Since we were made in the image of 'God', and 'God' is perfect, then why do...?

Question

Christians:
have plastic surgery
wear makeup
see psychologists
get haircuts
wear glasses
shave
use artificial limbs if born limbless

Why would you change yourself?

I don't want to hear "society" as the answer. :)

bahahaha, no I'm not serious. I'm just bored.

Answer 1

We don't like ourselves. We want to change ourselves because we think of another standard, like the girl in the magazine, or that hunky stud in the movie. Some people are drop-dead beautiful, others aren't. But we're all humans. All made in the image.

Answer 2

I think this is a profound question...because clearly there are some things we shouldn't try to change. Why should an overweight person feel insecure because society says he or she should be thinner? God did not make a mistake. How foolish we are to see something like this as a "lesser" blessing than someone who has a "perfect" body according to society's standards. On the other hand, I can see God working for instance by leading a missionary doctor to a poor region of the world and performing surgery on a little girl who has a cleft pallet. How much of God's love and mercy are manifested through such an experience (though it is true even the little girl need not feel she is lacking anything because of her condition)?

Answer 3

We are made in the image of God, but for ex. not shaving won't get you any closer to looking more like God. Or squinting because you wrecked your eyes and can't see or having a head full of split ends won't help a) your image b) you get closer to God c) other peoples opiniion of you (you won't be able to evangelicalize because you look like a dirty hobo!)
I'm not so sure about the make up or the plastic surgery, but all the other things you asked should be covered in the above paragraph.
Christians aren't perfect, they sin too; any Christian who says that they're better than a non-christian doesn't know what they're talking about. Christians can get depressed, they can get into ruts in life just like anybody else, though it might be easier to get out as they know that God is there for them and is with them. So they see psychologists to help them as well.

Answer 4

We have plastic surgery to improve our looks. We wear make up to look prettier. We see psychologists for mental therapy. I have my hair cut because I'm a man. I wear glasses so I can read. I shave because I'm in the United States Army and beards are not allowed. We use artificial limbs so that we can function better. Why would we change? Same reason we brush our teeth and take showers. So that we can be healthy and happy.

Answer 5

"Image of" is not equivalent to "same as." An image of a glass is not made of glass, now, is it? So the perfection of God has nothing to do with this issue. Besides this, 99% of religious people do not believe that "image of" has anything to do with the body anyway. They believe that "image of" refers to their spirit or soul. As far as the body is concerned, different people have different reasons for wanting to change themselves. It is pretty obvious why someone would want to use artificial limbs if they had done: so they can walk and grab things!! Glasses? People want to be able to see! Why else? As far as more superficial things: who cares? To each his/her own!

Answer 6

Yes, we were made in the image of God; not with the nature of God. Humans have deficiencies because we live under the yoke or authority of sin ever since Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden tree. Therefore we may resemble God but are not like God because in our sin we cannot be perfect.

Answer 7

We are not perfect creatures. When Adam was created, he was perfect, but became imperfect after he sinned.

We are in God's image in that we have a mind, different than the animals. We can think, reason, communicate, etc. That is how we are in his image. It doesn't have to be a physical image, does it?

Answer 8

The person who said free will was right. God made us in His image much like your children are made out of your DNA and usually favor you. But you cannot make all their choices for them. It is not that God could not have made all our choices for us, but it is that He so respects our free will that He will let us choose harm, evil, and even not to love Him. If we were made to have no choices and all had to choose God, we would be unfeeling robots and that would not be true love. You could not truly love God if there was no other choice. Ever heard that saying about "If you love something, set it free...?"

We were also created in His image in the fact that we have an immortal soul, unlike other forms of life. Ecclesiastes says "He has set eternity in the hearts of men." That is why we love epic tales of heroes and things that are bigger than our individual selves.

Answer 9

A polaroid is in your image, but it almost nothing lke you. Look at all the differences between people, the closeness of our image to gods must be very poor to get that much variation.

Therefore, we are far from perfect, and must take steps to come closer.

Answer 10

you said it. If you are like me, and believe those things to be indicative of imperfection, then indeed there is an apparent contradiction ! (If god is perfect, and we are part of him, how can we be imperfect). that is an argument against the concept of god. Just like in having children, (most) reasons for their imperfections are due to either physiological or psychological imperfections in the parent.

Otherwise, I must be very close to perfection.. as I am very self concious. (get haircuts, shave, contacts, would like plastic surgery.. )