To this day I still remember how I got abandoned time and time again by people who I thought were my brothers and sisters, for reasons no different than the ones portrayed in this video. I ask myself time and time again, "is what people this is beautiful what God thinks is beautiful?" Is looking buff or skinny with a pretty face and a charismatic attitude what God wants in his people? Does God want musically or athletically talented people?

No.

God has always chosen weak people. Because that way those who watch and hear give credit to God Himself. God has always favored the humble over the proud, because God is a jealous God and He is the only one who has the right to be jealous. When men become proud, they want to be like God and are jealous of God, and when they pretend to be gods in their own worlds, then God becomes jealous of them, and He will punish them in the age to come.

So to this day I ask people if it is right to judge others by physical and superficial values? I try not to, because I remember the days I was judged. Just like in the video, I have to tell myself that these worldly standards are wrong...because I am still here. Why am I still here? God still loves me...always have and always will.

So the church, brothers and sisters, why do we still behave like we are still part of the World? Are we going to follow worldly standards and give into the flesh? Why do we still judge our brothers and sisters by how well they dress or how good looking they are? God has always chosen the weak to shame the strong. God chose the mother's boy Jacob over the master hunter and manly man Esau. God chose weak-eye butt ugly Leah over beauty pageant Rachel. God chose David, the smallest and youngest of his brothers, because God looks at a man's heart and sees holiness. He grew up to be handsome, but be honest, if we were in Samuel's shoes, would we have picked the runt? Paul himself was a terrible speaker and preacher, and yet through the power of the Holy Spirit he was able to bring the Gospel to the gentiles, converting people everywhere he met. Jesus Himself was said to be "not beautiful" and no one was drawn to His appearance. If Jesus were to walk into your church today, no one would give Him a second glance because He was just too plain and unattractive to warrant a second glance.

Just because we are all grown up and live in a politically correct world as adults doesn't mean this kind of harm and wickedness no longer occurs. It is only masked, fed to us in a camouflaged form. We are always quick to idolize people for "looking sharp" or "stylish", or make note of their abs and pecs, but we fail to realize that in turn we demoralize and demonize the "other" people, people that God dearly desires in His Kingdom. No pastor deserves to be removed just because he is fat or unassuming. Likewise others should not be idolized and respected because of their appearance or understanding of fashion. Why do I and others need to face the army of veiled verbal spitballs and half-hearted pity from the body of Christ? Why are some of the most world-focused people I know found in church? God has championed us to see the world as He sees and pursue the things that He deems beautiful.

So what does God think is beautiful? God's chosen nation and people Israel are beautiful to Him. The holy city of Jerusalem is beautiful to Him. A contrite, steadfast, and pure heart is also beautiful to Him. And which parent doesn't think their own children are beautiful?

So remind ourselves of the things God thinks are beautiful, and let us pursue them too. I think it is time for us to really examine ourselves and our standards for beauty, and if need be, have worldly expectations and flesh-based notions of beauty shattered by God's glory and love so that we can be rebuilt upon the foundation of Christ and have a God centered heart to love all that He loves.

We need to spend more time telling each other that their heart are beautiful.

Note: I don't really think that dressing well and being fit are bad, they are good things. But like all good things, when we focus too much and idolize them, then they only reflect our fleshly desires. All I really ask is that we focus on important things, like God's heart, and continuing to learn how to Love. Real, honest, selfless, sacrificial Love.