Dear Roger,
What does the Bible say about plastic surgery?
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
What does the Bible say about plastic surgery? Absolutely Nothing! Plastic surgery is never mentioned in the Bible. Except for primitive attempts to put back together broken faces in war time, plastic surgery is seldom mentioned in historical records. As far as I know, plastic surgery is unknown in Bible times. Nevertheless, please allow me to share several Biblical examples of what we might call “Divine Plastic surgery”.
Your question appears to be more than simply idle curiosity? Could you be referring to your own baby? Perhaps a close relative’s? Maybe a close friend’s? I grieve for mom and dad. Few things are more difficult than expecting a happy, whole and healthy baby—and then have one born with defects. I hurt for all who are involved in this tragedy.
If plastic surgery is helpful, nothing in Scripture prevents it. James 5:14-16 gives some guidance regarding plastic surgery. “Oil” was of great medicinal use in the first-century world. This passage encourages us to utilize both prayer and anointing with oil (medical help) when we are in need of healing. Therefore, it seems to me that utilizing plastic surgery to reconstruct a physical “defect” is all right with God. Some would say, “But, if they are born with a defect it must be God’s will for them to look like this—after all, He did create the child.” These folks would discourage surgery. But, remember, this is a fallen world. It is much more likely that the defect is a result of a broken world than the intentional actions of God.
Biblically speaking, I would feel free to utilize plastic surgery to help shape the mouths and faces of those born with cleft pallets. Their appearance and functionality are so marred. Since several simple surgeries can effect such a great restoration, I can’t imagine not using plastic surgery to bring physical, emotional and mental relief that comes with restoration.
On the other hand, desiring plastic surgery for a tummy tuck or face lift might fall into the category of vanity. You and God will have to sort that out together. I am not going to engage in that discussion.
Paul encouraged Timothy, his son in the Lord, to remind Christian women to consider carefully their dress, makeup, and jewelry. As Christians they were to be more concerned with showing off the Lord Jesus Christ than with showing off themselves. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:9-10: “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” Paul’s instructions don’t necessarily mean that women should never wear make up or jewelry. It means that these artifacts are not to distract from their inner Christian beauty and behavior.
I define Divine Plastic Surgery as an inside change or experience with the Lord Jesus that manifests in our outside appearance or demeanor.
Most of us are concerned with how we look. Surveys reveal that many women struggle with their looks, never being satisfied with their appearance. In personal interviews over the past-fifty years the vast majority of Miss Americas admit disenchantment with their bodies in one area or another. In fact, many admit to thinking that, “they are not really pretty”. (As I read these surveys I often wonder that if the most beautiful people in the world don’t think they’re pretty, what chance do I have!?” The adverse affects on someone’s self images based on their looks is disappointing—if not down right devastating for many women. Divine plastic surgery is the antidote to this twisted way of thinking. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day…. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Divine plastic surgery allows those of us with less than perfect looks to look forward to Heaven’s glory whenwe will all look just like Jesus!
In 1 Samuel 16 God confided to Samuel that one of Jesse’s seven sons would be the new King of Israel. As Jesse introduced his sons, Samuel waited for God to reveal His choice. Big, strong, muscular, good looking, first-born Eliab began the parade! Samuel said to himself, “Surely, Eliab is the choice! Men can’t get any better than he!” But, God was not impressed with Eliab. 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). The young-teenager David was the Lord’s chosen. What does it do to your heart to realize that Jesse considered David so insignificant that he failed even to invite him to the parade! David had a heart for Godly things. His physical looks were insignificant to the Almighty.
After spending forty days in God’s presence, Moses descended Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments. He had no idea that his face was shining with the radiance of God until the Israelite people shied away and refused to come near Him (Ex 34:29-32). Moses enjoyed a few fleeting moments of divine plastic surgery. When we spend time God’s presence our faces might not shine like Moses; but, there is little doubt that we’ve been with Someone mighty special. Unfortunately, for Moses in his vanity, it wasn’t long before the glory dissipated. Can you imagine that Moses put on a veil so that the people wouldn’t notice the shine was off! There is a strong lesson here for us.
God uses divine plastic surgery to transform our inside beings. Eternally speaking, if our insides are godly, our looks matter little. God is a skillful surgeon. He knows just how to achieve the look He wants: “For the word of God (Jesus) is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart “(Hebrews 4:12).
One of the happiest, most radiant, well-adjusted men I know stands just under four-feet tall. He has walked with Senators, influenced Washington lobbyists, testified before Congress, played basketball with the NBA Sacramento Kings (in practice), and produced television shows in Hollywood. I was delighted to perform the wedding for one of his daughters. I’m not playing “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” with you. Everything I wrote about him is true. I once asked him how he could put so much into, and got so much out of life!? I mean, he was really short. Most people naturally felt sorry for him. In today’s world—in any world—his lack of height is certainly not viewed as a strength to help him get along well or succeed. “So, I asked him, “How do you do it?”
He replied, “It was my dad’s doing. He never let me think I was short! He drilled the same simple truth into my heart over and over again for twenty years. He said: ‘Never ever think of yourself as short. You are not short. You’re just not as tall as others.’”
My friend’s attitude is the epitome of divine plastic surgery. God is not nearly as concerned with our outside appearances as we are—and that makes all the difference in how we get along well in life.