Is it alright for Christians to get tattoos and body piercing?

[layhoma]

I'm not sure if it says anywhere in the bible but quite a few brothers in Christ told me tattoos and body piercing are all practices done by the pagans therefore we Christians shouldn't follow their footsteps as ways to worships their idols/gods.

I guess it's OK if you get them before you met Christ. But still it's strange occasionally I see young people in pastoral ministry get tats of a cross or even bible verses on their bodies. These are just isolated cases I guess.

I got cocky with the person who informed me of this by questioning if women having pierced ears are justified and he kind of got stunned for a few seconds and says " perhaps they shouldn't? "

 

[dragonfly]

Hi brother,

Pagans do make cuttings in their flesh. Sometimes from babyhood a child has been cut. Obviously, it is okay - however they are scarred - for all people to come to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation by faith in Him. I don't know anyone who resisted the temptation to get a tattoo, who regrets not getting it.

These are the Bible verses:

Leviticus 19:28 8 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD.

Leviticus 21:5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.


About ear piercings, it is more complicated than just 'don't do it'. Here's why:

Exodus 21:2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. 3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. {by himself: Heb. with his body} 4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. 5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: {shall...: Heb. saying shall say} 6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.


The fact of the associations with slavery to Satan, or, to sin, or, to another person, all should cause us to bring our hearts before God to be examined by Him as to whether I, as an individual, has liberty as a Christian, consciously to by-pass the letter of law. I certainly don't believe the Lord wants those who had tattoos when they met Him, to go to pain and expense to have them removed. That would be carnal thinking (generally).


Here is an old, famous, well-worn piece of writing which discusses the need for individual obedience to the Lord's leading in a Christian's life.

OTHERS MAY: You CANNOT
-by G.D. Watson.

If God has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other people do things which He will not let you do.

Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it, and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence upon Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more precious He may let others get credit for the work which you have done, and thus make YOUR REWARD TEN TIMES GREATER when JESUS COMES.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time, which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an Infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.

Settle it forever, then that you are to DEAL DIRECTLY WITH the HOLY SPIRIT, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now, when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this PECULIAR, PERSONAL, PRIVATE, JEALOUS GUARDIANSHIP and MANAGEMENT OF the HOLY SPIRIT OVER YOUR LIFE, then you will have found the vestibule of Heaven.

-G.D.Watson (1845-1924).
SOURCE: Faith, Prayer, & Tract League,
Tract #76; Grand Rapids, MI 49504.



http://www.sermonind...=32307&forum=34

 

[layhoma]

Hi brother,

Pagans do make cuttings in their flesh. Sometimes from babyhood a child has been cut. Obviously, it is okay - however they are scarred - for all people to come to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation by faith in Him. I don't know anyone who resisted the temptation to get a tattoo, who regrets not getting it.

These are the Bible verses:

Leviticus 19:28 8 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD.

Leviticus 21:5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.


About ear piercings, it is more complicated than just 'don't do it'. Here's why:

Exodus 21:2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. 3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. {by himself: Heb. with his body} 4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. 5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: {shall...: Heb. saying shall say} 6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.


The fact of the associations with slavery to Satan, or, to sin, or, to another person, all should cause us to bring our hearts before God to be examined by Him as to whether I, as an individual, has liberty as a Christian, consciously to by-pass the letter of law. I certainly don't believe the Lord wants those who had tattoos when they met Him, to go to pain and expense to have them removed. That would be carnal thinking (generally).


Here is an old, famous, well-worn piece of writing which discusses the need for individual obedience to the Lord's leading in a Christian's life.

OTHERS MAY: You CANNOT
-by G.D. Watson.

If God has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other people do things which He will not let you do.

Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it, and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence upon Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.

The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more precious He may let others get credit for the work which you have done, and thus make YOUR REWARD TEN TIMES GREATER when JESUS COMES.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time, which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an Infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.

Settle it forever, then that you are to DEAL DIRECTLY WITH the HOLY SPIRIT, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now, when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this PECULIAR, PERSONAL, PRIVATE, JEALOUS GUARDIANSHIP and MANAGEMENT OF the HOLY SPIRIT OVER YOUR LIFE, then you will have found the vestibule of Heaven.

-G.D.Watson (1845-1924).
SOURCE: Faith, Prayer, & Tract League,
Tract #76; Grand Rapids, MI 49504.



http://www.sermonind...=32307&forum=34

Thank you Dragonfly,

I knew I have read about it somewhere but couldn't find those verses. Your elaboration is truly inspirational.

blessings!

 

[Rach1370]

I'd say this comes in under the "everything is permissible" line of reasoning. Salvation through Christ renews the heart and mind. It doesn't matter so much what or how people want to express their love for Jesus. Of course, we must also consider the rest of that verse..."but not everything is wise". Is it really intelligent to walk around with more metal in your body than a junk yard?? I don't know! But I believe this subject is one of conscience....between the Christian and the Holy Spirit. As long as you don't get a piercing or a tattoo in worship of another thing...then it's no different to adorning your body with jewellery or nice clothes, or colouring your hair. What matters is the heart...does Jesus own it and dwell there?

 

[dragonfly]

What matters is the heart...does Jesus own it and dwell there?

I agree with this completely - with a series of subsequential buts.

Firstly, the money that one spends on a tattoo, is it really 'my' money to do with as I please? One could justify that it is, by quoting Acts 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. But one could equally argue against that with these verses: 1 Corinthians 1:'... and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. and 1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ [from another]? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive [it], why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received [it]?

For instance, there is a real question as to whether a tattoo is seen as something which makes the flesh more attractive: more attractive to who? Does God find it more attractive? Is it a subtle way to idolise one's appearance? In fact, in the light of Leviticus 19:28, would Jesus have had a tattoo? Is He our example, or not?

Regarding the 'metal' question, I would say that the quantity of metal is only one of the issues which arise. There is the matter of sentimental attachment to things received as gifts, and whether they need to be insured against loss or theft. It is a challenge to ask onself - about any of one's belongings - if the Lord asked me to give this away, would I obey Him?

Peter also hit the nail on the head when he wrote to wives about what God is looking for, in women in general: 1 Peter 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward [adorning] of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

After all this, there is the matter of what tattoos and piercings communicate to the world about our hearts. What do they see? What do they think? Do they recognise us by our unity with the Father and the Son and our agreement with His word in our 'converstation'?

These are just my thoughts. I agree that there is liberty. I'm not trying to bring anyone into condemnation, but, there can be a season - sometimes a very long one - in which one tests oneself by abstaining from certain things, for the sake of one's own soul and one's own salvation, regardless of how uncool it may look to others.

 

[grandma dolittle]

After you become a Christian, you do not own your body. It was purchased by Jesus on the cross. Also the Bible says our bodies are "temples" and we should not desocrate a Temple of Christ with tattoes and body pericings.

 

[Rach1370]

Personally, I would agree....I don't think tattoos have a place on my body. But do I believe the person over there in Church with a tattoo, or even many tattoos who is raising his hands in praise of Jesus, is unsaved? That he has violated his 'temple'? That his use of money on those tattoos was a waste of Gods resources? I say no...he is saved, he clearly loves Jesus, and ultimately it is between he and God how he spent his money.
Granted our bodies are the HS temple, and everything we have is Gods. But if we are going to say 'no' to money spent on tattoos and 'no' because it's violating our temple, then we must also go further. That TV you bought could have been substituted for money for God's work. Going out to eat with friends while others starve? How about the fat and sugar we stuff into our 'temples'? What about every time we drive rather than walk...that is doing harm to our bodies...in fact we could say that women wearing make up clogs up the pores and is harmful...bleaching of the hair takes a toll.
So you see we must allow freedom in such issues, under Jesus' own teachings, or we become Pharisees, making rules that seem to us more moral and righteous. This should not allow for licentiousness...we should not use such freedom to do things for ungodly reasons, but truly, in Christ we are given a freedom...a freedom we use in everyday situations and in all areas. So we choose not to use that freedom in piercings and tattoos, but I find it hard to believe that we can take all the wondrous teachings from Jesus and Paul and pop an insert in there for these two things, while going on ourselves, making choices we see as allowable.

 

[acebopata]

I've never been much fond of tatoos and peircings, to be honest. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Rach1370]

Personally....I've never been much for pain, especially deliberate pain. Tattooing and piercing sounds to ouchy for me, regardless of anything else!!

 

[dragonfly]

So we choose not to use that freedom in piercings and tattoos, but I find it hard to believe that we can take all the wondrous teachings from Jesus and Paul and pop an insert in there for these two things, while going on ourselves, making choices we see as allowable.

I hear ya'!

However, the scripture specifically speaks against tattoos and piercings, gluttony and sloth, and painted eyes.

 

[Rach1370]

I hear ya'!

However, the scripture specifically speaks against tattoos and piercings, gluttony and sloth, and painted eyes.

Yeah? Which scripture says that...interested.
But really...what do you think that means for all the women out there with pierced ears and eye shadow? What about all the overweight people in the church? The lazy? What do you think, as Christians to other Christians, our responses to these things should be? Do we believe them to be saved? Saved but with unrepentant sin in their lives? Not saved?
Ta!

 

[dragonfly]

Yeah? Which scripture says that...interested.

Leviticus 19:28 as quoted in post #2,

Deuteronomy 21:20 "And they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.'

Proverbs 23:20 Do not mix with winebibbers, [Or] with gluttonous eaters of meat;

Proverbs 23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe [a man] with rags.

Proverbs 28:7 Whoever keeps the law [is] a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames his father.

Proverbs 18:9 He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.

Romans 16:18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

Philippians 3:19 whose end [is] destruction, whose god [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame -- who set their mind on earthly things.


The association between idolatry and the worship of devils is exemplified by Jezebel's behaviour, as she was brought up to worship Baal.

1 Kings 16:31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.

1 Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

(Young's Literal Translation) 2 Kings 9:30
And Jehu cometh in to Jezreel, and Jezebel hath heard, and putteth her eyes in paint and maketh right her head, and looketh out through the window.

(KJV - And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard [of it]; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
{painted...: Heb. put her eyes in painting}

(ESV - When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And kshe painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window.)

No doubt there is more by implication, in many other verses of scripture. God is, since the cross, most interested in our hearts' attitudes.

But really...what do you think that means for all the women out there with pierced ears and eye shadow? What about all the overweight people in the church? The lazy?

I think it depends whether the issue in question was an idol before they came to the Lord. Plenty of folk attend church who don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, or their Father in heaven. By their fruits ye shall know them. (Matt 7:16, 20).

What do you think, as Christians to other Christians, our responses to these things should be?

Methinks scripture gives plenty of guidance!!!

Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways....

Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he [is] Christ's, even so [are] we Christ's.

Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam [is] in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Philippians 2:12 . Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:


Touche?


It boils down to obedience to the leading and permissions given by God to the individual. We're all on our own with God, now.

It seems to me that our lives do the talking, regardless of what comes out of our mouths, although the Lord does put great store upon what comes out of our mouths, as the many exhortations to praise and worship Him, verify. He wants our whole lives to praise Him though, not just our lips.

Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Psalm 44:21 1 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

 

[aspen]

Don't you think the condemnation of tattoos and piercings in the OT were actually condemnation of pagan cultures? It seems more likely to me.

If your tattoos and piercings identify you with a culture of hate, crime, or paganism; you might be angering God.

 

[brightmorningstar]

The passage 'everything is permissable' doesnt mean licence to do what is sinful. The condemnation of marking of the body is OT law is not specifically repeated in the NT covenant of grace. That our bodies are to be temples of the Holy Spirit implies not to get tattoos. However what if that tattoo said for example 'Jesus Christ is Lord' ?
I suggest the advice should be that at best, it is not wise to get any tattoo.

 

[dragonfly]

That our bodies are to be temples of the Holy Spirit implies not to get tattoos. However what if that tattoo said for example 'Jesus Christ is Lord' ?

I've heard of Christians getting Bible verses tattoed as well, and to be honest, it seems like a way of giving a mixed message to pagans.

Some years ago, a Christian of another nationality, in a country were literally everyone wears something round their neck - to ward of evil spirits - asked why I had something round my neck if I was really a Christian. His inference was that if I really trusted God, I wouldn't do that. Wearing chain was, to him, a sign that I still had one foot in a previous belief system. This definitely affects my behaviour in certain situations.

Non-Christians are often more aware of how different a Christian should be, than Christians are, (or seem to be), and they are 'reading' our lives in hope of finding answers to their own hearts' cries for validation and meaning - something worth dying for.

 

[layhoma]

I've heard of Christians getting Bible verses tattoed as well, and to be honest, it seems like a way of giving a mixed message to pagans.

Some years ago, a Christian of another nationality, in a country were literally everyone wears something round their neck - to ward of evil spirits - asked why I had something round my neck if I was really a Christian. His inference was that if I really trusted God, I wouldn't do that. Wearing chain was, to him, a sign that I still had one foot in a previous belief system. This definitely affects my behaviour in certain situations.

Non-Christians are often more aware of how different a Christian should be, than Christians are, (or seem to be), and they are 'reading' our lives in hope of finding answers to their own hearts' cries for validation and meaning - something worth dying for.

Spot on! We Christians have no need for adornments ( including tats ) to validate our identity with Christ. He lives in us, right there at our hearts for it is the well spring of life. We are living testaments by the our actions, the fruits of the spirit.

 

[bytheway]

I'm not sure if it says anywhere in the bible but quite a few brothers in Christ told me tattoos and body piercing are all practices done by the pagans therefore we Christians shouldn't follow their footsteps as ways to worships their idols/gods.

I guess it's OK if you get them before you met Christ. But still it's strange occasionally I see young people in pastoral ministry get tats of a cross or even bible verses on their bodies. These are just isolated cases I guess.

I got cocky with the person who informed me of this by questioning if women having pierced ears are justified and he kind of got stunned for a few seconds and says " perhaps they shouldn't? "

Depends on how much of the law you want to keep.

 

[MPC]

I'm curious to know how many people objecting getting tattoos, would have gotten them anyways despite what scripture says. In other words a lot of non Christians believe tattoos are gross or wrong regardless of what God says, and some of our natural proclivities to things such as style, how we dress, hair, etc... carry over even after new birth. So someone who liked tattoos before being saved may also still like and want them after but maybe seeing them in a different light.

This is my opinion my interpretation, I believe in 1 Cor 6 in regards to your body being a temple, if you read it in context you will see it is being applied to sexual immorality and sharing your body with prostitutes while you house the Spirit of the Lord, that your unity with a prostitute makes you one flesh, so how can you unite Christ with this prostitute also. If this were not what the text is implying(though I'm pretty sure it is), people who forbid tattoos on the basis of the body being a temple, all fail themselves in regards to anything they do that is harmful to their body, including women piercing their ears, eating a Twinkie, choosing to live in a city with poor air quality, working any job that may cause long term health effects, blah blah blah.

If you use the scriptures in Leviticus as a reprimand, do not be blind that these are cultural ordinances, some specifically for priests and to a specific people within a specific time; under a different covenant, which God is trying to set apart as a nation different then all other surrounding pagan cultures. This does not apply to us now. If people use these scriptures and can't see past their own noses, then make sure they also don't eat any shrimp or shellfish, or swine, that is ham and bacon. They can't eat their steak rare, or even medium rare. Guys, no more haircuts trimming the sides shorter then the top. Make sure you stand up when the elderly enter a room.They can wear no fabric with mixed fibers such as cotton/poly blend. Guys have to grow out there beards for it forbids you cut/mar/trim the edges of them, and don't forget to stone people for picking up sticks on the sabbath.

Now if you are considering a tattoo, and are a born again believer. I'd be hard pressed to get anything besides something that glorifies God. If you can legitimately ask yourself can this glorify God and the Spirit does not convict you after seeking out answers in prayer and wisdom, then go for it. You have freedom in Christ, Spirit led, everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. Also a Christian tattoo in the right crowd may be beneficial and open lines of dialogue that may have been closed otherwise. Tattoos aren't as taboo anymore so there's less of a chance, then most think of, someone assuming you're not a christian or to take it further you must be a pagan because you're tattooed. Oh and too bad for those tattooed before they were saved, they will never be considered a Christian in the eyes of unbelievers

 

[Rach1370]

Nice post 2 Cor12:9...I agree. Oh...and welcome!!

Just a thought....in Revelations we see Jesus returning...he's riding a horse, has a sword coming from his mouth, and has "king of kings" written on his leg. Now, granted, he didn't pop down to get tatted up in a tattoo shop here on earth...but still...writing on the body....

 

[MPC]

Thanks Rach.