Are Breast Implants a Sin?

Posted on November 18, 2009
Viewed 2950 times
(43) comments

It all started with this quote from Ingrid Schlueter yesterday: "Breast-enhancement surgery for purposes of engendering male lust is no way to represent Jesus Christ."

I was reading my RSS feeds yesterday and saw an article entitled "Carrie Prejean, Sexting, and a Lost Generation". Interesting title, I thought. Then I read the quote. It was interesting and provacative. So I twittered it.

It ignited a firestorm on a couple of Christian discernment blogs. And, as usual, Ingrid and her supporter Ken Silva, took me to task.

Here's my original tweet:

"Breast-enhancement surgery for purposes of engendering male lust is no way to represent Jesus Christ." Ingrid speaks.

Ingrid responded on her blog, saying that my tweet was "snarky". Um, all I did was post a quote (along with a link to her blog). Here was her response:

So does Mr. Rhoades feel that surgical breast enhancement for the purpose of male is a good way to represent Jesus Christ? I’m interested in that line of thought. Does he have a wife? Does she know what her husband is saying on Twitter? Is she OK with that tweet? Do the “ministry” guys who follow Mr. Rhoades also follow the breast enhancement ministry line of thought? Just asking.

So, I guess I'll just answer:

First of all, I do have a wife. Thanks for asking. Her name is Dawn. She read the comment and laughed. She suggested that some people have too much time on their hands. She does read my tweets.

As for the ministry guys that follow Mr. Rhoades (I guess that would be me), I guess you've all been put into the 'pro-breast ministry' camp. If you want to change affiliation, unfollow immediately (I guess).

Let me say, first of all, that I am pro-breast.

But to be honest, I've never taken the time to think about the potential sinfulness of breast implants.

So... how did we get from a simple accurate quote put in a tweet, to me being 'pro-breast ministry'? That's a leap that I doubt anyone could explain.

But seriously... there are two camps here:

1. Carrie Prejean: Quoted as saying: "I think it's a personal decision. I don't see anywhere in the Bible where it says you shouldn't get breast implants."

2. Ingrid Schlueter: Quoted as saying: "For the sake of Carrie’s soul, somebody needs to explain the rudiments of the biblical gospel to her."

Let me say: I have no reason not to believe that both these ladies are my sisters in Christ. Both have professed Christ as their Savior. Yet both have extremely different views. Both profess to love Jesus, but both live out that love in desperately different ways.

About the original quote from Ingrid. It may surprise her that I actually AGREE with her statement. IF breast enlargement surgery is done for the purpose of getting men to lust after you, it is definitely no way to represent Jesus. My problem with the quote is two-fold:

1. I do not believe that all women who get breast enhancement do so for the express purpose of making men lust after them.

2. I do not believe that all men are sexually aroused by breasts that have been augmented in some way.

Does the Bible forbid breast implants? Of course not. Does it promote them? Of course not.

And I'm fine with that. Why make a big deal out of something like that?

The issue of sin and past lifestyle decisions comes into play here as well. Prejean definitely does have a past. She's done some things that she'd rather not have everyone know about. When you're a Christian in the spotlight, those are never great things to have lying around in your closet. When they are exposed, it is ugly. But you can always count on a great group of Christians ready to beat you with sticks:

“Nothing is private,” complained Carrie in a TV interview last week. No, Carrie, not even privates are private. For the sake of Carrie’s soul, somebody needs to explain the rudiments of the biblical gospel to her. (Family values are not the gospel.) Her mentor can move on from there to help her understand biblical modesty and decency. Christ has been mocked and shamed, not because Carrie stood up for traditional marriage, but because she did so in a barely-there bikini.

Christ is mocked and shamed every time we sin. But thankfully, we have a Savior who forgives.

What do YOU think?

Todd

PS -- I also thought it was interesting that the term "Sexting" was used in the title of Ingrid's post. Not sure why she used that other than to grab our attention. The article had nothing to do with, or even mention 'sexting'.

Also, Ken Silva reminds me that if the men won't speak up, then God will raise up women (like Ingrid) to speak to us: Ken posted: "I’m wondering where the men are in the Christian blogosphere, for if they won’t speak the Lord will use women."

Ken also writes: And I also wonder, is Rhoades now prepared to defend Prejean’s “need” to have her body surgically altered in order to better serve Jesus by winning so-called “beauty contests,” and/or to more alluringly model skimpy outfits and underwear? My answer: WHAT? I don't understand how you got to that line of thinking! I'll just answer the question in this way: I really have no concern (nor is it any of my business) how large (or small) Carrie Prejean's breasts are. I simply don't care.

Comments

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Gabriel on Sun, November 22, 2009

I have read Ingrid’s site for years. After reading it for several years I realized she likes to stir stuff up. I called her out once and got hammered by her supporters. I still visit because I can find interesting things to read. I must say that she has a point about Carrie Prejean. I can forgive her for making a video. I can forgive her for being stupid enough to get implants even though God made her beautiful in HIs sight. We all make dumb decisions in our lives. I can’t however get over her parading her Christianity for all to see yet not confess to the fact that she has done all these things. She is a Christian. She should not lie about what she has done. I think that our culture has made it ok for Christian women to get implants and even parade around in a bikini because we have lost site of where God wants us. I believe in freedom in Christ but the Bible is there to instruct and guide us. Carrie Prejean has made her fellow brothers AND sisters in Christ to stumble over a multitude of issues.

It’s kind of sad too that the men are acting like sorority boys. You guys are just giving Ingrid fodder for her site.
jack on Tue, November 24, 2009

I am a pastor. My wife has breast implants. I am happy…
Patty Faussett on Tue, November 24, 2009

Pastor Jack, I am glad you are happy. Since you are a pastor and care about the flock of God’s people, what about those women (like me) who have suffered harm from implants? What about the devastation that has been wrought upon families from the health effects that have taken away a functioning wife and mother and even harmed some of the children that have been born to them? People like you who only look at your situation and say you are happy while neglecting the pain of others who have suffered smells of selfishness…sorry, that’s just the way it comes off.
Shawn Wilson on Tue, December 29, 2009

Patty,
You talk of the devastation of those who have gotten breast implants and their children as a reason why ALL christians should not do it. What about all the FAT preachers and people in America? For God’s sake there are WAY more fat people in America that are costing this country and taxpayers WAY more money then the people getting bigger breast.
More money is spend on healthcare for fat people then (I believe but will have to double check) any other medical problem. If MOST people in this country just lost like 10-15 lbs we would see healthcare cost fall like a fat guy on a treadmill…..sorry…...anyway, I think you get my point.
Patty on Tue, December 29, 2009

The only difference is that most people don’t CHOOSE to be fat, or pay thousands of dollars and undergo risky surgery to get that way in the first place. For some, obesity is an ongoing battle due to chronic illness (many women with implants end up with Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroid disease and gain weight), so we should be willing to extend grace in the face of their struggle, contrary to the whole concept of getting breast implants which is a deliberate choice to put oneself in a risky position.
Shawn Wilson on Tue, December 29, 2009

I would disagree with you that “most” people don’t chose to be over weight. Most American’s are to lazy to change their diets to not be over weight. However, the question remains with this, many over weight people get tummy tucks, or the stomach ring put it. Is that wrong? Because they are trying to look better.
I just think that people are making a bigger deal of this then need be. If a woman wants to get bigger breast, and she has weighed all the hazards and risk, that’s up to her and God. Not everyone else. But that’s just me.
Patty on Tue, December 29, 2009

You know what is really amazing to me is that so many people will agree that we should help “these poor people who don’t have health insurance and can’t get the help they need….they are suffering, suffering, suffering and the medical system is too burdensome and we have to help them!” It’s all about caring for each other and helping one another to avoid painful situations, right? Christ was all about caring for one another. But when you try to educate people about the CHOICES we have to help avoid health problems in the first place, the whole approach changes and says, “It’s up to them how they want to live their life. Let them live with the outcome.” So on the one hand, you accuse fat people of not taking care of themselves and blame them for the high cost of health care in America , and yet you defend the right of a woman to make a choice to harm herself and her children, which also has a very high cost to society and our health care system? Sorry, but I do not see your logic. And you definitely don’t understand the extent of the devastation to a woman’s health when she becomes ill from an autoimmune disease. I’ve walked in those shoes. Unfortunately, most people can’t see this pain, nor do they really want to in our modern culture because it’s not sexy. But “don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?” (James 4:4)
Shawn Wilson on Tue, December 29, 2009

I don’t think that we should offer healthcare by the government (but that is another topic for another time). I understand what you are saying. Really I do. But to sit here and say with 100% authority that breast enhancement is sin is something that just can’t be done!! Do I think it’s wise? No. Do people do it? Yes. Will people continue to do it? Sure.
Both the woman looking to get bigger breast and the people that eat at McDonald’s all the time can know for certain that their are choices to what you do. If you get breast enhancement there is a chance you may get sick and even die. People who eat bad know that too. So, should we condemn the doctors who do this for woman or the fast food, soda, candy companies that provide their products? I would say no. Is there a place for breast enhancement? Well some have said that maybe after a woman has breast cancer or something like that. It’s a hard topic I agree but to blanket the whole thing as sin is just not something that can be done.
By the way are you saying with that scripture that I am a friend of the world because I may think that a woman has the right to get her breast made bigger? If so i think that is a bit of a stretch.
Patty on Tue, December 29, 2009

Let me just try to put it into perspective, regarding the option to get breast implants and “the world.” This is just MY perspective. Let’s look at the 10 40 window, shall we? If we were in a situation where survival was questionable (where it is in many parts of the world today), where war was on our soil (where it is in many parts of the world today), where food was scarce (where it is in many parts of the world today), where disease threatened to overtake many in the population (where it is in many parts of the world today), where destitution and poverty are a constant and always- present threat, and where jobs were so severely stagnant that youth waste their life in meaningless and/or dangerous pursuits, hopeless and without a glimmer of rising above their station in life, (a reality in many parts of the 3rd world today), and the government overshadowed everything in human life, burdening the population under a mountain of debt and taxation (America soon?), of what importance or significance is it for a woman to pursue large breasts in those scenarios? Do breast implants contribute toward the survival of the human race? Do they serve any purpose at all to society? Do they assist human beings in the pursuit of better health? No, in a world in which survival becomes the ultimate pursuit, breast implants are a stupid, senseless, and dangerous waste of money and resources. Breasts do one thing for the human race: Feed babies. And babies need healthy, toxic-free, implant free breasts to produce breast milk. I see breast implants as a tool of the devil, whom Jesus called the “Prince of this world” (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). The devil came to steal, kill and destroy, and that is something that breast implants have done to hundreds of thousands of women. It’s just really better not to play with fire….IMHO
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Zoe on Breast Augmentation on Mon, August 23, 2010

I think it’s a sin if you are doing it out of sedition, or for sexual attention from guys, to make culture lust then definitely. If they will be cause someone else to sin BUT if you are getting them for you, or maybe for you and your husband and hold a pure heart and attitude about it, I don’t guess there is a problem near it at all.
Nancy on Thu, September 09, 2010

I don’t think breast implant is a sin, but for me I would rather do things naturally than having some thing placed inside my body.
this is just my opinion
breastfast on Thu, December 02, 2010

I don’t like any of implants, i rather useing natural suplement to increase siz of my breast, but my friend have an operation and is vero content abot it