Fat Is Not An Insult

Recently, I was talking with some girls. They were speaking about this other girl, who "
blew up". To me, she wasn't fat at all not even thick. It did make me feel self-conscious, because if this girl who was much skinnier than me had "blown up." Was I extremely fat? If so, what did that mean? I really don't possess any hard feelings for these girls, but I don't think they truly understand how people can internalize that. In addition, how fat really should not be seen as negative. Fat isn't an insult.

I remember at 13. I heard two girls talking in the bathroom about prom and their dress sizes. One was a 2 and the other was a 4. At the time, I wore a 8. That isn't huge or anything, but I felt extremely embarrassed for being so much bigger than the other girls. I considered myself fat. I thought that was an insult to myself. I really wasn't fat looking back, but the fact that I thought fat was such a negative thing saddens me. I struggled to believe I was beautiful because fat girls couldn't be beautiful, right?

I discovered something my Junior year of high school. Fat isn't an insult. I remember seeing this beautiful woman, who happened to be fat, confidently call herself beautiful. She said that fat was just a descriptor and not insult. Something about her confidence and poise pushed me to believe her. I think the way I view fat has changed ever since.

I have been inspired by so many fat women. Yes, I said fat, because they are. I am amazed daily at all the things fat girls can do, According to society, we are supposed to be lazy and ugly with low-self-esteem. That is so far from the truth. Fat people are killing it whether that is in fashion or ballet, yoga, or any innumerable amount of tasks. Fat people can be awesome, beautiful, and confident. Fat is not an insult. Sometimes, I do find myself thinking less of me for having to get a different dress size because the smaller size doesn't fit. The size I wear has nothing to do with my value as a person nor my beauty.

Our society needs to change how it sees weight. Skinny is not the goal. Being happy with yourself and being healthy is. For some people, healthy looks like a size 16 for others it's a 2. No one should be judged for their jean size. Fat is not an insult. Fat is just a word that describes the size someone is. Let's stop using it as an insult. Let's support people being happy, healthy, and confident no matter what their jean size is, because fat is not an insult.

Social Justice Is Our Christian Duty

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about social justice and the way I approach it. I feel as though I compartmentalize it as not to offend those around me, but I beginning to realize that it is not at all something to hide or that should be offensive. Social justice is doing the work Christ called us to do. It is fighting for the weak, the oppressed, and the downtrodden. That is not something I should be ashamed of nor talk about openly. There are a few reasons that this fear exists. Social justice is considered political when in reality it is primarily biblical. That is an important fact that many modern day Christians can forget. 

    Social justice is a biblical concept. It is laced throughout the Bible. One might say I am trying to intertwine politics to heavily with my faith. I would certainly disagree. Social justice can be promoted through political means, but it itself is not political. Social justice can be defined as promoting equitable treatment of others within society. You can do this simply by treating others with fairness and equality. Jesus did this when he met the woman at the well. She was a Samaritan yet he didn’t let that stop him from talking to her. He never let the societal discrimination affect how he treated. He treated her with love. (John 4) Social justice is something that Jesus embodied in the way he treated others. It is an imperative way that we as Christians can love others well.

    Social justice in our everyday lives looks like treating others equitably and fighting for justice within society. I think there are many of ways one can do that. You can support movements and causes that promote social justice. In history, we have seen many movements that Christians have spearheaded that promote social justice. The civil rights movement promoted social justice. Many Christians were heavily involved. One prominent Christian was Martin Luther King Jr.  In addition, social justice can be promoted in small ways. From gently correcting someone's wording to educating others about modern injustice. Your place in the social justice movement depends on what Christ has called you too, although I think we are all called to promote social justice.

    I firmly believe that Christians cannot lose our place in the social justice movements across the world. We need to stand up for those suffering injustices. Social justice is an imperative way to show love to others in our world. We must, “Defend the weak and the fatherless;  uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” (Psalms 82:3) We must seek after the command of Christ to love others. Loving others well is the point of social justice. (John 15;17) That is why social justice is our Christian duty.