Is Cosmetic Surgery a Sin?
Question
Are elective cosmetic surgeries (such as breast implants, tummy tucks, face lifts, etc.) sinful?
Answer
First, we must clearly state, that there are legitimate uses for plastic surgery. As a retired homicide detective I have seen several people that have been disfigured by accidents, crimes, fires, etc. It is praiseworthy that God has gifted certain individuals to help these individuals get to back to what we may say was their original condition. Reconstructive surgery for mobility or other basic human functions in my opinion appears biblical.
Second, however, as to elective surgery (breast implants, tummy tucks, face lifts, etc.), mankind’s obsession with their physical image appears to be but a sign of a greater need regarding their spiritual image (1 Tim. 4:8). Vanity (a form of self-idolatry) is a sin. Some say, “If I look different people will respect me more, or, if I look different …..” But these prideful standards are set by man, not God! Why do we think so much about our "physical” reality when there is so much missing from our “spiritual” life? Should we not rather be submitting ourselves to Great Physician’s knife (Heb. 4:12) and not the physical knife of a human surgeon who at best may only bring about a temporary change (2 Cor. 4:15-18)? Our attitude at times seems to be me, me, me, and not He, He, He (Isa. 6:2)?
If I may be granted some momentary latitude with scripture, if Mark was writing today he “could have," said, ‘And a woman was there who had been subject to [desiring a face lift] for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.’ But, “When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Immediately [the desire] stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering (Mark 5:25-29, [inserted emphasis]). We don’t need a nip and tuck, but a dip and cut – that is a continuous dipping in God’s Word (Eph 5:26; Tit. 3:5) and a cutting away from the things of this world (Mark 9:43-48; Rom. 12:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17).
Third, the Apostle John wrote, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). In this one verse comes this truth – what we are and what we shall be centers solely in the person and work of Jesus Christ and not in a surgeon’s knife. Internal beauty (holiness) is that which is both lasting and beautiful (Prov. 31:30-31; 1 Pet. 3:1-6). Though one may look forward to the ultimate surgeon’s knife in our resurrected glorified body, until then we should be content (by God’s grace) with such things as we have (Phil. 4:7-13; 1 Tim. 6:6).
Fourth, we are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27). We marred that image by sin (Gen. 3; Rom. 1:18-32; 3:9-18). However, as distorted as man's view of himself has become, Romans 8:16 says to the Christian, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." Thus, we are children of God. We are made in His image. Though not yet perfect by God's standards, we are, in a manner of speaking, what we should be because this is the way God made us. God made us a certain way so we may minister a certain way. In more than one way I believe "God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be" (1 Cor. 12:18). What did Jesus say to Paul of those things that appeared as weaknesses to him and others? “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:7-10).
Lastly, but foremost, I believe we should follow the example of our Savior. Every Christian desires to see Jesus. One day we all shall see Him face to face. However, if we were to have seen him before his glorious resurrection we may have been sorely disappointed if we were looking for mere outward beauty. The scripture states, “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isa. 53:2). Jesus saw no need of a face lift, just the need to be lifted up upon a Cross.
1 Cor. 6:20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.Answer by: Joseph R. Nally, Theological Editor, on behalf of the staff at IIIM. The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily the “official position” of Third Millennial Ministries.