. After reading and paying close attention to many of the comments, I have a few thoughts that I would like to share.
I think it so ironic that this post was only days after Miley’s controversial performance. I’ve prayed about, gone back and forth about commenting on the sadness of the performance, and read many blogs and comments made about the performance and frankly disagreed with most of them. But after the reactions to Paige’s article, I think we must point out the ironic phenomenon that is occurring.
Miley, no matter how you slice it, has bought the lie. Our culture screams that you should be able to dress, act and speak anyway you choose and no one should be allowed to make a judgment call about your character based on that. In the mind of our culture, Miley should be able to come on stage dressed in a nude colored bikini and “tweark” on a married man in front of millions and no one should think that “trashy” or “inappropriate” and as a matter of fact if a young man watching struggled with impure thoughts about her during that performance, well that’s just his problem. He should not allow himself to think those thoughts and he should still hold Miley in high regard.
She acts on what the culture has preached to her and what do we do but turn on her in disgust.
Paige writes an article about young women taking responsibility for their own actions. Understanding that we can think it unfair until the cows come home, but people DO draw conclusions about our character based on the way we present ourselves through our dress, our actions and our words. Paige eloquently says, “I talk to girls all the time about relationships and why they can’t find “Mr. Right”, “Prince Charming”, or the “Guy of their Dreams” and time after time they say, “Where are the gentlemen? Where has the chivalry gone?” This always kind of bothered me…hang with me for a second…that’s putting way too much responsibility on the guy and taking it all off of us.” Paige’s article in no way excused guys for their role in maintaining and upholding one another’s values, it simply stated that girls have their own responsibility to respect themselves, to be aware of their appearance and what it says about the condition of her heart. There are young men who are men of honor and worthy of the same kind of young woman. He will be able to control his thoughts when he sees a young woman dressed immodestly. But it is also likely, that young woman will not end up being pursued by that same young man either. There are still men who seek the heart of the Father first and a bride second. This kind of young man is looking for a woman who honors Him and herself as well.
Paige acts on what she has heard the Father saying, and you would be surprised with how many people responded with things like “this is giving guys a pass.” “Women SAY they want to be treated like a princess, but when I lock them away in a tower suddenly I’M the monster…”
John 8:43-45 (Jesus speaking)
“Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning; not holding to the truth for these is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet, because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me!”
Our society has placed our young ladies in a no win situation. First we tell them that they should be able to dress anyway they would like and still be thought of as princess. Society says, “If you’ve got it flaunt it.” “Don’t be prude.” “I am just dressing fashionably.” “I dress this way because I like it, not to get attention from a guy.” Whatever. That is absurd. Girls feel like they are compared to magazine photos and celebrities on the red carpet. They are compared to their sisters, their friends and the girl that sits next to her in math class. They feel they need to be the most strong, independent, athletic, beautiful, articulate, sexual, self-confident and thin girl around. Impossible. The truth is in Paige’s words, “If you want to be treated like a princess, dress like it”. I would say, “Act like it.”
The sad, sad truth is that Miley listened for years to people calling her the “girl next door” and “the cute, all American girl.” Society invaded her life, invaded her home and invaded her heart. We spent millions taking our preteens to every Hannah Montana anything we could find. We allowed them to idolize her. We told her that we wanted to dress like her, act like her, be her…that her value was in her appearance, in her performance. Her shoulders weren’t strong enough. So she broke. I don’t know what goes on in her precious heart and mind but what I do know is that we as this society who has devoured her owns part of that pain. I’ve seen awful, hate-filled tweets about the depths to which she has fallen. I have seen people asking questions like “how do we help Miley?” Miley, doesn’t need our help. She is a princess who needs to be rescued. She needs a Savior. Good news is she has One and when she can finally listen to Him, He will whisper to her that her value doesn’t rest on what she is willing to reveal, but in Him alone, for she is fearfully and wonderfully made.
Our value comes from our Creator, from our Maker. If our daughters continue to dress to please guys or to please themselves they will continue to be hurt by society’s view of them. Satan is a liar, believe him and you will be wounded every time. Anyone who can’t see the pain in Miley’s precious face is blind.
But for those young women who will choose to believe Him, their prince is coming.
“Let the King be enthralled by your beauty, honor him, for he is your lord.” Psalm 45:11
I think it so ironic that this post was only days after Miley’s controversial performance. I’ve prayed about, gone back and forth about commenting on the sadness of the performance, and read many blogs and comments made about the performance and frankly disagreed with most of them. But after the reactions to Paige’s article, I think we must point out the ironic phenomenon that is occurring.
Miley, no matter how you slice it, has bought the lie. Our culture screams that you should be able to dress, act and speak anyway you choose and no one should be allowed to make a judgment call about your character based on that. In the mind of our culture, Miley should be able to come on stage dressed in a nude colored bikini and “tweark” on a married man in front of millions and no one should think that “trashy” or “inappropriate” and as a matter of fact if a young man watching struggled with impure thoughts about her during that performance, well that’s just his problem. He should not allow himself to think those thoughts and he should still hold Miley in high regard.
She acts on what the culture has preached to her and what do we do but turn on her in disgust.
Paige writes an article about young women taking responsibility for their own actions. Understanding that we can think it unfair until the cows come home, but people DO draw conclusions about our character based on the way we present ourselves through our dress, our actions and our words. Paige eloquently says, “I talk to girls all the time about relationships and why they can’t find “Mr. Right”, “Prince Charming”, or the “Guy of their Dreams” and time after time they say, “Where are the gentlemen? Where has the chivalry gone?” This always kind of bothered me…hang with me for a second…that’s putting way too much responsibility on the guy and taking it all off of us.” Paige’s article in no way excused guys for their role in maintaining and upholding one another’s values, it simply stated that girls have their own responsibility to respect themselves, to be aware of their appearance and what it says about the condition of her heart. There are young men who are men of honor and worthy of the same kind of young woman. He will be able to control his thoughts when he sees a young woman dressed immodestly. But it is also likely, that young woman will not end up being pursued by that same young man either. There are still men who seek the heart of the Father first and a bride second. This kind of young man is looking for a woman who honors Him and herself as well.
Paige acts on what she has heard the Father saying, and you would be surprised with how many people responded with things like “this is giving guys a pass.” “Women SAY they want to be treated like a princess, but when I lock them away in a tower suddenly I’M the monster…”
John 8:43-45 (Jesus speaking)
“Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning; not holding to the truth for these is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet, because I tell you the truth, you do not believe me!”
Our society has placed our young ladies in a no win situation. First we tell them that they should be able to dress anyway they would like and still be thought of as princess. Society says, “If you’ve got it flaunt it.” “Don’t be prude.” “I am just dressing fashionably.” “I dress this way because I like it, not to get attention from a guy.” Whatever. That is absurd. Girls feel like they are compared to magazine photos and celebrities on the red carpet. They are compared to their sisters, their friends and the girl that sits next to her in math class. They feel they need to be the most strong, independent, athletic, beautiful, articulate, sexual, self-confident and thin girl around. Impossible. The truth is in Paige’s words, “If you want to be treated like a princess, dress like it”. I would say, “Act like it.”
The sad, sad truth is that Miley listened for years to people calling her the “girl next door” and “the cute, all American girl.” Society invaded her life, invaded her home and invaded her heart. We spent millions taking our preteens to every Hannah Montana anything we could find. We allowed them to idolize her. We told her that we wanted to dress like her, act like her, be her…that her value was in her appearance, in her performance. Her shoulders weren’t strong enough. So she broke. I don’t know what goes on in her precious heart and mind but what I do know is that we as this society who has devoured her owns part of that pain. I’ve seen awful, hate-filled tweets about the depths to which she has fallen. I have seen people asking questions like “how do we help Miley?” Miley, doesn’t need our help. She is a princess who needs to be rescued. She needs a Savior. Good news is she has One and when she can finally listen to Him, He will whisper to her that her value doesn’t rest on what she is willing to reveal, but in Him alone, for she is fearfully and wonderfully made.
Our value comes from our Creator, from our Maker. If our daughters continue to dress to please guys or to please themselves they will continue to be hurt by society’s view of them. Satan is a liar, believe him and you will be wounded every time. Anyone who can’t see the pain in Miley’s precious face is blind.
But for those young women who will choose to believe Him, their prince is coming.
“Let the King be enthralled by your beauty, honor him, for he is your lord.” Psalm 45:11
