Is it Scriptural for a person to change their body in any way?

Question

I noticed a question that was specific to one area, but they asked some very valid questions. Their question was on SRS, and many answers were "God did not make a mistake." But if our bodies are perfect the way God created them, then would plastic surgery, tattoos, dying of the hair, and body piercings be unScriptural as well? It would appear to be hypocritical to have say one is wrong but not the other. If we are created perfectly, then why would we need to change anything? If we can have face lifts, breast augmentation, ect, then where do we draw the line?

meshugga42: You have a valid argument, but if one was to say that God gave them a bad appendix or cancer, then could one say God gave them the wrong breat size, or the wrong Gender? Then does that make God fallible, thereby negating the whole of Scriptures?

goodwill2man: Very well put. That would fall into the catagory of whatever state you find yourself, therewith be content. But what about tattoos of crosses or the Bible?

Answer 1

God doesn't make mistakes. That's a nice statement, but come on. Don't build your reasoning on this statement alone.

Are you telling me that if a person is born blind, then that is the way God intended it to be and it wasn't a mistake? Come on. If a person is born with a brain disease, that is not a mistake? If twins are joined at the head and it's not a mistake by God, then why do doctors try to separate them anyway? If God meant them to live that way why do we mess up God's perfect plan?

The truth is that a lot of things can happen in the world. Good things and bad things. Not all things are according to God's plan. For example, the Bible says that God wants all people to be saved and go to heaven. Does that mean all will go to heaven? No. The Bible also says that most people will go to hell. Wide is the road that leads to destruction. Does that mean God is not omnipotent? No.

I think God's Will is more complicated than simply saying THIS is what God wants. Period. God created us in His image, and that means we can examine ourselves and see how God works. It is well-known to psychologists that human beings can have conflicting desires and wills within the subconscious. What a person says he wants is one thing. What his subconscious mind really wants is another. I believe God works similarly. Whatever happens is God's will subconsciously. But God wants good things to happen consciously. I hope I am making sense to someone.

If a person is born blind, God subconsciously caused it. It may seem like a mistake but it's not. Consciously, however, God would not create anything wrong. Sickness is not His plan. However, God's conscious desires don't always come to pass, because if they would, then nothing evil could exist in the world. God is omnipotent in the sense that His subconscious rules the universe.

It can be confusing to start out your reasoning from the fact that "God makes no mistakes." If you only consider this alone and nothing else, then you could actually prove that God is evil which would be like proving that 1 equals 0.

"IF WE ARE CREATED PERFECTLY, THEN WHY WOULD WE NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING?"

We should not change anything as long as we're healthy. There is no need for face lifts, plastic surgery, dying our hair, removing our appendix, or anything like that. I think the only Scriptural argument for changing the way we look is to improve our health. I am not 100% sure though. God told the Jews that they must be circumcised. If God wanted all men to be circumcised, then He would have created men that way. But this tells us that God didn't want everybody to be circumcised--only the ones who are His specially chosen people, the Jews.

Body alterations and cuttings are used as symbols that remind people of their RELIGION and BELONGING. For example, the Bible says if someone wants to be a servant forever, then his master shall take him and pierce his ear. The Bible specifically tells us not to cut ourselves like the heathen do (Deut. 14:1), because we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16-17). If God wanted us to have green hair or 3" long eyelashes, then He would have made us that way. (See Lev. 19:27-28, 21:5)

Answer 2

Before reading the Bible, I thought "whatever makes you happy".

Now, I think you shouldn't. God made us in His image. Not with ornamentations, tattoos, breast augmentation, liposuction or any other various selective surgeries. (I did say selective - surgeries to save lives I do think are acceptable).

I do not agree with what I have done once reading the Bible. God is Omniscient, Omnipotent.

May God Bless all here

Marianne

Answer 3

1 Corinthians 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

How can we defile this temple? Perhaps with all those things you mentioned, among other things.

GOD bless

Answer 4

there is a scriptural argument against some tattoos

but take care, by simple extension, your argument can mean no modern medical care... no surgery of any kind... after all, if god gave someone a bad appendix, it's it wrong to remove it...

Answer 5

You were endowed with the ability to make your own decisions and take responsibility for yourself, and not be a slave to the dictates of others. God made you that way, didn't he?