Tattoos and Piercings

Does anyone here have any tattoos or piercings?

What is your opinion on having tattoos and / or piercings?

Looking forward to see the responses to this.

Blessed be,

Lisa

I think to a limit it doesn't really matter. Like i don't have any myself, but i wouldn't be against anyone having a piercing or a tattoo.

Like for the tattoo, it depends on the content obviously, but having one isn't bad at all. I've seen people with like the jesus fish tattooed to their bodies, and thats all good.

As for piercings, well in moderation, being completely covered i wouldn't find very respectful.

Otherwise i don't have anything wrong with either

Ok, my take on this.

I have my ears pierced and I do have a nose piercing (it grew out when I had surgery in May) but I plan to have it redone. I only wear a very small stud in it - nothing gawdy. Just something small. I had it done originally in England when I was there on vacation 3 years ago.

As for tattoos. I do not have one yet......but I am getting one. I am getting the Canterbury Cross tattooed on my back between my shoulder blades. My Nanna and Grandpa were from England. I love Canterbury and it's cathedral. I feel at piece there and want to have a sign of that with me forever and for always. It means a lot to me. It's not going to be a big tattoo or tacky. I would never get a tattoo that didn't mean something to me. There has to be a reason for it.

I also want two other tattoos. The 2nd one I want are footprints to go around my ankle - for footprints in the sand. I did most of my grandfathers funeral including the eulogy and ended it with Footprints in the Sand. I want the footprints as a symbol of that.

The last one I want is my horoscope sign on my foot. The Scorpio "M" symbol. Again, something small and feminine and it means something to me. I am a true scorpio. (Not sure if any of you follow your sign/ horoscope).

I don'tknow if I will ever get the last two done, but I will be getting the cross done hopefully in the new year.

As long as tattoos and piercings are not gawdy or tacky, I don't see a problem with them. I just don't like it when people are covered in them. Just my opinion.

Blessed be, Lisa

i think its everyones own opinion...like i wouldn't dis like someone because they had either of the two, or both...its a choice they make

I don't think they're a problem....obviously content as stated before, but hey, I'm thinking about getting my ears pierced, I'm not big on tattoos, but that's just me. If you want one, go for it!

I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but what about the scripture that says the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? Isn't a tattoo a harmful marking of the body?

Tattoo's don't bother me really, probably because i don't have any. But did you know that the original use was to mark criminals and slaves so that people would always know who they were. Hitler marked the people he held captive. Slave traders in Africa and Asia still use tattoos and brandings to mark slaves.

Looking at the broad picture, bodily markings have always carried a negative connotation.
Don't get me wrong, i'm not condemning anyone who has one or plans to get one.

you bring up a very good point Justin. Looking at the way you explained yourself, then definitely a tatoo is a wrong thing to do, not like it bothers me either. But then i ask you...what if you got a tatoo of the Jesus fish, or a cross? wouldn't you say that the content is what makes a tatoo harmful to our bodies.
Besides the fact it hurts to get a tatoo from what i've heard/read, i would think what you have a tatoo off would decide wether is harmful to gods temple/ our bodies. If pain is what you mean Justin, then a needle would be harming our bodies...or should i say, Gods temple...

I was talking to a friend tonight and we were discussing tattoos. He is very Christian and has both piercings and tattoos.

As I am considering getting a tattoo, I brought this subject up with him and in a nut shell, he told me that the scripture had to do with more of the pagan belief - ritual - for the dead - not for the living. He went on to say that if we followed all of what it said in the bible that we would never eat meat, wear clothes made of two different fibres, cut our hair or trim facial hair.

Leaves me going hmmmmmm.

Any thoughts????

Blessed be,

Lisa

"would never eat meat, wear clothes made of two different fibres, cut our hair or trim facial hair." and the "scripture had to do with more of the pagan belief"


how's that?


but for the whole not eating meat thing or vegetarianism, To my understanding is that was developed throught the belief of reincarnation, because they believed that the meat they were eating could have been a deceased friend or family member.

As far as the "our bodies are temples, therefor no tattoos or piercings" view:

Ever think of them as decoration? They don't definitely harm you, and in most professionally done cases, they don't at all. And if you're going to mark it as wrong because it's "harmful to your body" then people that are overweight by factors not genetic are in the wrong too. They intentionally are harming their body, aren't they? What about football players. They know they'll get hurt, bruised, all that, but they do it anyway. Same with any contact sport player.

I think the main reason people mark tattoos and piercings as wrong is just because they look different. They're "edgier" or "darker" than what we're used to seeing, so we try to make up a reason to distance ourselves from them.

My views on the whole thing. I have no piercings (not even my ears, gasp...) and no tattoos, so I'm not biased either.

I'd like to comment by just quoting a verse.

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


Seems pretty clear to me....God said not to "make cuttings in your flesh" ( piercings ) and not to "print any marks upon you" ( tattoos ) So if God said it, we should listen, no?

You are absolutely correct, Echo...

However, it does say not to make cuttings in your flesh for the dead, and from my point of view, you normally don't get piercings to honor the dead!

Look at it from another point of view; Wouldn't it be wrong to have earrings, if you're not allowed to make any cuttings in your flesh?

Well the thing is; piercings and the likes have its roots in witchcraft and the practices of false religions! Some false religions even go further to multilate the body..... Now I ask you; Is it not repulsive to deform the body that GOD made in perfection? Surely GOD created our bodies perfect, if he really intended for us to have piercings, earrings, tattoos and the likes, would he not have created our bodies with such markings and cuttings on it already?

Do you honestly believe that its GOD's will for us to mark our bodies with demonic tattoos (demonic, because they have their roots in the worshipping of false religions)?

Quote :

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Him shall GOD destroy!

Quote :

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

If we are to glorify the LORD in our bodies, how do piercings exactly glorify Christ?

My point being, that we as christians, should not look down upon those who may have piercings or tattoos, whatever the reason may be, but instead we should accept them as they are and through love and kindness teach them about the ways of the LORD, show them that there is a LORD more magnificent than all the wonders of this world, combined. Show them that there is only ONE TRUE GOD, ONE king of kings, and ONE LORD of LORDS! and through love and kindness, and the word of GOD, show them that our LORD is a forgiving LORD, and that he gave his only begotten son for our sins, so that we may repent our sins and be reborn as Christians, followers of Christ!

We are all sinners, and surely we have all fallen short of the glory of Christ, but through Jesus, we may ask for forgiveness and repent our sins, and he will forgive us of our sins and forget them!

Quote :

14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 14-15

Quote :

12“For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer.”
Hebrews 8:12

Quote :

22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23For all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:22-23

Amen

Amen KriGeRKranNe!

The date of Christmas is related to Saturnalia. Should we then not celebrate it simply because it has some relation to a pagan holiday?

Also, if we are not to make any cuttings because our bodies are already perfect, surgery is in fact sacrilege, isn't it? Or circumcision?

And if we're going to quote that chapter of Leviticus, why not do these too?

Leviticus 19:19

Quote :

19 " 'Keep my decrees.
" 'Do not mate different kinds of animals.
" 'Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.
" 'Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

Almost everyone wears clothes with two kinds of material.

Leviticus 19:27

Quote :

27 " 'Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.

How many of the men hear, haven't broken this?

Leviticus 19:33

Quote :

33 " 'When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

We kick out illegal immigrants, do we not?

Wasn't Jesus the fulfillment of the Old Testament law? He commanded us to love one another, follow the ten commandments, and preach the gospel. When did he say we were not to get piercings or tattoos? Why would this be "defiling our bodies?" It's not something damaging. It's somewhat painful for a bit, but it does not long term damage if it is done properly.

Concerning Leviticus 19:27;

Quote :

26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:26-28

These 3 verses are a clear condemnation of pagan, witchcraft and heathen practices. If you take a look at the context, verse 26 is refering to enchantments (as in spells, curses, withcraft etc.), and astrology. In verse 28 is the pagan, demonic practice of bloodletting and tattoos (used by Hindu's (spelling?) and Satanic groups among others)! Why would the LORD stick a verse that simply condemns "haircuts" in the middle of that?

Well he wouldn't, and he didn't! When verse 27 is talking about "rounding of the corners of your head" and "mar the corners of thy beard", it is refering to a common pagan practice that cut the hair as worship and honor of the hosts of heaven.

So it is not condemning "trimming your hair", but merely using your hair as a means to worship and/or honor false gods.

Quote :

"Those that worshipped the hosts of heaven, in honour of them, cut their hair so as that their heads might resemble the celestial globe; but, as the custom was foolish itself, so, being done with respect to their false gods, it was idolatrous." (Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, Leviticus 19:27)

Quote :

"Herodotus tells of the use of this type of haircut, forming what is called a tonsure, as the practice of pagan religious cults of ancient times who did so honoring one of their gods."
(Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, Leviticus 19:27)

Actually the Old testament paid quite a lot of attention to seperating things, probably to drill the idea of seperation into the minds of the Israelites. And by doing so they would remain seperate from the pagans and not intermarry, this way keeping their faith in GOD!

As for your last quote (Leviticus 19:33), that depends entirely on where in the world you live.... But concerning illegal immigrants that verse doesn't tell us that we shouldn't kick out illigal immigrants, but merely treat them as one of our own. But then again you could also continue to discuss if an illigal immigrant actually lives in your country and what is required to be considered someone who "lives" in the country, usually by law you would define someone as "living in the country" as someone who has gained legal permission to live and possible work in the country in question. Anyways we don't kick out illegal immigrants just because they are illegal, actually we have very few illegal immigrants, why? well mostly because it's a lot easier to hide in germany or sweden! However in the few cases there have been concerning illegal immigrants, these immigrants have simply been asked to apply for a permission to live and work here, just like everyone else, while their request is processed the families in question are supported by our government. If they don't recieve said permission they are sent back to the country from which they migrated from, and where they officially "live". But it is only in very rare cases that illegal immigrants are kicked out, primarily due to the fact that just about 1% of our population is unemployed! In fact we need more people in our work force, there aren't really any unemployed left so it's really very easy to get permission to work here!

Anyways, that was a side-step! Lets get back on topic...

The most important thing to ask yourself, with respect to the current subject, is "does getting a piercing or tattoo" glorify the LORD? Are you motivated by your faith to glorify the LORD through these things, if not, then it would be wrong to do so! As you no doubtedly recall, Jesus came to establish a new covenant with us!

Quote :

31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to [a] them, [b] "
declares the LORD.
33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
Jeremiah 31:31-33

Quote :

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Luke 22:20

The first covenant was written in stone, but the new covenant is written on our hearts, which in turn is only possible due to the fact that Jesus shed his own blood for the sins of the world. We are not under the old law of Moses anymore, we are under the new covenant. This of course doesn't mean that we should ignore the old testament, but merely perhaps not take is as literally! However, a sin in the old testament, is still a sin in the new testament. The difference is that we are no longer under penalty of the law, we are given the opportunity to recieve salvation as a free gift, and not as a reward.

Quote :

15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
Hebrews 9:15

However, nowhere does is state that a sin in the old testament isn't a sin in the new testament, or what is detestable to the LORD in the old testament isn't detestable to the LORD in the new testament. Which leads to the following quote from Romans 3:23-26;

Quote :

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,[a] through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:23-26

The most important thing, is to glorify the LORD in every way possible. As Romans Romans 14:23 clearly states, everything that does not come from faith is a sin.

Quote :

23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Romans 14:23

So theres really not a single answer to this subject. If getting a piercing or a tattoo comes from faith, and is to glorify GOD, the creator, then it is not a sin! It is basically a decision between you and God, so the best thing you can do is ask the LORD for guidance!

So what you really need to ask yourself is the following:

1 - Does it glorify the LORD?
2 - How do I feel about the decision? Do I have a clear conscience before the LORD, regarding my decision?
3 - Will I cause someone weaker than me to stumble?
4 - Does my decision come from faith, and will it glorify the LORD? (somewhat related to #1)

I couldn't have said the last part better myself.