“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.” (Psalm 139:14–15, NIV)
After God created each person, He looked upon them and declared, “It was very good” (Genesis 1:31b). Both our outward appearance and inner being reflect the image of God found in Jesus Christ. Nothing needs to be added or taken away—we are created as precious and honored in His love.
There are certain characteristics typical of the next generation during their developmental years. As they go through rapid physical, physiological, and sexual changes, they naturally become more conscious of their appearance and sexuality. Their growing self-awareness drives them to reflect deeply on themselves, often leading to inner conflict between who they are and who they wish to be. This can result in anxiety and depression. Many struggle with low self-esteem related to their looks and seek a sense of fulfillment by identifying with idol stars. Often rejecting the values of their parents or older generations, they instead look to peers as their reference point, imitating their culture, values, and lifestyles.
There is a growing phenomenon where these young people are blindly idolizing or admiring others solely by their looks or physique, often using the slang terms eoljjang and momjjang , literally meaning “best face” and “best body,” to describe them. Due to a society where lookism is rampant, numerous concerns of students who are distressed by their appearance are endlessly posted online. In 2016, the number of articles related to lookism reached 30,000 on one website alone, and 1.7 million articles on plastic surgery. From early childhood, young people grew up surrounded by watching media such as TV, the Internet, videos, and movies in their daily lives, and were domesticated by video content that became more and more sensual day by day. They are extremely visually sensitive and enthusiastic about idol stars of their age, gaining satisfaction by identifying themselves with celebrities with attractive appearances. With this in mind, pop music and video production companies strive to develop content that young people can visually prefer in order to maximize commercial profits through youth-related markets.
As a result, many young people undergo plastic surgery in an effort to look like idol stars. Women with low self-esteem or those frequently exposed to media such as television and movies are more likely to pursue cosmetic procedures. In 2021, South Korea reported approximately 13.5 plastic surgeries per 1,000 people, a figure that includes individuals who received multiple procedures. Greece ranked second with 12.5, followed by Italy (11.6), the United States (9.9), Colombia (7.9), and Taiwan (7.8). In Germany, a 2018 bill was introduced to ban all cosmetic surgery advertising aimed at youth, expanding upon previous restrictions that only applied to ads targeting those under 14. Additionally, advertisements showing “before-and-after” comparisons are broadly prohibited.
》Prayer Points
1. The next generation grows through learning and development both physically and mentally. During this critical period, exposure to distorted cultural values can lead to unhealthy views of appearance, identity, and career aspirations. In this decisive season of life when they are shaped by what they hear and learn, God calls us to teach them only the Word of God and to follow it. He has the power, through Jesus Christ, to restore the next generation and lead them to live according to their original design. Let us pray that the youth will be saved and restored through church.
2. Today’s most influential platforms— TV, online video content, and social media—continue to push the idolization of celebrities and drive young people toward plastic surgery in pursuit of unrealistic beauty standards. Let us pray against the destructive work of Satan, ruler of this dark world, who deceives this generation and leads them down a path of ruin and death.
》Scripture Prayer
(Proverbs 18:2–10,NIV) 2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. 3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. 4 The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. 5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. 6 The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. 7 The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives. 8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. 9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. 10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. Those who love the world are spiritually blind; they reject wisdom and can only love themselves. In this generation, the wicked have filled the media with idols of lust and greed, shaped by their own desires. Today’s pop culture is saturated with shame, dishonor, and depravity, yet people remain unaware and show no desire to turn away. Let us pray that God will raise up wise and courageous witnesses of the gospel—those who will stand firm in the midst of these trends and boldly proclaim the Word of God and the truth of Scripture.
2. The youth is shaped and educated within the communities they belong to—at home, in school, and in church. Even if worldly culture tries to lead them astray, gospel witnesses who truly love and teach them can lead them in the right direction. Let us pray that parents in the home, teachers in the classroom, pastors in the church, and even faithful friends will guide each soul toward the Lord, our fortified tower, and run this race of faith together.
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