Growing up, and during recent weeks, I've heard the term "wholesome Christian girl" thrown around a lot - sometimes by guys who say they want to date one, sometimes by adults who encourage us frisky young females to be one, and sometimes by girls who doubt that they really
are one.
This really got me thinking about the definition of a "wholesome Christian girl." Somehow, the phrase rubs me the wrong way - maybe because I don't like molds or conforming to some collective standard without first being grounded in a Biblical understanding of what it means to be a wholesome Christian
person - but what really strikes me are the different ways people interpret that ideal.
I hate to admit it, but my picture of a "wholesome Christian girl" is largely based on stereotypes. The first image my mind conjures when someone brings it up is of someone who wears little/no makeup, dresses head-to-toe in Gap clothing, has long hair, is involved in the praise team, does community service, says "golly" instead of "gosh," watches Gilmore Girls, has never had alcohol, has never been to a bar or a club (and has no desire to visit one, either), never been kissed, has never been on a date alone with a guy, only watches movies that are PG-13 and under, listens to Christian music exclusively, votes Republican,
is called to be a pastor's wife/missionary/social worker/elementary school teacher, is an optimist, babysits the neighbor's kids.....
Yeah, so maybe the media and
A Walk to Remember are largely responsible for that picture, so I'd really like to ask everyone what they imagine a wholesome Christian girl is. Of course, the Bible provides a lot of insight: "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is the be praised," being only one of several references to female character - as are the examples of female Bible characters - but how would you apply those ideals to the culture we live in?
Then of course, I'm sure guys and girls have somewhat different ideas of what a wholesome Christian is like.
Guys and girls, what does a wholesome Christian girl look like? Girls, would you consider yourself one?
NEXT TIME: "A Wholesome Christian Guy"
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