In defence of Renée Zellweger

Zellweger at the 21st annual ELLE Women in Hollywood Awards in Los Angeles October 20, 2014.REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

If you've managed to avoid the furore over Renée Zellweger's appearance over the past couple of days, you've done better than most.

The internet exploded after she was photographed at the Elle Women in Hollywood Awards on Monday, looking very different to her usual self.

Speculation that she's had plastic surgery is rife, and critics have suggested that she now looks like a "wax-work figure". The reaction has been likened to trolling.

Yet Zellweger said she's pleased that people have noticed the change. "I'm living a different, happy, more fulfilling life, and I'm thrilled that perhaps it shows," she told People magazine.

"My friends say that I look peaceful. I am healthy."

So what's all the fuss about?

Christians are likely to have a problem with the idea that she may well have had 'work done'. I've read more than one scathing attack masked as pastoral advice on the idea of cosmetically enhancing our looks. But can we actually say with complete integrity that we know God hates plastic surgery?

At this point, I could roll out a list of Bible verses which affirm that we are perfect, that God loves us more than we'll ever understand, and that he made no mistakes. All of this is absolutely true, and yet I see no reason for it to lead to outright condemnation of going under the knife.

I would challenge anyone to experience tabloids clamouring to picture them at their worst then run double page spreads smeared with stinging captions, or accuse them of having an eating disorder one week and point out their love handles another, without considering the same thing.

But then, cosmetic surgery borne out of insecurity is just one issue. Is it possible that a woman – or man – might simply want to get rid of those eye bags, the crow's feet, or have a little 'lift' for their own enjoyment?

Is it wrong to take pride in our appearance? And what's an okay amount to spend on ourselves; £10 on a mascara, £120 on a new hair colour, £4,000 on a boob job? It isn't clear cut.

Renee Zellweger on the red carpet for an awards ceremony in Berlin in 2011.REUTERS/Thomas Peter

The closest thing we have to a biblical precedent for cosmetic enhancement is Esther. She spends a whole year undergoing an intense beautifying process before she meets the King. For twelve months she completes endless luxurious treatments, we are told in chapter two; six months with oil of myrrh, and six with perfumes and cosmetics. Even by Hollywood's standards this seems a bit over the top.

She is made unnaturally beautiful by this process, so much so that she wins the King's favour. He finds her more physically attractive than any other of the women in his harem, and she becomes Queen.

Esther isn't called superficial, or insecure, or shallow by those around her. Instead she is venerated, and her relationship with the King helps her to save the entire Jewish people, therefore playing an integral role in the coming of Jesus.

Of course, it wasn't God's requirement for Esther to make herself more physically beautiful, but neither did it count her out. So maybe we shouldn't count Zellweger out, either.

Just because she's famous, it doesn't give us a right to have an opinion on her personal choices. She may be in the public sphere, but if our words aren't honouring, loving or kind, then frankly, perhaps the best thing we can all do is be quiet.