Changing External Appearance!

Richard Hollerman

Have you ever walked down the street and found someone else walking the opposite way? Suppose that this person was weird in appearance, in fact even strange and (let’s go on and say it) evil in appearance? And suppose that this person defended his strange external appearance by saying that the Christian is not really concerned about externals but should, rather, be more interested in the heart! Would this be a legitimate defense, do you think?

We are living in a society in which perhaps a large number (or even most) of people from age 8 to 28 fill this description. Further, it would also include a great many from age 29 to perhaps 60 or older. Thus we are dealing with a massive number of people—numbering in the millions—who are living and walking in a strange and bizarre way! Also, think of the hundreds of millions from other countries who have problems of their own—relating to external appearance. We are referring to countless people here!

Perhaps you have seen a lot of films from about 1960 to 2026 and the players in these movies are nothing short of strange in their outer appearance. We refer to their clothes and so much more that reveals an external focus.

Let’s remember the words of God in 1 Samuel 16:7: “. . . God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” This is an important truth, isn’t it! We and God see differently (see Isaiah 55:6-9). Further, people around us look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart! What about you? What is the focus of your own attention?

We know that God has given each of us an “appearance”—but the really important aspect of all of this is the internal! We refer to such aspects as love, joy, peace, and all of the “fruit” of the Spirit! This is the very important part of our appearance.

However, we also know that God has created and maintained all of our appearance—the internal and the external. Scripture does refer to the external appearance and He must consider this to be important in some measure. Hence, we read of Sarah, the wife of Abraham: “I know that you are a beautiful woman” (Genesis 12:11). Later, Isaac said of his wife, Rebekah: “She is beautiful” (26:7b). We also read of Rachel: “Rachel was beautiful of form and face” (29:17). Apparently, physical beauty does count for something. We already saw that some centuries later, we read of David: “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Thus, whether we speak of the man or the woman, God does recognize the external appearance, but He is not ultimately concerned about this but looks inside of us!

Let’s even note what was said about the Lord Jesus! “He [Jesus] has no stately form or majesty that we should look upn Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him” (Isaiah 53:2). I take from this that Jesus Himself was not a handsome man, one who would attract our attention! In Scripture, we read of those who were attractive but we also read of others (including Jesus Himself) who apparently was not that attractive. Is this the way we view things?

Let’s now refer to external attractiveness. Probably we may refer to physical “beauty” as applied to the female and “handsomeness” to the male. What has been your own experience? Do others consider you beautiful? Do they consider you handsome? How do you look on this, if you happen to profess Christ?

It is our conviction that a person’s external experience may have something to do with a positive or a negative outcome. In other words, there could be a positive or a negative result—depending on the person’s external appearance. Do you know of someone (either male or female) who has had a positive experience? On the other hand, do you know of someone who has had a negative experience? What has been your own understanding? Has it been positive or negative?

We know that this matter can be somewhat subjective and it can mean one thing to one person and another thing to a different person. For example, we know of a girl who (many years ago) was a receptionist in a company where I worked. She was very personable, very interested in others, and quite open to conversation. Yet, she was not very pleasant to look upon. It had little to do with her age but much to do with her lack of physical attractiveness. I don’t know what others thought but this, to me, was a prime example of one who could overcome an inferior external appearance by her winsomeness, kindness, and friendliness.

I suppose that the same could be said of both males and females. In this case, the person was able to overcome something lacking externally by her (or his) charming personality. This shows that the internal can overcome the external. We don’t here refer to a person’s Christian character or fruitfulness (for many or even most people) don’t have such a character, but a person’s personality that may overcome outward defects.

What about a negative reaction to a person’s appearance? First and perhaps foremost, we know that one’s appearance may display a very  negative reaction, at least from a Christian standpoint. This external appearance may have certain evil connotations. When someone has wicked words, or displays certain unjust words on his skin, this would have a variety of evil reactions that the child of God must never have. Thus, the person (male or female) who marks his body must do this for evil motives and this reveals certain wrongful attitudes.

We are mindful of the fact that regardless of the changes or alternations we may activate, we can do little about our natural physical appearance. Think of whether a person is tall or short. Also, think of whether someone is heavy (this used to be called “fat”) or overweight—or slender and small. Think of whether the person is young or old or in between. Think of a person’s hair, or nose, or eyes, or complexion, etc. All of this makes up a person’s natural attractiveness or “ugliness” or something else!

But what of other markings? We are all subject to physical defects and there may be at least the responses to these. We may accept this as a physical defect that shows God’s will and this could be accepted in this light. On the other hand, we might recognize this as a defect of some kind. We then ask: “Do we allow this defect to remain (perhaps a financial limitation may be involved) or do we attempt to change it to allow our external body to have no distractions (when people respond to us)?

Just today, I was examining a “Christian” magazine that came to our attention and prominently displayed was a person with a noticeable birth defect on her face. I suppose she was about eighteen or so. In light of this, the question now is: shall she also seek to have this mark removed or shall she just endure it? We think that this could prove to be a distraction that should be removed for God’s glory.

But what of the price? Obviously, we don’t know whether some sort of insurance would be involved, but if we must face the “bill” or loss ourselves, we assume that such a surgery could be $200 or $300 or $400 or more (for correcting a defect). However, if there should be a major change involved, the price could be higher—perhaps $400 or $600 or even more. Does the Christian who is aware of the quality of thrift want to spend this much to have an offensive mark removed?

Apart from this, what about a tattoo? This is another matter altogether—one that pertains to God’s will. Some may actually endorse or even desire such an external marking! The sensitive believer will want to remove all evidences of ungodliness (in his or her previous life—maybe when a person did obtain a tattoo)? What if such a change costs very much—perhaps $500 or even $1,000—or even several thousand dollars? A poor person, with limited means, will want to weigh this carefully. But on the other hand, a sensitive believer who wants to look  spiritual (and not merely say that he or she is a Christian may want to save enough to give something to a dermatologist to have such a worldly mark removed. Depending on whether this involves a major change this could cost a large amount.

We think (without a substantial “proof” or evidence) that there may be a professing “Christian” dermatologist who is sympathetic to the person’s limitations, needs, and desire, and would do thus sort of surgery or operation free. Or at least with a deep cut in the price involved. We don’t know for sure—but probably this is the case.

If we have no major deformity ourselves, this may be an “easy” thing to say but there may be a professing Christian who will charge little (or “nothing”) for this kind of surgery. You or others may respond to this kind of suggestion by saying that this is not needed. However, as we look out at the world and even “Christian” churches, we see millions of people who assume that they are saved or think that they know God, but their external appearance (including tattoos) betrays this. This does reveal a degree of seriousness, doesn’t it!

We know that there are many, many people who think that this is a non-issue and that we have no right to even question a person’s tattoos, but we are under the strong impression that the believer should look like a Christian as well as sound like a Christian. We also know that there are literally millions of people who profess Christianity but are not truly saved! Think of the many different kinds of tattoos that grace a person’s legs, arms, hands, neck, face, and all other parts of the body! Think now and ask yourself whether these really portray a child of God! This is a matter that pertains not merely to the cost and pocketbook but it does reveal our priorities!

Our final point now. If these millions of professing “Christians” who have tattoos know that this is a matter of right or wrong, what then? Of course, the simple answer is Repentance! He or she (with a tattoo or similar markings) must deeply repent before God. What else? Not only does he or she need to have a change of heart but a total transformation of externals that will reveal the internal! May God help you—and me—that we might not only claim to be a follower of Christ but might demonstrate it!