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I
Believe
on
Moral
Issues:
Tattoos
and
Body
Piercing
Witness
tool
or
Worldly
Practice?
Leviticus
19:28
I
God.
want us to turn to Leviticus 18. In this section of Scripture I presented three very basic principles they were: 1. Know the LORD vs. 2
Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'I am the LORD your
2. Live Separated Lives vs. 3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do, and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. 3. Follow Gods Word Explicitly vs. 4-5
You
shall
observe
My
judgments
and
keep
My
ordinances,
to
walk
in
them:
I
am
the
LORD
your
God.
'You
shall
therefore
keep
My
statutes
and
My
judgments,
which
if
a
man
does,
he
shall
live
by
them:
I
am
the
LORD.
Today
I
am
going
to
be
speaking
on
tattoos
and
Body
piercings.
My
intention
is
NOT
to
inflict
pain
on
those
who
have
tattoos
on
their
body,
or
who
have
piercings.
My
intent
is
to
inform
you
as
to
what
the
Bible
teaches,
and
then
encourage
you
to
always
choose
to
do
what
the
Bible
says.
Get
this:
Its
NOT
what
man
says
that
matters,
but
what
the
Bible
teaches.
The
Bible
is
to
always
be
our
guide.
The
Bible
IS
the
WORD
of
God.
I
want
you
to
understand
at
the
get-go
that
those
of
us
who
believe
the
Bible
explicitly
and
who
have
a
desire
to
follow
it
entirely
are
considered
Biblical
kooks.
We
have
also
been
accused
of
misinterpreting
the
Bible.
We
have
been
accused
of
trying
to
keep
people
under
the
law
instead
of
allowing
them
freedom
under
grace.
I
share
this
because
I
think
it
is
important
for
you
to
know
the
perception
of
those
who
disagree
with
what
I
will
be
presenting
in
this
message.
2
I.
Does
the
Old
Testament
have
any
value
today?
Does
the
Old
Testament
have
any
value
for
the
church
today?
Understand,
we
are
NOT
under
Law
we
are
under
Grace,
but
does
the
O.T.
have
anything
to
offer
Christians?
Please
take
your
Bible
and
open
it
to
1
Corinthians
10.
It
says
the
following,
1
Moreover,
brethren,
I
do
not
want
you
to
be
unaware
that
all
our
fathers
were
under
the
cloud,
all
passed
through
the
sea,
2
all
were
baptized
into
Moses
in
the
cloud
and
in
the
sea,
3
all
ate
the
same
spiritual
food,
4
and
all
drank
the
same
spiritual
drink.
For
they
drank
of
that
spiritual
Rock
that
followed
them,
and
that
Rock
was
Christ.
5
But
with
most
of
them
God
was
not
well
pleased,
for
their
bodies
were
scattered
in
the
wilderness.
6
Now
these
things
became
our
examples,
to
the
intent
that
we
should
not
lust
after
evil
things
as
they
also
lusted.
7
And
do
not
become
idolaters
as
were
some
of
them.
As
it
is
written,
"The
people
sat
down
to
eat
and
drink,
and
rose
up
to
play."
8
Nor
let
us
commit
sexual
immorality,
as
some
of
them
did,
and
in
one
day
twenty-three
thousand
fell;
9
nor
let
us
tempt
Christ,
as
some
of
them
also
tempted,
and
were
destroyed
by
serpents;
10
nor
complain,
as
some
of
them
also
complained,
and
were
destroyed
by
the
destroyer.
11
Now
all
these
things
happened
to
them
as
examples,
and
they
3
were
written
for
our
admonition,
upon
whom
the
ends
of
the
ages
have
come.
What
point
is
Paul
making?
The
point
is
that
the
O.T.
is
there
for
our
example
and
for
our
learning
(for
our
warning).
There
are
behaviors
in
the
O.T.
that
apply
to
the
Christian
in
the
N.T.
They
are
truism
that
travel
through
time.
II.
What
does
the
Bible
say
about
Tattoos
and
Piercings?
We
read
in
Lev.
19:28,
"You
shall
not
make
any
cuttings
in
your
flesh
for
the
dead,
nor
tattoo
any
marks
upon
you:
I
am
the
LORD."
One
of
the
arguments
used
against
this
particular
Scripture,
and
the
message
that
you
are
hearing
today
is
that
the
word
tattoo
is
a
recent
word.
It
was
a
word
that
was
coined
in
the
1700s,
and
that
it
wasnt
a
word
used
when
the
O.T.
was
penned.
Therefore,
translators
added
that
word
tattoo
to
the
text.
Okay,
lets
not
use
the
NKJV.
Instead
we
will
use
the
KJV
that
was
printed
in
1611.
It
was
translated
89
years
before
the
word
tattoo
was
coined.
We
read,
4
Ye
shall
not
make
any
cuttings
in
your
flesh
for
the
dead,
nor
print
any
marks
upon
you:
I
am
the
LORD.
Now
I
ask
you
do
you
understand
the
words,
nor
print
any
marks
upon
you:?
One
author
that
I
was
reading
provided
the
following
insight
to
Leviticus
19:28.
He
writes,
Now
thats
pretty
simple
and
straight
forwardDont
tattoo
or
pierce
your
body.
Dont
cut
or
tattoo
your
body.
In
Biblical
History
often
times
when
a
person
would
purposefully
cut
themselvesit
was
done
for
a
reason.
In
1
Kings
18:28
is
the
story
of
Elijah
and
the
prophets
of
Baal.
Remember
the
contest
that
Elijah
had
with
themHe
said
call
upon
Baal
to
come
down
and
produce
fireon
an
altar.
The
Bible
says
that
they
shouted
and
screamed
at
Baal
to
come
downthey
even
cut
themselvesas
there
custom
allowedslashed
themselves
until
blood
flowed
from
their
bodies.and
Baal
did
not
listen
Any
kind
of
self-laceration
or
marking
of
the
body
has
always
been
associated
with
pagan
cults.and
the
dead!
Those
caught
up
in
idol
worship
and
false
godswould
cut
or
tattoo
themselves
as
an
act
of
mourning
for
the
dead.
5
Thats
why
God
said
in
Lev.
19:28.Dont
cut
your
body
or
tattoo
it
God
did
not
want
his
people
to
be
like
the
world.
Some
argueThats
Old
Testament
Its
not
in
the
NT.
Did
you
know
that
bestiality
(sex
with
animals)
is
forbidden
and
only
mentioned
in
the
Old
Testament
.
Does
that
mean
its
ok
now?
What
about
Lev.
19:29,
the
verse
right
after
the
tattoo
verse
Do
not
prostitute
thy
daughter,
to
cause
her
to
be
a
whore;
lest
the
land
fall
to
whoredom,
and
the
land
become
full
of
wickedness.
thats
only
in
the
OT
You
cant
find
that
in
the
NT.Does
it
make
it
ok?
In
Matthew
Henrys
Commentary,
he
explains
that
most
of
Leviticus
19
are
moral
commandments
that
apply
not
only
to
Israel
but
for
every
New
Testament
Christian
today.
In
fact
Lev.
19:26-28
are
Moral
laws
clearly
condemning
pagan,
witchcraft
and
heathen
practices.
Verse
26
referring
to
enchantment
(spells
or
witchcraft)
and
not
to
observe
the
timesreferring
to
astrology.
Verse
27
dealt
with
those
that
worshipped
the
hosts
of
heaven,
in
such
a
way
as
to
cut
their
hair
so
their
heads
might
resemble
the
celestial
globe;
as
foolish
as
it
seems
it
was
being
done
with
respect
to
their
false
gods,
it
was
idolatrous.
Verse28
speaks
to
the
pagan
demonic
practice
of
cutting
into
your
flesh
(Piercing)
and
tattooing
The
fact
isUp
until
just
a
few
years
ago,
virtually
everyone,
including
the
most
liberal
Christian,
knew
that
Tattooing
and
piercing
was
clearly
forbidden
by
the
word
of
God.
And
throughout
history,
the
6
Tattooing
and
piercing
has
always
been
condemned
by
Bible
Believing
Christians.
Always.
One
writer
that
supports
Tattoos
writes,
For
those
individuals
who
claim
to
follow
Scripture
to
the
letter,
it
is
interesting
to
note
that
other
passages
in
Leviticus
proscribe
individuals
from
cutting
their
hair
or
trimming
their
beards,
wearing
clothes
that
are
made
of
a
mix
of
textiles
and
growing
certain
crops
beside
each
other;
ie,
the
"mingling"
of
seed.
It
is
safe
to
assume
that
the
practice
of
shaving
would
have
been
a
heinous
violation
of
Leviticus.
I
respond
by
simply
saying
know
the
difference
between
moral
and
non-moral
commandments.
Tattoos
for
Jesus
Many
seek
to
justify
this
activity
by
saying
they
are
"tattooing
for
Jesus"
Pastor
Nathan
Feathers,
26,
a
pastor
at
the
CrossLink
church
in
Grandview
says,
We
want
to
speak
the
language
of
the
culture,"
He
continued,
"Our
culture
speaks
in
tattoos.
That's
a
great
way
to
speak
about
God."
7
Can I ask you a serious question? Do you interpret the Bible in light of the culture, or culture in light of the Scripture? It is always to be culture in light of the Scripture. We must never surrender the Bible to culture. Does the N.T. have anything to say on the subject of tattoos and body piercing? I believe that it does. Take your Bible and turn with to Jude 8 (just before Revelation). We read, Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. What does it mean to defile the flesh? The Greek word is miaino (me- ah'-ee-no), and it means, perhaps a primary verb; to sully or taint, i.e. contaminate (ceremonially or morally):--defile. The word tattoo isnt used, nor the words, mark the body, but the idea is certainly being presented in the verse. That verse is speaking about the ungodly. Christians are NOT to taint the flesh (Greek, Sarx, and it means, the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit) or as the symbol of what is external).
In
the
military
someone
might
say
to
a
commanding
officer,
Request
to
speak
freely,
Sir.
Well,
I
want
to
do
that
here.
A
lot
of
Christians
today
are
tattooing
and
piercing
their
bodies
(see
notes
at
the
end
of
sermon),
and
they
believe
they
are
doing
so
to
be
a
witness
for
Jesus
Christ.
Let
me
say
this
to
you.
The
day
you
gave
your
life
to
Jesus
you
were
sealed
with
the
Holy
Spirit
unto
the
day
of
redemption
(Eph.
1:13,
4:30).
It
would
be
more
profitable
for
you
to
let
people
see
the
Holy
Spirit
in
you
then
for
any
tattoo
or
body
piercing.
III.
The
danger
of
Tattoos
and
Piercings.
While
I
was
preparing
for
this
message
I
read
about
a
doctor
seeing
a
tattoo
on
a
middle-aged
patient's
stomach.
"Nice
whale",
he
said.
The
patient
replied
with
a
wan
smile,
"Yes
-
it
used
to
be
a
dolphin."
First,
I
believe
that
there
is
an
embarrassment
factor.
Tattoos
might
look
good
on
young
skin
tight
skin,
but
the
older
you
get
the
worse
your
tattoo
is
going
to
look.
And
like
many,
you
will
look
back
and
regret
it.
Second,
most
people
don't
know
how
tattoos
tax
the
immune
system
of
the
body.
I
read
that
one
young
man
now
has
chronic
skin
allergies.
It's
not
as
simple
as
people
think.
9
What
are
the
Risks?
The
Mayo
Clinic
sounds
a
warning
about
commercial
tattooing:
"Few
states
have
hygienic
regulations
to
ensure
safe
tattooing
practices
in
commercial
tattoo
parlors,
and
even
fewer
monitor
and
enforce
standards".
(Body
Piercing
and
Tattoos:
More
than
Skin
Deep,
Mayo
Clinic,
www.mayoclinic.com).
Tattoos
can
cause
many
chronic
skin
disorders
such
as
sarcoid,
keloid
scarring,
allergic
dermatitis,
photosensitivity
reactions,
psoriasis,
and
tumors.
Potentially,
anyone
who
gets
a
tattoo
or
piercing
is
at
risk
for
contracting
an
infection
and
yes,
that
includes
MRSA.
MRSA
is
a
bigger
threat
in
comparison
to
other
infections
because
its
easily
spread
and
more
difficult
(but
not
impossible)
to
treat.
And,
in
rare
cases,
MRSA
is
more
severe
and
can
even
be
fatal.
Do
we
understand
that
when
getting
a
tattoo
or
piercing,
that
bacteria
can
be
passed
from
the
artist
to
the
client,
from
a
tool
to
the
client,
or
even
from
the
client
to
themselves.
Since
the
MRSA
bacteria
can
reside
on
the
body
of
a
carrier
(known
as
a
colonizer)
without
their
knowledge
and
with
no
adverse
effects
to
their
own
health,
its
possible
for
an
artist
to
spread
the
infection
to
a
client
through
skin
or
tool
contact.
But
if
the
client
themselves
are
a
colonizer,
they
can
be
infected
with
the
bacteria
from
their
own
bodies
once
the
skin
has
been
broken
for
the
tattoo
or
piercing.
Third,
I
read
that
recent
studies
on
today's
tattooed
young
people
indicate
1)
they
are
nearly
four
times
more
likely
to
engage
in
sexual
intercourse;
2)
Over
two
times
more
likely
to
experience
alcohol
related
problems;
3)
Nearly
two
times
more
likely
to
use
illegal
drugs;
4)
Over
two
times
more
likely
to
express
violent
behavior;
and
5)
Over
two
times
more
likely
to
drop
out
of
high
school.
10
Summary
Is
tattooing
and
body
piercing
a
witness
tool,
or
a
worldly
practice?
The
O.T.
is
there
for
our
example,
and
the
O.T.
is
clear
that
we
are
not
to
mark
our
bodies
either
with
tattoos
or
body
piercings.
God
called
His
people
to
know
Him,
to
live
separated
lives,
and
to
follow
His
Word
explicitly.
Allow
me
to
close
with
the
prescription
of
one
Christian
writer,
The
Bible
expressly
tells
us
to
keep
ourselves
unspotted
from
the
world
(Jas.
1:27),
to
abstain
from
the
appearance
of
evil
(1Thess.
5:22),
and
that
friendship
with
the
world
is
enmity
with
God
(Jas.
4:4).
We
are
instructed
to
come
out
from
among
them
and
be
separate
from
the
world
(2
Cor.
6:17).
Christians
therefore
have
the
responsibility
to
obey
God's
commands
and
abstain
from
worldly
associations,
pastimes,
or
habits;
not
just
out
of
duty
but
because
we
love
God
and
have
a
living
relationship
with
Him
(John
14:15).
Additional
Information:
The
Poll
Poll:
Are
You
a
Christian
with
a
Tattoo?
Yes,
I
received
my
tattoo
before
I
became
a
13%
Christian.
(300)
Yes,
I
was
tattooed
after
becoming
a
Christian.
44%
(961)
11
I
was
tattooed,
but
had
it
removed
because
of
2%
my
Christian
beliefs.
(61)
I
don't
have
a
tattoo,
and
believe
it
is
wrong
for
12%
Christians.
(275)
I
don't
have
a
tattoo
because
I
believe
it
is
4%
wrong
for
me
personally.
(106)
I
don't
have
a
tattoo,
but
not
for
religious
7%
reasons.
I
just
don't
want
one.
(169)
I
don't
have
a
tattoo
yet,
but
I
plan
on
getting
13%
one.
(285)
Total
Polled:
2157
I
personally
find
it
sad
that
over
900
people
in
the
poll
got
a
tattoo
after
their
conversion
experience.
Just
where
is
our
culture
heading?
Tattoos
today
and
what
tomorrow?
How
one
argues
against
Lev.
19:28
I
wonder
if
I
would
get
the
same
type
of
responses
if
I
were
to
write
a
piece
on
hair
and
beards
-
Mens
Grooming
To
Cut
or
Not
to
Cut.
Leviticus
19:27
says,
Do
not
cut
the
hair
at
the
sides
of
your
head
or
clip
off
the
edges
of
your
beard.
If
having
a
tattoo
is
a
sin
because
were
bound
by
the
O.T.
law,
then
logic
says
that
men
with
short
hair
or
a
clean-shaven
face
would
be
a
sin
as
well.
Going
deeper,
Leviticus
19:19
says,
Do
not
wear
clothing
woven
of
two
kinds
of
material.
According
to
that
O.T.
law,
anyone
who
wears
the
popular
cotton-poly
blends
that
are
found
in
every
clothing
store
in
America
are
sinning.
12
James
2:10
says,
For
whoever
keeps
the
whole
law
and
yet
stumbles
at
just
one
point
is
guilty
of
breaking
all
of
it.
We
cant
pick
and
choose.
Tattoos
=
bad,
short
hair
and
my
favorite
shirt
=
good.
It
doesnt
work
that
way.
Were
either
law
keeper
or
law
breakers.
Another
Tattoo
Proponent
We
know
that
religious
tattooing
before
the
time
of
Christ
was
common
for
nearly
everyone
except
the
Jewish
people
(otherwise
we
would
not
see
the
prohibition
in
Leviticus
19:28).
And
although
there
are
no
scriptural
references
in
which
we
are
told
to
"get
tattooed"
(and
we
wouldn't
expect
any),
there
are
a
number
of
verses
in
which
the
writers,
whom
we
believe
were
inspired
by
the
Holy
Spirit,
speak
about
permanent
markings
and
outward
physical
signs
of
devotion.
In
a
very
real
way,
religious
tattoos
are
like
those
permanent
outward
signs.
"And
it
shall
be
to
you
as
a
sign
on
your
hand
and
as
a
memorial
between
your
eyes,
that
the
law
of
the
LORD
may
be
in
your
mouth."
- Exodus
13:9
"It
shall
be
as
a
mark
on
your
hand
or
frontlets
between
your
eyes;
for
by
a
strong
hand
the
LORD
brought
us
out
of
Egypt."
-Exodus
13:16
1
Please
note
what
I
have
underlined
above
in
this
persons
writings.
So
then,
if
the
Jews
were
not
to
tattoo
themselves,
its
okay
for
Christians?
I
think
not!
1
http://www.squidoo.com/tattooedchurch
13
The Sacred Ink The tattoo of today is much different than it was for those who originally received the Pentateuch. Today tattoo is a decorative means of self expression and personal decoration. In our current culture people modify their appearance for beauty in many ways such as clothing choice, makeup, plastic surgery, haircutting and coloring, weight loss, body-building, and ear piercing. Some of these practices have a history in ancient ritual and false religion, but in our cultural context they do not denote a connection with evil or false faith. In the same way tattoos today do not link the wearer to cultic worship practices and is not generally practiced for ancient religious purposes, tattoos today are for ornamentation.2 Note that the author admits where the tattoo and body piercing practice began.
http://www.sacredink.net/tattoo_and_the_bible/
14