judging a book by its cover? *UPDATED AGAIN*
[UPDATE: Please see the notes at the bottom of this post, as Ingrid has removed the referenced article and apologized for her actions.]
Ingrid pulls out her amazing voo-doo magic / discernment once again in the Cast of the Baffling Beauty. Cornerstone Church in Chandler, AZ is having a Mother’s Day service that celebrates the image of God in our mothers. Here is a clip from their advertisement
In our culture, image is everything. This Mother’s Day at Cornerstone, we’re celebrating a different image though. We’re celebrating the image of God that has been placed in our moms and women. We’ll discover the fullness of the image of God and how we can carry that image to a world that needs it! Women and men alike, come ready for the best Mother’s Day you’ve had!
So, they are obviously not glorifying the physical beauty of mothers and women. They are attempting to celebrate the heart and image of God within the female soul. As a guest speaker, they will be having Hilary Griffith Peele, the former Miss Arizona and 2007 contestant in the Miss America pageant, speak for their special day. Well, this obviously has Ingrid’s spidey-sense tingling. She writes the following
So the mother who is bombarded with the world’s expectations of beauty must now come to church on Sunday and be, well, bombarded by the world’s expectation of beauty. Rather than find an elderly saint who has walked with God for 50 or more years to speak to women about what really matters before God, they get a 22-year-old beauty pageant contestant so women of every age and circumstance will be sent the message that real beauty lessons should come from a woman who is willing to parade across a stage in a bikini in front of men to be judged like a piece of meat.
I love how Ingrid absolutely loves to look solely at the externals. There is nothing in the way of what she will be speaking on, her theology, her credentials, etc. It’s all about her body and how she has flaunted herself like a piece of meat. Ingrid has probably never heard Ms. Peele speak, and probably not done the research to find out what she stands for. She just assumes that a 50 year-old woman is more qualified than a younger women, just becasue of a hobby that they younger has (she also seems to imply that a less-attractive 50 year-old woman is best).
I find it interesting that Ingrid doesn’t put this up in her article, found on the same website from the first quote
She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University in December 2007 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. She is currently an on-air personality at KGCB Radio Shine 90.9 FM, where she hosts a Christian music program weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Hilary lives in Glendale with her husband, Justin, whom she married in February 2008.
So, we aren’t talking about some blonde twit with nothing to say. This is an educated woman, serving in a Christian media outlet. Maybe Ingrid is just upset because Peele’s show gets higher ratings?
______________
UPDATE: Ms. Peele has graciously replied to Ingrid and our article (please see her comment below from 2008/05/11 at 12:47 AM). With even more context provided, it will be interesting to see if Ingrid retracts her diatribe. -Chris L
______________
UPDATE: Ingrid has removed her original post regarding Ms. Peele’s appearance at Cornerstone Church, and has issued an apology. While it is not our policy to delete articles as if they had never happened, I am updating the article (both here and in the body) to recognize Ingrid’s apology and repentance in this matter. Thank you, Ingrid. -Chris L
![Image of The Prodigal God (An Unabridged Production)[2-CD Set]; Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Jl6fhDLxL._SL75_.jpg "The Prodigal God (An Unabridged Production)[2-CD Set]; Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith")
50 Comments(+Add)
I went to a Christian school when I was a teenager and this type of nit-picking went on there too. There was no shortage of godly girls there, but there were only a few who were both godly and pretty.
And there were always girls there who would tear down the girls who managed to be both godly and pretty. The things they said are not very much different than what Ingrid has said here. I’m not one to judge motives, but the evidence suggests there is just a hint of jealousy over this girl who happens to be both godly and good looking. It’s normal. But I would expect more from a woman who claims enough spiritual discernment to base an entire ministry on it.
Perhaps she just let her human nature get the better of her. Who can blame her. Hopefully a public apology is forthcoming.
Ingrid would do well to consider Holy Scripture before rendering judgment:
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.“ – 1 Samuel 16:7
Nathan, that article was well written.
Yeah, hasn’t Ingrid seen Miss Congeniality? It’s a scholarship competition, not a beauty pageant!
Nathan,
Good catch, good article. While there is a biblical precedent for older women mentoring the younger, to attack a church as done here is wrong. Assuming all is as it appears, it looks like the church has come up wth a nice application of theology on a “secular” holiday.
We should be quick not to assign motives to Ingrid.
Neil
This is clearly about Ingrid’s own personal self-assessment and her own insecurities.
As a young woman I would like to point out that not all of us females feel the need to rush out and get makeover everytime we see a drop-dead gorgeous woman. Not all of us feel the need to look like beauty pagent models. If you do naturally, great. But watching one speak in church is not going to affect my self esteem in the least. Lots of average looking women who follow God feel this way. They know it’s not the outside but the inside. They aren’t so stupid as to think they have to look like a magazine picture. Those are preteen problems, and unless middle-aged women really have major self-esteem problems, this isn’t going to be an issue. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but I’m going to guess that this might be a personal problem on Ingrid’s part?
My prayers are with her, as always.
Well, you know some good things do come of articles like this. I for one have made it a point (in all seriousness) to be kinder to convenience store clerks and the like when receiving bad service and try to be an encourager, based on a more Christ-like approach suggested by one of the arthors here in response to one of the ODM’s tirades.
Interestingly that the “beauty queen” is talking about some rather heavy things and was involved in some really heavy issues. Rape.
While Ingrid as you stated, focused on how pretty she is and how insecure women apparently are in her house church with the pews and pulpits that practice Puritan non contemplative- contemplative prayer.
What a mess going on there!
iggy
It seems that you guys fill us in on the rest of the story yet again.
By the way, I must add that very often 50 yr old women are just as beautiful as 22 yr old beauties. Beauty is a side issue, but I wanted to point that out.
AJ,
I’m not sure I follow how the article fills us in on the rest of the story… the rest of what story?
Neil
Slice often seems to show only one side of an issue – the side that supports the view held by the editor. This site sometimes fills us in on the rest of the story by giving us more background on the people and issues posted about at Slice.
In this case, if one had read only the Slice article, one would think that this “beauty queen” had done nothing else except win crowns.
Hello everyone,
I just came across this site and read Ingrid’s comments. I went to her site and read the entire post. I do feel that she is mistaken about the purpose of my appearance at Cornerstone, so I wrote her the following email. I hope this clears things up about who I am and why I am speaking:
Dear Ms. Schlueter,
I recently came across your web site, http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com, and found an article written on May 6th concerning my upcoming talk at Cornerstone Church in Chandler, Arizona. I would just like to take this opportunity to clear up a few misconceptions you may have.
As you know, I am not speaking at the Mother’s Day service, and neither I nor Cornerstone has ever implied that a 22-year-old “beauty queen” has more important life experiences than any other Christian woman. I have the utmost respect for my elders, and for any Christian brother or sister for that matter. I simply have a testimony and was invited to share it at Cornerstone.
My testimony does not revolve around pageants. I am not speaking about my experiences as Miss Arizona or competing at Miss America. That will no doubt be a part of my introduction, but that will not be the emphasis of the interview. The bulk of the service will focus on what God has done in my life. When I was a 19-year-old college sophomore, I was violently raped at knife-point in my apartment. As a young Christian woman, my life was shattered and my family was devastated. I never thought that something like that could happen to me, and I felt lost and alone. But through the grace and power of Christ, I was able to recover and begin to speak out about my experience. I am forever grateful to Christ for getting me through the darkest time of my life.
I sincerely believe that God blessed me with the title of Miss Arizona to share my testimony. You may not be familiar with the Miss America program, so I understand you may not know the value that the organization places on community service. My year as Miss Arizona focused on my community service platform, “Strength Over Silence: Rape Awareness and Recovery.”
Thanks to God’s incredible goodness, I have had the opportunity to travel across the country educating people about sexual assault and giving hope and encouragement to survivors. I speak to high schools, colleges, churches, women’s groups, civic groups, and even convicted felons about my experience. It is only through my relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I am able to do so. In my travels, I have had countless opportunities to share my testimony and my personal relationship with Christ, and I pray that He has touched lives through my story.
God has taken the worst experience of my life and is using it for His glory. He has called me to share my story at Cornerstone, and I feel extremely blessed to have that opportunity. I pray that He uses me to encourage others that are going through difficult times, because I know from experience that through Christ, you can overcome any of life’s obstacles.
There are more to pageants than evening gowns and swimsuits, and there is more to me than a crown and a sash. I have a love of community service and a burning passion for Christ.
I hope I have cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about my upcoming appearance at Cornerstone. I appreciate your interest in the service, and I would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.
God bless,
Hilary Griffith Peele
Dear Ms. Peele:
Thank you for exalting our wonderful Savior. Your tesimony brought tears to me eyes. Your testifying at Cornerstone Church and the uninformed perception of a shallow beauty queen being invited primarily for “showcase” purposes should be a major lesson to all of us.
Thank you again, and may Jesus Christ receive all the preeminence as many young girls hear through you that through Christ real beauty emanates.
Rick
O please…
Thank you very much for your testimony, Ms. Peele. It is sad when Christians are so quick to judge without the facts, as demonstrated by both Ken and Ingrid…
Ken Silva gets the “I have officially lost all ability to have empathy for anyone” award.
Ms. Peele,
Thank you for being a testimony to God’s grace in such a powerful way and at such a young age. I know many young women will find comfort and a way back to serenity as a result of the courageous work you are doing.
May the peace of God continue to fill your life with hope and renewal . . .
Ken – This is what I will never understand. You cannot see from Ms. Peele’s testimony that Mrs. Schlueter’s assessment was a caricature and did not give an honest projection of what her testimony might include. She says
“But through the grace and power of Christ, I was able to recover and begin to speak out about my experience.”
What about that elicits the “O please”?
Ken,
You are at least consistent is your objections to others bringing praise to Jesus with their life’s testimony…
Sadly I see that as grieving the Holy Spirit… but at least you are consistent…
I am still praying you will someday dwell in the richness and life of Christ where for those of us in Christ there is no condemnation.
iggy
Oh yeah I almost forgot my “superior” LOL!
…being a bit naive…
Hilary Griffith Peele showed a lot more grace to Ingrid than Ingrid displayed to Erik Rees. Ingrid could learn something from her.
Ken, that is completely uncalled for and unChristian. You should be ashamed of your hard heart and demeaning, degrading, and otherwise rude attitude towards others.
Ken,
Are you striving for even more lows even for you?
Man, it becomes more and more evident who you stand for and I do not see it being Jesus. Funny how I am accused of being “superior” and you are defended by those same people as you make your sniper comments and slander and hurt people who are spreading the gospel instead of picking the lint out of other’s belly buttons and calling it sin… have you check your own? LOL!
You are the man that the bible speaks of that looked into the mirror and forgot what he looked like. It would be good to listen to James as he taught in James 1: 23-26
True faith in Christ is more than mere words Ken… they are followed by actions becoming of Christ Jesus… I know I fall short that often… but I also hope you learn you do also. I pray you not just mouth belief and words, but begin to actually live them.
iggy
Ken – you should make an honest and open case if you have a problem with Ms. Peele giving her tesimony. The one phrase snippets do not forward any legitimate conversation. This sister in Christ deserves better from us.
These are the type of things I will never understand. I plan on seeing if I can listen to what she said online. Perhaps Chris can find it. I pray the same spirit that was in her comment comes out in her testimnony.
Ms Peele,
God Bless your heart sister for speaking out. I had a very similar experience when I was 16. Your a very courageous young lady.
Some people must have lived perfect pristine lives as they seem to have no compassion. I’m very grateful for all the things that happened to me in my life. Not only did it all bring me to the point of Christ being my all. It did give me some compassion for my fellow human beings.
“you should make an honest and open case if you have a problem with Ms. Peele giving her tesimony.”
Who said I do?
“The one phrase snippets do not forward any legitimate conversation.”
O c’mon Rick. Yeah, that’s the kind of conversation that happens here.
I believe that ken was commenting on Ricks overbloated pious comment. I do not think anyone here, other than maybe Rick, actualy wept over Ms Peeles testimony.The general TONE of this blog is either hoier than odm or unintellectual and immature sarcasm.
BTW when will you retract all the erroneous I segetical theology presented on this blog?
and the word became context and shapeshifted among us.
(from the neo talmudic verion.)
Ingrid hasn’t retracted and Ms Peele is giving her testimony on May18th so I don’t see were Ingrid got her ” Special Mothers Day Event”anyway. Mothers Day was May 11th.
Oh Ken… you are sooo naive…
iggy
LOL!
(That comment in and of itself was much deeper than all the comments combined by Ken himself)
Ken,
I, as well as others, have repeatedly asked for you to post substantive objections that we could dialogue on… but to this point you simply snipe and criticize. If you are willing, we are willing – to actually converse.
Neil
Shammah,
What is “segetical” theology?
Neil
Neil,
I believe “I segetical” was a poor attempt at a pun of the word “eisegetical”…
Shammah,
I admit I did not shed a tear at Peele’s testimony, but that does not mean I did not find it powerful, gracious, and pretty much completely disarming of Ingrid’s ungracious rant.
As for the tine being more holy than ODM… who would you say sets a better example of the tine of Christ – the ODM self-righteous judgmentalism based on impression and lack of facts – or this sight setting the record straight and Peele’s actual testimony?
Neil
Thanks Phil – I thought it might be a typo, but could not figure out what he really meant…
I do however like the quip that the word became context. Not sure about the shapshifting since Jesus never did that once he took on context… but he certainly became context.
Nice paraphrase of biblical Christology there Shammah.
Neil
Deborah,
Normally I’d say Ingrid’s error of saying this was a Mother’s Day event would be just that – an error of date. But given it’s the basis of her objection and comparison… I’d think a correction would be in order. Even if she ignores Peele’s amazing testimony of God’s grace.
Neil
One more comment and I’m caught up:
I find it ironic. Many in the world judge on outward appearance and give “beautiful people” a head start. When was the last time you saw a news reporter of with gender that was not above average in appearance?
Yet, Ingrid does the same think in the polar direction. Ingrid is basing her opinion of Peele and the event on her beauty.
A complete 180, but based on the same “judge based on outward appearance.”
Neil
Hillary,
Thank you for posting here.
Neil
Neil,
What led me to this website was when I alerted Ingrid to an error in a post. It wasn’t a big deal, but it did warrant a correction. Nothing ever came of it. And that really bothered me. And I eventually learned of the problems associated with many discernment ministries.
I ask this question a lot, and I still haven’t gotten a great answer. Shouldn’t Christians aspire to the same levels of basic integrity in journalism as is exhibited by the secular media? What does that say about our witness if we lack the integrity exhibited by the Washington Post?
Where is the Holy Spirit in this?
“The same?” – I’d say even higher, as I bet you would too.
That said, ascribing the tag “Journalism” to Slice really stretches the scope of the word.
But I know what ya mean.
Neil
M.G.,
Well, it seems that these people seem to think they’re entrenched in a “Truth War”. Unfortunately, truth seems to be one of the casualties in the war. I really do think they feel that the ends justifies the means.
Neil,
I agree with that. I have to assume that Ingrid was searching for a beautiful young woman to compare with her saintly older Mother, as a tribute for Mothers Day. I find it very disheartening that Hillary was victimized again, by a fellow Christian.
Ingrid, I just want to say thank you and God bless you for the grace you have shown by apologizing to Hillary and removing the article.
Also, I want to apologize for my own harsh words. I hope these guys will remove this post, also. That was very loving Ingrid.
Deborah,
I have updated the post above to reflect Ingrid’s response – since we don’t delete articles, we do try to add in post-publication updates to reflect later actions to correct prior injustices.
That is a very nice apology and recantation by Ingrid. We need to remember this and never say never again.
Neil
Removing posts and apologizing is a good first step. Terminating the internet scouring to find dirt on people so you can post it would be another great step.
OK, Neil, I won’t say never.
Rick,
Assumedly you’re directing that comment about internet scouring to this website and not just their chosen target(s).
EVD – I believe I qualified my internet scouring to digging dirt on people. Addressing doctrinal issues – OK. Theologies – OK. Even some methodologies once in a while – OK.
Divorce, affairs, teenage mistakes, and other personal issues are what I was referencing. I have not seen much of that here, and no one can call me a crninfo “shill”. A thorn, maybe, but not a shill!