I recently downloaded this app called “Got Questions.org” on my iPod, it’s basically Christian related questions answered. So recently I had an urge to ask a questions as well regarding the profession as a plastic surgeon.

Question 207584: Is pursuing a career as a plastic surgeon against Christianity?

Answered by: Joseph

Answer:
Scripture indicates that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” (Psalm 139:14-16) that God knew us before we were born and that he designed us to be just as we are. There are in this world a vast number of people who do not accept the way that God designed them. They are self-conscious of every imperfection and therefore view God’s work, themselves, as deficient. It is not such a leap to go from thinking that God didn’t know what He was doing when he created us to thinking that He cannot be trusted in other areas of our life.

On the other hand there are many examples in Scripture of people who were maimed from birth and that God healed (Luke 6:6-10; John 9:1, 7). All these had infirmities that appear to have been ‘designed’ into their lives by God. There are two differences in these sorts of cases; firstly, each truly had debilitating problems, and secondly, God got the glory from their recovery. There are many surgeons today who repair cleft palates, large incapacitating scars, spina bifida, and the like. All of these represent serious disabilities which when repaired can, potentially, aid a person in fulfilling their purpose and bring glory to God. Regarding this last comment, some years ago I read an article in a newspaper about an intrauterine surgery for spina bifida. The paper told how that after the successful surgery, and as the surgeon was suturing the womb, the still yet unborn baby reach out and grabbed hold of the surgeon’s finger. The article and the surgeon, expressed how unthinkable it would be to consider that child a ‘fetus,’ and condemned abortion as wrong.

Scripture tells us to be content (1 Timothy 6:8), to not worry about our physical features (Matthew 6:25, 27, 33), and to allow God’s strength to be perfected in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9). The Scriptural principle of self-acceptance of God’s design is an important one to prayerfully consider in all our pursuits –are we bringing people closer to Jesus? And this is simply a consideration of eternity; will it have eternal value? Elizabeth Taylor, for instance, may have ‘corrected’ every ‘problem’ that she thought she had, but she did not take her face with her (1 Timothy 6:7). 

Therefore, “Whether you eat, or drink, or in whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Nevertheless, I will still find time to discuss it with my pastor or bring it up in cell groups, or maybe just pray that God will whisper a proper explanation.