Sometime last year I became aware of someone named Lady Gaga.
Perhaps you were aware of her earlier. If so, kudos to you.
I was initially uninterested, seeing as she was another pop artist sending out catchy demoralizing tunes. But as always, I was wooed by just such tunes, and fell in love. I kept hearing that she was a ‘weirdo’, that she wore strange clothing. I finally decided to check it out for myself a week or two ago, and was pleased with what I saw.
She dresses like a mystical beast. She wears clothes like pudding. She is passionate about her appearance, almost frighteningly so. But for me, it is such a relief. She seems like a genuine creature of art. Believes in fashion. She’s a fashion believer. She has even said, “Fashion is everything to me.” And it isn’t that she wears these kinds of clothes only for special events. She apparently wears these clothes at anytime. She is always “Lady Gaga.”
I’ve always been bothered by what seems to be a lack of imagination in daily life. I would like to think that it is a sin to lack imagination, but probably it isn’t. After all, imagination can be a treacherous thing if not coached properly. I love imagining though. It gives me a real blush of reality. At any rate, constantly being assaulted by the same clothes everywhere, the same architecture, the same everything everywhere, gives me such pain, and sometimes it turns into a sadistic rage. Not that I am a fashion plate by any means, in fact, my own complacency with what I wear is sometimes a struggle.
However, is this even a holy focus?
Jesus taught that we should not worry about what we wear. He said that the lilies of the valley do not work to become clothed, but they are clothed in beautiful raiment, more beautiful than anything the richest man in the history of the world, Solomon, ever wore. I wish I could say that Jesus supported fashion. I’m sure he loves everyone, whether they are fashionable or not. Even perhaps, despite their fashionableness, he loves them. But it seems that fashion and clothing is not something for us to obsess over to any degree. Instead we should take Paul’s advice. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
I wish my dear little beating heart could love this command more wholeheartedly. But I confess, I still love clothes, and I love to adorn myself with all sorts of strange items.
However, I know that above that love for fashion lies something deeper and greater, that God is the true object of our love and passion, and in order to participate in that, we should love others.
I don’t think God is against beauty. I believe that God created the idea of beauty, that God is beauty- he clothes himself in glory and splendor, in honor and majesty (Job 40:10). God never said that we should be ugly and make the world an ugly place. However, I don’t think that fashion is always about beauty. We might say it is, but true beauty goes deeper than clothing.
I’m sure we are told these things pretty often. But when we look at each other, we aren’t always thinking about God’s vision of beauty. I know I am often looking at myself at least from a worldly point of view, and finding myself lacking by those standards. And when I look at myself, and don’t feel I am lacking, then I feel also afraid.
God’s beauty is radiance of the soul, as well as healthy bodies. Beautiful healthy people. Not just healthy bodies, but healthy minds and souls and hearts. Broken hearted is not beauty, except when broken as God’s heart is broken (Psalm 51:17). Broken minds are not beautiful, except when God is able to find his way through them anyways. Broken souls are not beautiful, unless broken by God’s presence. Broken bodies are not beautiful, except when they demonstrate God’s mercy and justice. The beauty of holiness permeates skin. When you love God, that love is in your face, and transforms your being to make you beautiful. And this beauty can be terrifying to some: Moses was on the mountain with God for 40 days, speaking to God, finding out God’s nature, finding out God’s law for the Israelites, and when he returned from the mountain his face was “radiant, and they (Aaron and all the Israelites) were afraid to come near him” (Exodus 34:30). “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
What does God look like? Love, forgiveness, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience. More and more of these things every day.
So Lady Gaga, are you really into fashion? I love you! But, your fashion is empty. You may have imagination, but do you have the Spirit? Only time will tell 🙂
Youth Department