Plastic Surgery - God's View

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, cosmetic surgeries have increased 175 percent within the past decade. If you’ve paid attention to TV over the last few years, shows such as “Extreme Makeover,” “Nip/Tuck” and “Dr. 90210” have taken on the quest for good looks. With the popularity of these shows, women are beginning to see plastic surgery as routine appearance enhancement. One especially surprising trend: In 2003, more than 11,000 18-year-old girls had breast implants; some of their parents even offered the procedure as a graduation present!

The idea that a youthful appearance equals beauty permeates North American society — even in the most unlikely segments of our population. A friend’s 7-year-old granddaughter said, “When I’m 30, I have to have surgery.” When my friend asked why, the girl replied, “When you get old, you have to get surgery to be pretty again.”

And don’t be quick to think this is a women’s-only issue; in 2003, 14 percent of cosmetic surgery patients were men. Clearly many see aging as an ugly truth that must be covered up. Unfortunately, this mind-set devalues true beauty and the natural stages of life. God’s definitions of beauty and aging are vastly different from most people’s.

Though plastic surgery has made noteworthy advances in correcting facial disfigurement, scores of women — and now men — want to alter their appearance for less than noble reasons. They want to be envied, desired, sexier, thinner. The media promote the idea that beauty — at any cost — is the ticket for self-worth and success.

God’s definition of beauty, however, is quite the opposite. Psalm 139 assures us we are made by God, by His standards and design. We are a reflection of His own beauty (Genesis 1:26-27).

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