May 22 2009
Prejean a Pretender?
What a controversy was unleashed when Carrie Prejean (Miss California) make her stand for traditional Marriage. The question is- do we want this Christian model to become the spokesperson for traditional marriage?
Nancy Leigh Demoss answered the Prejean controversy with excellence and wisdom, I have included some of her highlights here. For the complete article: Prejeans Story
Carrie has made a strong public profession of her faith in Christ. As Christians, we are called to live as redeemed men and women and to reflect to the world the beauty and holiness of God. I’m not in a position to judge Carrie’s motives or her heart. But while I applaud her courage, I also believe some of her choices and public actions, past and present, are representative of many women who consider themselves Christians, but who lack clear biblical thinking and conviction on such matters as virtue, womanhood, beauty, modesty, and discretion.
…
Christian Youth Becoming Secular
By and large, young adults who have grown up in our evangelical homes, churches, and schools, are buying into a message that they have seen modeled by those around them who call themselves Christians—namely, that Christianity can be divorced from Christ-likeness, and that practical holiness in everyday life is out-dated, irrelevant, or optional.
We Need Titus 2 Women
Carrie Prejean’s situation highlights the desperate need for Titus 2 “older women”—mothers, youth workers, mentors—to take an active role in the training and discipleship of younger women—teaching them to live out the implications of the gospel in every area of their lives.
…
Carrie Prejean’s story should cause us to be on our faces crying out to God over the extent to which the church today has accommodated to the world. It should cause us to plead with God on behalf of our children and grandchildren, and then to get up off our knees and go out and engage this younger generation with love and grace and truth and to become agents of redemption in their lives.
Related posts:
- Feminism: The Hope part 2 The California/Mexico border is often...
- “I haven’t met you yet…” By author Stacy McDonald I...
- Leah’s story Leah was the girl nobody...
Just what I was thinking!
That is what I have been trying to get across to my husband who was so impressed with Carrie’s words. Thank you.
I agree, I don’t know her heart, but her actions seem hypocritical.
Wow! Way to hit the nail on the head, Nancy!!!
I’m confused and I’ve now read both your’s and Ms. Demoss’s posts and I’m still confused. What about her makes her a hypocritical pretender? It’s pretty much stated in both posts, but then there is no evidence to back up such statements. Now, I wouldn’t know Ms. Prejean from Adam if I passed her on the street, but she seems like she truly believes in what she is saying and that she is committed to this principle.
I may not agree with everything she says but she seems to say it with conviction. Is there something that I’m missing here? I’ve looked online to find out if she’s supported gay marrige in the past and she hasn’t (as far as I could find), I’ve also been unable to find any statements made by her where she contradicts her quotes about how her religion is an important part of her life, ditto for her church (whatever sect she might be). I guess I just need some evidence shown to agree with you and Ms. Demoss that she’s a hypocrite and a pretender.
Please don’t take this as an attack. G-d knows that I don’t want to spark as much controversay as the woman who wrote the letter that you responded to in the ‘Is It Pride?’ post.
Maggy, I belive people’s concerns stem from the fact that despite defending biblical marriage publically, she has also participated in provocative photo shoots wearing next to nothing over the course of her modeling career, as well as taken part in the beauty pageant while wearing a bikini and skimpy evening gowns. As others have stated, no one but God may know Ms. Prejean’s heart, however I find it disingenuous of her to on the one hand defend traditional marriage while also profitting from behavior most completely secular people would also judge immodest. Again, this is just my opinion, and others have eloquently stated opposing views elsewhere.
Thank you Kate, I see where the issue is, it’s not with her contradicting herself, it’s with other things. I’m not a follower of the whole pageant circuit for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that I feel that it sends young girls the REALLY bad message that for women the only important thing is beauty, forget brains. Thus I had never heard of Ms. Prejean before this controversy ensued over her views over whether or not gay people should have the right to marry. I have never seen pictures of her from her modeling career nor any pictures of her during pagents. I have just read or listened to her quotes and interviews.
Just in the interest of factual/journalistic integrity (daughter of a reporter mother and an editor step-father) I just think that it is a good idea for people who feel this way put their reasons for why they do in a clear cut factual manner. That way when they put their feelings in written form there is no confusion.
Lest anyone feel that I feel that Ms. Prejean is fantastic, I don’t. I also do not condone, nor agree with the beauty pagent system in any way shape or form. Especially the ultra creepy child pageants *shudder*.
That’s great and so true! Great post!
Interesting post!
While Miss Prejean may not be the role model we want for ourselves and our families – it is admirable that she sacrificed so much of her career over a biblical principal. She has taken allot of fire from the world over it and I would think that it would be disheartening to her own walk to get it from fellow Christians as well. Instead lets be encouraging her in her walk – not calling her a pretender! (What is implied by that statement?) What she did shows fruit of the Lord working in her life, if she were a “pretender” or purely a worldly woman, would she have been able to answer as she did? In the news clip she even said that she prayed about the topic before hand, fearing that it might be the question she received. And she came to the conclusion that before God and her conscience she would answer as she did come what may.
Miss Carrie Prejean is definitely not a good role model for modesty, and I agree with the rest of your post that we are in need of godly women. But I am heartened that there are people out there making a stand and feel every christian should do so regardless of where their walk may be. {The question is- do we want this Christian model to become the spokesperson for traditional marriage?} It is only by Gods grace that we have the knowledge and lifestyles that we as sheltered, protected, young ladies have. I’m not excusing Miss Prejeans worldly dress, photos, and career, but saying that we should exercise humility when pointing out the sins of another lest we ourselves fall into the sin of pride. I know that I struggle often with the sin of self righteousness, it is so easy to fall into it. It can be discouraging to talk to to others, read blog posts, and hear radio talks, which encourage this kind of attitude.
I hope this does not come across wrong, I really like most of the post. Its so true that we need to reaching this generation, we need to be speaking louder than before! I just think that if I were Miss Prejean or any other weaker sister in Christ, to come across a blog post calling me a “pretender” or hypocrite would be discouraging and perhaps harden me. After all, she did just lose allot in this pageant. Maybe the Lord is going to use it in some way to redirect her paths. But if instead I came across a post speaking to me and other fellow sisters lovingly and graciously, it would cause me to take a second look. It would actually accomplish the goal that we say we have in mind. We will not reach this generation unless we are humbly willing to put ourselves in their shoes, realize the grace we’ve been given, and reach out in love. There are times when we are to speak strongly and even put out Christians who live worldly lives; but not until we have called them to repentance in love being careful lest we ourselves should fall.
Thanks Christa for your commitment to purity and godliness! I appreciate sisters like you who feel strongly about femininity and holy living! Please don’t think that this comment is an attack because I am not trying to put you down. I really admire you and all you have accomplished and pray that you will continue to do great things for our King.
Your sister in Christ Jesus,
Lauren Ashley
Lauren Ashley,
Thank you for your response. You said exactly what I would liked to have said….but more eloquently. I completely agree with everything you said in your comment.
If we really look at their actions, anyone that is in a position of scrutiny can be torn down. None of us are perfect, and none of us are in the ‘perfect’ place in our walk with the Lord. While she may not be a good spokesperson for modesty, I don’t know why or how that would affect her ability to take a stand for traditional marriage. Whether or not she is a good role model is debatable, but I really respect her standing up for traditional marriage despite overwhelming pressure to do the opposite. Many people who are by-the-book modest could take a lesson from her there.
We all have strengths and weaknesses…lets commend her for her strength and pray that she overcomes the weakness of her immodesty.
-Kristin
Beautiful response Lauren. It could be Miss Prejean has never even heard of modesty before. We’re all at different ‘places’ in our walk with God. We are all accountable for everything in the Bible, but I do not think any of us would presume to say we do it all perfectly (or even know it all). While I do not think she’s a good role model for modesty, I’m glad she spoke the truth, even if it was not in the most ideal setting. Throughout the Bible God often used people we ourselves probably would not have chosen. It is my hope that this will help her to continue growing in the Lord!
Kristin, I just read your response to Lauren after I wrote mine- I laughed because we said some of the same things
I promise I did not try to copy you!!! ha! 
Wonderful point!
Christa,
I am glad you decided to adress this issue on your blog. I think so many christian young women are disgusted with her past behavior, and she makes ist seem like the way she dresses and has previously acted, is ok for christian young women.
As a former “seductive” dresser who is now committed to modesty, I would have to say that it is far more powerful to have people committed to praying for Ms. Prejean and walking with her, than judging her according to her past. I am one of the VERY blessed women who had “older women” who were praying for me for YEARS in the area of modesty, while modeling it in their own lives. They very rarely spoke about it to me, and allow their example as well as committed prayer to let the Holy Spirit get a hold of me.
My own personal testimony is continual story of God’s redeeming, it happens continually in many areas of my life. My own commitment to modest is one of those areas where God has truly redeemed. But, while I am committed to speaking the truth in love, I am equally committed to walking with other women wherever they are at, trusting that, if they are Christians, they will hear the Spirits’ leading in their lives.
While I can see that to the world it looks like Ms. Prejean is sending mixed messages, I think as a Christian community it would be a far more powerful example to the world(and our daughter’s) if we chose instead to accept Ms. Prejean for who she is a what she did. She is a woman on a journey, like the rest of us, who spoke her convictions. Is she proud of what she did in her past? I have no idea, perhaps like many of us, she is actually deeply ashamed of it, and broken that she used her body in that way.
If Ms. Prejean is a Christian(and of this I don’t know), I would believe that what she needs from those Titus 2 women would be compassion and a willingness to PRAY before speaking….I wonder how many of us would be willing to commit to praying for years(as my own Titus 2 women did) BEFORE we speak(not that there is never a time to speak, but I think often we view ourselves as the 4th man of the Trinity;The Father, The Son, The Spirit and the Spirit’s little helper…)?
I thought this was very helpful. I didn’t hear Prejean’s speaking out for traditional marriage, but this article was right on target. Thanks, Christa. Honestly, when so-called Christians like Jessica Simpson, and others who’ve said that they’re virgins but yet live anyway that they want to, I think that Nancy DeMoss was telling the truth. We DO need more role models out there, Titus 2 women. To be honest, i have not found many, not even in my home church. It gets kind of discouraging. I’m 26 years old, but I still need the guidance of an older woman, and when older women ONLY put their families first and never take the time to reach out to other young women who may need guidance in their life, I think it breaks God’s heart. Please pray for me that more GODLY OLDER WOMEN will come into my life, because i feel like I’m treading water half the time, with no guidance.