by Debra Weiss, RTF staff writer

When Hannah Farver and Lindsey Wagstaffe started Beauty from the Heart, it was a small blog devoted to encouraging girls to seek real beauty. But God had big plans for these two teenage girls!

The blog grew into a thriving website that quickly became one of the most popular sites for Christian girls on the net. Even more doors opened, and Hannah and Lindsey began speaking at conferences, sharing the message God had put on their hearts.

Today, Hannah Farver and Lindsey Wagstaffe sat down to talk to Real Teen Faith about beauty, plastic surgery, and femininity.

Debra Weiss: Hi Lindsey and Hannah! We’re so excited to have you here at Real Teen Faith today. What led to you two to start Beauty from the Heart? Did you both wonder if God could use ordinary girls like yourselves?

Hannah: Well, when Beauty from the Heart began, it was just a blog. We had different contributors and definitely enjoyed that stage of posting; but as time passed, we knew that Beauty from the Heart would eventually step extend outside the web. When I was sixteen (in 2006) I began writing a book based on the ideas we’d worked through on the blog. Five drafts later and three years afterwards, we’re working with a literary agent on publishing that book. (Yay!)

In 2008, Lindsey and I felt we should pray with our parents about the possibility of putting on a conference or two. That October, a friend called Lindsey and I out of the blue and invited us to speak in Virginia. Six months later, and we have three events scheduled for this summer and doors opening for more next year.

Of course, we did wonder, have wondered, and still wonder how God could possibly use people like us. We panic way too quickly and sometimes do feel overwhelmed with all the work on our plates. But as William Carey said, “Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” In the end, that’s all any of us can do! Whatever happens, the results are in God’s hands. We just need to be willing vessels.

DW: The world today seems to be facing a ‘beauty crisis’. What are the dangers of defining words like modesty or beauty according to the world’s standards?

Lindsey: Romans 12:2 warns us not to “be conformed to the image of this world”, but urges us to pursue transformation by the renewal of our minds. When we define words like “modesty” and “beauty” according to the culture we live in, we aren’t taking our cues from Christ, but from fellow sinners– who will lead us into sin. That’s never safe. We can’t redefine modesty by modern standards without sacrificing the truth of the text, and undermining the authority of the Bible. From there we’ll only continue to slide further and further into worldliness, not Christlikeness.

DW: What is the true Biblical definition of beauty?

Hannah: The Bible talks about the magnificence of God’s creation. We know He designs all things well; in the Song of Solomon, a bride is praised for her external beauty, so we know that exists. But in the New Testament, another kind of beauty is talked about as being more valuable than the rest–and that’s the “unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.” So while God made every creature magnificently, and human beings most of all, the very highest beauty aspiration we could have is something that God works in our hearts to create inside of us.

DW: How do you feel about cosmetic surgery when used to fix ‘flaws’ like a large nose or small breasts? Should girls have plastic surgery?

Lindsey: Plastic surgery is quite valid in some cases– I’m grateful for modern technology that allows us to correct cleft lips and reconstruct bones after accidents. But the majority of plastic surgery that teen girls undergo is cosmetic, not serious, and it stems from self-absorption (displayed through insecurity and vanity). There’s a difference between taking care of our appearances and making drastic alterations out of dissatisfaction… and, I think, a craving for more attention.

Stay tuned — come back tomorrow for part 2