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Can Christians still be Christians and get tattoos or body piercings?

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Posted by: eagle4him

"You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard. You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord."
-Leviticus 19: 27-28

"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand...Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." -Romans 14: 1-5

So how about it? Can Christians still be Christians and continue to get body piercings or tattoos?


Posted by: Frederik

I'm not a fan of it, but you also cannot judge christians by their appearance. SO I wouldn't comdemn any christian just because he has some tats or piercings.
Today so many people have tatoos, this would be one reason for me not to get one, cause I hate being ordinary.


Posted by: akabezalel

Continuing in a known sin is your choice, just remember that God does not hear the sinner... John 9:31. God cannot hear your prayers because of the sin, it is your choice, do you want God to hear you or not?

Jerry has been teaching on prayer for the last week and there is more to come but the 3 things he taught us this week to have our prayer heard are:

Pray in the Will of God ... Jerry has a post full of Scripture in "Jerry's Lessons"

Pray with a Clean heart and Clean hands. John 9:31 and others.
this means we need to have a clear conscience when we stand before the Lord to make our requests.

Pray in Obedience. Deliberately choosing to do something God said not to do is not obedience.

We need to be able to enter His Presence CLEAN and FREE from sin. Yes we can ask for forgiveness, just remember that "REPENT" means to turn away and NEVER return to the sin.

It is YOUR choice whether or not you continue in sin. Just remember to count the consequences and try not to whine too much when they catch up with you. Personally, I prefer to seek the Face of God and turn from my wicked ways (repent) and follow Jesus with my whole heart. Am I perfect? Absolutely NOT! I ask for forgiveness several times a day! And I don't always make it when I repent.

Here is a tip... trying to repent while in the flesh does not work. You need to come to God with a broken and contrite heart that is ready to change and repent of the sin, THEN God can work a great work in you and you will not return to the sin. This does not mean you will not be tested, it means you will truly lose the desire for the sin.

so there you go, my 2cents worth.


Posted by: Frederik

I don't know why you posted this but it doesn't help a bit.
Judging a person by their tatoos is ridiculous, the heart counts and I prefer a christian who loves God and has tatoos towards a hypocrite who runs to church and beats his wife afterwards.


Posted by: akabezalel

I answered his question which was... "So how about it? Can Christians still be Christians and continue to get body piercings or tattoos?"

Father, please forgive me for rising to the bait of the enemy, please forgive me for snapping at Fredrik and causing him to sin. I ask this in the Name of Jesus, Amen!


Posted by: Frederik

Quote:
Originally Posted by akabezalel
I answered his question and I really do not care what you think.


Oh excuse me. Your love really floats my boat. Thank you for being so kind.
You are really a perfect christian, your fruits are proof enough.


Posted by: ANOINTED WARRIOR

we can say this to most of the enemies of God when the Holy ones were fighting against them in the Old testament in wars the enemies had piercings and tatoos however you spell it, though now we are in the age of Grace God looks at your heart not your flesh its between you and God, I really dont know sorry but do not condemn yourself if you have them move on in his grace and mercy he sees you through the blood of Jesus


Posted by: Frederik

I don't have tats nor piercings, but I cannot be as illiberal as other people here....


Posted by: Frederik

Quote:
Originally Posted by akabezalel
I answered his question which was... "So how about it? Can Christians still be Christians and continue to get body piercings or tattoos?"

Father, please forgive me for rising to the bait of the enemy, please forgive me for snapping at Fredrik and causing him to sin. I ask this in the Name of Jesus, Amen!


I'm sorry, too I just found that your remark was kind of aggressive and hostile and I hadn't done anything to you.


Posted by: StarChilde

Quote:
Originally Posted by eagle4him
"You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard. You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord."
-Leviticus 19: 27-28

"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand...Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." -Romans 14: 1-5

So how about it? Can Christians still be Christians and continue to get body piercings or tattoos?

This practice of tattooing is said to be in correlation of not making any marks in one's flesh for the dead OR in worship of idols. I have heard it other ways as well, i.e., against tattooing period.

Gill's exposition of the Bible has this to say about it:

Lev 19:28 - Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead,.... Either with their nails, tearing their cheeks and other parts, or with any instrument, knife, razor, &c. Jarchi says, it was the custom of the Amorites, when anyone died, to cut their flesh, as it was of the Scythians, as Herodotus (d) relates, even those of the royal family; for a king they cut off a part of the ear, shaved the hair round about, cut the arms about, wounded the forehead and nose, and transfixed the left hand with arrows; and so the Carthaginians, who might receive it from the Phoenicians, being a colony of theirs, used to tear their hair and mouths in mourning, and beat their breasts (e); and with the Romans the women used to tear their cheeks in such a manner that it was forbid by the law of the twelve tables, which some have thought was taken from hence: and all this was done to appease the infernal deities, and to give them satisfaction for the deceased, and to make them propitious to them, as Varro (f) affirms; and here it is said to be made "for the soul", for the soul of the departed, to the honour of it, and for its good, though the word is often used for a dead body: now, according to the Jewish canons (g), whosoever made but one cutting for a dead person was guilty, and to be scourged; and he that made one for five dead men, or five cuttings for one dead man, was obliged to scourging for everyone of them:

nor print any marks upon you; Aben Ezra observes, there are some that say this is in connection with the preceding clause, for there were who marked their bodies with a known figure, by burning, for the dead; and he adds, and there are to this day such, who are marked in their youth in their faces, that they may be known; these prints or marks were made with ink or black lead, or, however, the incisions in the flesh were filled up therewith; but this was usually done as an idolatrous practice; so says Ben Gersom, this was the custom of the Gentiles in ancient times, to imprint upon themselves the mark of an idol, to show that they were his servants; and the law cautions from doing this, as he adds, to the exalted name (the name of God): in the Misnah it is said (h), a man is not guilty unless he writes the name, as it is said, Lev_19:28; which the Talmudists (i) and the commentators (k) interpret of the name of an idol, and not of God:

I am the Lord; who only is to be acknowledged as such, obeyed and served, and not any strange god, whose mark should be imprinted on them.

FROM GREY'S HOME BIBLE COMMENTARY:
"....The reference to the trimming of the hair and beard is explained by the fact that among heathen peoples to do so visibly marks one as of a certain religion or the worshiper of a certain god. To-day certain orders in the Roman Catholic Church are indicated in this manner. But the Israelite was not only to worship God alone, but to avoid even the appearance of worshiping another...."

FROM JAMIESSON,FAUSSETT,BROWN COMMENTARY:
"...28. Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead--The practice of making deep gashes on the face and arms and legs, in time of bereavement, was universal among the heathen, and it was deemed a becoming mark of respect for the dead, as well as a sort of propitiatory offering to the deities who presided over death and the grave. The Jews learned this custom in Egypt, and though weaned from it, relapsed in a later and degenerate age into this old superstition (Isa 15:2; Jer 16:6; 41:5).
nor print any marks upon you--by tattooing, imprinting figures of flowers, leaves, stars, and other fanciful devices on various parts of their person. The impression was made sometimes by means of a hot iron, sometimes by ink or paint, as is done by the Arab females of the present day and the different castes of the Hindus. It is probable that a strong propensity to adopt such marks in honor of some idol gave occasion to the prohibition in this verse; and they were wisely forbidden, for they were signs of apostasy; and, when once made, they were insuperable obstacles to a return. (See allusions to the practice, Isa 44:5; Re 13:17; 14:1).


While other than ears being pierced, I have no other piercings, although I DO have tattooes, several in fact.They are all tastefully done, & the only time they are even seen, is when I wear shorts, for the ones I have on my legs, yes BOTH legs. (I also have some on my upper chest,my shoulders,my lower back,my upper arm, and 2 by each thumb. I didn't expose any part of my body that should not have been exposed to the tattooist. I DO have modesty & morals, believe it or not!)I put them on my body because personally, I consider it a form of art work, and have since I was a young child. Most are my own drawings, & in no way do they constitute any form of idol worship, or anything of the sort. I know there are people who are against the practice of tattooing, & they are allowed to have their own opinion of this, just as I have mine. I have known people, mostly older, who just thought the world of me, and then discovered that I had TATTOOES, and refused to even talk to me again!
I have had prayers about them with God, & know that He knows my heart, & is not going to hold my tats against me.


While we are at it.... how many know that piercing of an ear, is a sign of being a slave?

Deu 15:17 Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.


Posted by: eagle4him

Why defile the body in the first place?


Posted by: StarChilde

Quote:
Originally Posted by eagle4him
Why defile the body in the first place?

When I got my tattooes... I did not consider it as being defiled. I seen it as an art form, a permanent canvas for the talent that God blessed me with. Those who care to judge me for that-- will do regardless my reason for my tattooes. God knows my heart & He & I have already discussed this~


Posted by: eagle4him

Quote:
Originally Posted by StarChilde
When I got my tattooes... I did not consider it as being defiled. I seen it as an art form, a permanent canvas for the talent that God blessed me with. Those who care to judge me for that-- will do regardless my reason for my tattooes. God knows my heart & He & I have already discussed this~


First of all I am not judging you or anyone else. Your conscience is between you and God only! I know that Jesus loves us just the way we are, but I also know that He loves us too much to let us stay that way! I originally posted this question because I am seeking the truth and I just wasn't sure about this one. I do not have any tatoos, I have considered them. My 18 year old son has a cross on his arm. That was his decision. I think as adults we should be able to have intelligent discussions without throwing stones at each other!

Second it is amazing how even Christians can justify their sins. Myself included! When I masturbated, well I wasn't fornicating. When I drank several glasses of wine, well I didn't get drunk. When I ate too much, well it was not gluttony, I mean I don't do this all the time. And on and on......

Third, after being saved we change. Or at least we should! If we continue to do the same things over and over again, then we will continue to get the same results over and over again.

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 1 Corinthians 13: 11


Posted by: Frederik

The christians which get tatoos do not even come tp the idea that it might be sinful, otherwise I bet they wouldn't do it. Am not sure wether it is really sinful, I haven't read the verses which you think forbid tatoos as well. But I've seen Jesus tatoos which really looked outstanding. If somebody wants to express his faith with a Jesus tatoo then I think it's cool.


Posted by: rachel70

I don't really have a desire for a tatoo. But, I know some people got them before they got saved, and are stuck with them. I think it's another one of those things that you have to talk to the Lord about. The scripture does'nt flat out say"do not get tatoos". So, some of the scriptures posted can be understood differently by different people. I'm just glad it is Jesus that will judge me and not some of the people on this site.We have to remember Jesus does have mercy when we have made mistakes.


Posted by: Frederik

Exactly, Rachel.
Jesus looks at the heart and not at the tatoos.


Posted by: rachel70

Wow. I was wrong. It does tell you not to tatto yourself.I have never read that scripture before.I apologize. But, I still belive the Lord knows we have made mistakes and has mercy.


Posted by: Frederik

There are so many christian metalbands out there and most of their members are tatooed, why doesn't God tell them that it's sinful ? This is one thing I don't understand. I mean just look at POD (maybe you know them) they are all heavily tatooed, but I'm sure they love God, so why doesn't God tell them that it's sinful ? This makes no sense.


Posted by: rachel70

I don't understand it all either.Only the Lord can tell us exactley what he was thinking when he talked about no tatoos.But, even if it is a sin God uses mistakes and turns them around for good.They probley attract alot of young kids who see their tatoos and think they are really cool.The Lord can really use them in that way. I get happy went some burly biker guy walks into church, or gives his testimony.Its so cool to have so many different people in the family of God. It makes it more interesting.


Posted by: Frederik

The holy spirit shows us when we do something wrong, at least I believe that, this would mean that all the tatooed christians do not have the holy spirit, this is why they don't realize their sin. This really makes no sense to me.
Women piercing their ears would also be a sin, why does nobody criticize that ?


Posted by: rachel70

You are right about the earring thing. I think the Lord just knows our hearts and realizes that we do some things fashion and other wise that we do not realize is wrong.He has so much understanding and mercy. I think if anyone who is a Christian and already has a tatoo, can count on mercy from Jesus.Not that we should sin on purpose or anything.But, he really has a lot of mercy and understanding.


Posted by: Frederik

I think when a christian gets a tatoo and doesn't know that it's a sin and doesn't feel like it's a sin then maybe it's not a sin.
There are also personal sins. For example when you drink alcohol and feel like it's not a sin, then it's not a sin. but when you drink it even though you feel like it's a sin, then it's really a sin. This could be one way to look at it, I don't know I also don't want to say something against the bible.


Posted by: all4jesus

Quote:
Originally Posted by Frederik
The holy spirit shows us when we do something wrong, at least I believe that, this would mean that all the tatooed christians do not have the holy spirit, this is why they don't realize their sin. This really makes no sense to me.
Women piercing their ears would also be a sin, why does nobody criticize that ?


Hello there, I am a christian and filled with the HOLY SPIRIT as well as have tatoo's. I had gotten two of the before being reborn as well as one when I was saved. I prayed on that matter with the Lord about the tatoo before I got it as well as the whole 2 hours I was being tatooed. I asked the Lord to use the this tatoo for His Glory and Honor to reach people for Himself when they would see it. My motive for this tatoo was the Lord as I didn't have the same motive when I got my other tow tatoo that are not noticeable to the eye. The tatoo I get is on my bicep and is noticeable with short sleeves. The writing on the top says"In God I Trust" then there is a beautiful cross which also looks like a ancient sword underneath it is writing that says"In Jesus I believe". I also asked the Lord for those who didn't understand this and the tatoo to forgiven them. Several people who wouldn't of been in church or walking in a life of flesh have stopped to talk with me of the tatoo and it opens the door to share my story of how the Lord opened my eyes to His Ways! In fact it has helped alot of people to turn to the Lord. A few months after getting the tatoo I was baptized and I have recieved the Holy Spirit which runs overflowing. Would I get another tatoo. No, I wouldn't get another one. I have no need for them in my life now. Everyday I wake up as I sleep on this arm I see the tatoo when I wake up and the first word I see is believe. It is my covenant with the Lord not turn away from Him and to serve Him only. I asked for forgiveness of the other two small tatoos that I have and I know I am forgiven. They are a reminder of a life I don't want to have anymore. God gives us His word in the bible so that we will know how to live our lives but He knows we sin and make mistakes. He gave us Jesus for our sins and has given us so much grace. I believe the Lord does tell of us our wrongs and sins with the Holy spirit. I for one am comfortable with who I am in the Lord and my walk with Him. Some christians may get tatoo after their being reborn with the Lord but that is something they have to be accountable to the Lord for. I wouldn't recommend anyone to be tatoo as well as judge them for having them. I just hope this helps you with your question of whether a person is filled with the Holy spirit that is tatoo. They too can be filled just as untatoo christians. God Bless you, Dawn


Posted by: eagle4him

Thank all of you for your input. I have learned a lot from these discussions. I know that if my faith is never challenged it will never grow, and it is through the challenges that we seek and find the Lord! I never passed judgement on anyone here, merely quoted some scriptures. If anyone was convicted, then the Holy Spirit was just doing His job!

The butterfly will never fly unless it has strengthened its wings through the struggle of breaking out of it's cocoon. If you help the butterfly out of its cocoon before it is time, it will die! We too, are strengthened in our struggles!

-Bruce


Posted by: nwcollegegal

For me, it depends. I am totally open to tattoos as long as they aren't something portraying evil. I'm fine with a little butterfly or a cross, but if it's like, a skull a picture of a little cartoon devil or something pointless and evil than it's not really portraying the love of Christ. I'm not sure if there are any New Testament scriptures AGAINST markings on the body, I know there are probably Old Testament passages...BUT, that's OLD TESTAMENT Law. Which is totally different than New Testament.

I want to get a cross tattoo on my right ankle. I also want to get my eyebrow, nose, and tongue pierced. I see nothing wrong with it. Of course, I'm all about the individuality and doing things because I want to do it and not because of others. And of course, I'm 18 and probably "immature" to older people. Yea, I'm still an adult, and I can have my opinions. I think it all depends on comfort and reasoning. I see nothing wrong with tattoos or piercings as long as they aren't showing something totally against Christianity and those standards.


Posted by: pickone

I just couldn't resist this one.

Before I was saved I did a lot of bad stuff. After I was saved I did a lot of bad stuff in ignorance. Then the Spirit of Truth came into my heart and began teaching me all things.

If you are born again, and you have already got tattoos, it doesn't matter. But now, you have been taught by the Spirit God's Word on the matter.

If you get a tattoo after you have understanding, you are in disobedience.

But, I've said it before.....you are the one driving your car. God lets you pick the destination.

If you want sugar-coating, chase after preachers who please you and tickle your ears. Give them your money. See if they can get you into heaven.