Scourge of acne!

 

 

Quotation

 

“Absolute truth is in the Bible. We need to remember, man's attempt to understand what the meaning of life is a vain attempt to explain what is true, a human perspective marred by our pride and arrogance. If we want absolute truth, we need to study God's word!”

 

Barry Denzil Haney

 

Verse

 

Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

 

1 Corinthians 10:14-15

 

Reflection

 

Whenever I hear the word acne, I cringe. I can still remember vividly one evening when I was about ten years old my mother was tucking me in for the night. After saying my nighttime prayer with her, my mother rubbed her hand across my forehead to console me and made this astonishing statement, now permanently etched in my memory, “Barry, I'm afraid you are going to have problems with your complexion as you grow older.”

 

What! I’m going to have problems with my skin! Did she mean I was going to die like a friend of mine who just died from childhood leukemia. To say the least, I was devastated. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of my lifetime journey with what I like to call the “scourge of acne”.

 

Why would I use the term “scourge” to describe acne? One of the definitions of scourge is as follows: cause great suffering to. I rest my case. Acne caused me great suffering during my childhood and teenage years, continuing throughout my life -- in my sixties I was diagnosed with acne rosacea.

 

To say the least I have been very angry my entire life because of acne. Not only did I struggle with the physical effects of acne breakouts, but to a greater degree, I struggled with (and still do) the psychological effects.

 

What does modern psychology tell us about acne and its effects on the human psyche?

 

In the article, “Psychological Impairment in the Patients with Acne”, the authors make this claim:

 

“The results of the current study revealed the negative influence of acne vulgaris on patients’ psychological status that all psychiatric symptoms such as somatization, obsession, sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobia, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism were associated with this skin disorder...Based on our findings, the rates of depressive disorders and psychoticism can be high in acne patients in our population and therefore psychological consultations should be done in all acne patients, particularly in those with primary symptoms and primary diagnosis of these two problems.”¹

 

Wow! It looks like I had a reason to be worried at the age of ten.

 

I can attest that acne deeply impacted me during my early developmental years, causing me significant psychological damage. During my late childhood and teenage years, I was depressed, suffered from low self-esteem, and was socially withdrawn. My preoccupation with my “face” negatively impacted my education and work, lasting my entire lifetime, even to this day. 

 

According to the secular worldview, those suffering from acne probably require psychological consultation to help them deal with the psychological damage caused by this disease.

 

Okay, I think you now have a good grasp on the worldview of acne and its effects on the human psyche. Does God have a different take on acne and how to manage the psychological impacts of this disease?

 

If you suffer from acne, the first thing to remember is you are God’s Masterpiece. 

 

God does not see you as ugly when you are suffering from an acute acne breakout, instead, He sees you as His beautiful creation. In 1 Samuel 16:7 the Bible tells us God does not see the outward appearance but the heart:  

 

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

 

1 Samuel 16:7

 

One of Satan’s favorite ways to make us spiritually blind is to have us idolize our bodies. This obsession with our appearance, shifts our focus from God to our physical condition. To make matters worse, we begin to compare ourselves with others, despising those whom we feel have been blessed. No longer are we a conduit for the fruits of the spirit but instead a conduit for Satan’s lies and deceptions.

 

In Colossians 3:5, God is telling us to abandon the idolatry of placing ourselves as the source for all happiness. This self-centeredness leads to death, eternal separation from God. Paul is telling us to kill self-centeredness if we want to have an eternal relationship with God. 

 

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”

 

It would seem God is telling us not to become preoccupied with our outward appearance, a form of idolatry, but instead, concentrate on doing what God would have us to do to further His Kingdom!

 

Illustration

 

A Chinese legend tells of a group of cultured elderly gentlemen who met often to exchange wisdom and drink tea. Each host tried to find the finest and most costly varieties of tea so as to create exotic blends that would arouse the admiration of his guests.

 

When the most venerable and respected of the group entertained, he served his tea with unprecedented ceremony, measuring the leaves from a golden box. The assembled epicures praised this exquisite tea. The host smiled and said, “The tea you have found so delightful is the same tea our peasants drink. I hope that it will be a reminder to us all that the good things in life are not necessarily the rarest or the most costly.”^1446(2)

 

Prayer

 

Our Heavenly Father,

 

Thank you for creating me in Your image.

I know I am beautiful because you made me.

Although I might suffer a physical malady

altering my outward appearance, You have

told me, You only look at the heart!

 

Help me fight Satan’s temptation to be vain.

Help me to understand, this pride is the same sin

that led to Adam and Eve’s downfall.

Instead help me to concentrate on what You

Would have me do to further Your Kingdom!

 

In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,

 

Amen!

 

Worship

 

I Serve a Savior – Josh Turner

https://youtu.be/q6ErPbspVBI

 God Bless You,

 

Barry

 

1Behnam, Behnaz et al. “Psychological impairments in the patients with acne.” Indian journal of dermatology vol. 58,1 (2013): 26-9. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.105281

 

2Michael P. Green. 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI: B