Someone with blonde hair, a lot of love for cats, and not a lot of love for Kim and Kanye released a new song last Friday. And because, according to my Myers-Briggs personality type, I am “fiercely loyal,” I believed in this young musician whom I have come to enjoy and admire. I just knew she would come through. I had high hopes that this song, the third released from her not-yet-fully-released-album would finally be sweet and sincere – suitable for her female (and male) listeners young and old.

I fully expected “Gorgeous” to be a ballad of encouragement and inspiration, a call to confidence for all of her adoring female fans. (And a call for respect from all of the young men listening.)

I was so wrong.

Can I just tell you how often my fierce loyalty leaves me feeling fiercely betrayed?

Often. Very often.

Ah, Taylor. I’m not giving up on you yet (it’s almost impossible for me, because…ISTJ), but may I just share the definition and my own thoughts on the word gorgeous with you?

I know, I know. I’ve heard women describe men as “beautiful” and “very attractive” before, but more often the adjectives “beautiful” and “gorgeous” are used to describe women. It’s why I had a certain expectation about your song.

But, silly me.

It was about a man.

When will I learn?

Granted, the song probably describes well the instant infatuation with a man based on his outer appearance and the emotionally intoxicating experience that attraction can be for some women. Honestly, I can be a tad slow in this department, not noticing right away a man’s attractiveness, so I’m speaking mostly from what has been described to me. I thank God for that mercy, too, because I know it is a great struggle for some.

But I know for sure that writing a song about recklessly giving in to that obsession is good for no one, especially young and impressionable women.

And from a biblical perspective, it’s idolatry.

It’s worshiping the thing created rather than the Creator Himself, and it’s serious.

Serious, because it’s a grand departure from our original purpose: worshipers and image bearers of the One True God.

This weekend, I get to tell a whole bunch of women how gorgeous they are. Superb, impressive, splendid, spectacular, and awe-inspiring. I can hardly wait.

It won’t really be their physical appearance that we discuss, though any time I am in a large group of women their beauty truly captivates me. On Saturday morning, we’re going to talk about their identity as image bearers. What could be more gorgeous? We’re going to explore the beauty of a humanity created in two genders, and examine the great significance of being created female.

Here’s the description of the session:

A Resplendent Replica: She is brilliant, skilled, impressive, stunning, magnificent, and breathtaking. She is woman, and uniquely created to reflect the very image of God. But her feminine identity, intended to mirror both her Creator and the gospel itself, is often under assault  – by her own indwelling sin, by the world in which she lives, and by the enemy of her soul. Let’s return to the garden of Eden where she was created and distinguished as female. Let’s rediscover the Creator’s design and intentions for her, and let’s pray that both individually and collectively we would be strengthened to embrace the beautiful idea of God that is woman.

Would you pray for us?

I’m feeling so passionate, yet also very inadequate in regard to communicating these biblical truths to a conference room full of 18-25 year old women. I’m praying fervently that God will use our time together to do exactly what I was naively hoping Taylor would do:

Tell women how incredibly special and distinct they are.

Remind them of their beautiful, intentional design.

Encourage them to confidently contribute to the world and the church with their unique gifts and abilities.

Equip them with the truth about their true identity.

Warn them of the vulnerabilities that are inherent within them.

Exhort them to highly value both themselves and the men in their lives.

Would you pray for Robert, too? He’ll be teaching something very similar to the men.

 

Guess what one of the definitions of beauty is?

That’s right. A woman. Both of those definitions expose the truth that women distinctly embody beauty.

Oh, I know it sounds superficial, but it doesn’t have to be. Beauty is a reality that points to God Himself. May we, as women and image bearers of our Creator, know and honor that beauty.

May we resist the “magnetic field” of our enemy who makes fatal things appear “gorgeous” and delightful to the eyes.

And silly as it may sound, may Taylor herself be delivered from this seduction and its far reaching effects on her faithful followers. She’s got 12 more tracks to go, and I don’t know if I can face the sting of her betrayal all over again.