Branded!

[Standing Firm In Christ]

Good gracious! I didn't say I had a tatoo, I was just putting forth my thoughts based on reason and scripture. The OT is useful for us, but praise God that we don't live under the law anymore! That doesn't mean that I "pick and choose" or that I'm not a true Christian, it means that true Christians can have differing opinions while we're on earth.

FWIW, I think tatoos are unsightly, but they aren't a sin.

They defile the body. Try reading 1 Corinthians 3

[John81]

Good gracious! I didn't say I had a tatoo, I was just putting forth my thoughts based on reason and scripture. The OT is useful for us, but praise God that we don't live under the law anymore! That doesn't mean that I "pick and choose" or that I'm not a true Christian, it means that true Christians can have differing opinions while we're on earth.

FWIW, I think tatoos are unsightly, but they aren't a sin.

You seem to think everything is a matter of opinion yet God has made it clear such isn't the case. It doesn't matter whether we think a tattoo is unsightly, cool, artistic, gross, beautiful, disgusting or anything else. What matters is what God has told us in His Word, and such things are against the Word of God.

[JerryNumbers]

You seem to be defending tattoos, and saying Le 19:28 done not count.

By the way, not to wear clothes of 2 different fabrics or not plant two different crops side by side was for Israel only, it was to remind them there was only one God. Laws of this nature were done away with, yet the moral laws stand in place today

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

This verse is very clear, 'Ye shall not....."

Other have given you verses to back up the truth of Le. 19:28 & reasons for not putting a tattooed on the body of a born again child of God.

By the way, I did not see anyone say you were not a Christian. Perhaps it would help if you studied these issues out before giving an opinion, but as John said, It makes no difference what we think, what God says is all that counts, , and on this issue you were picking and choosing.

[CPR]

To be honest, I've never given a whole lot of study to the issue because I've never had the desire to get a tatoo so it hasn't been an issue for me. I know of the verse in Leviticus but I always equated it with other things that I previously mentioned under the law. I understand that the principle is to not defile our bodies and I completely agree with that. Here's the thing. Christians today don't have a prOBlem with women having pierced ears, but would generally say that piercings in other places are wrong - either due to a worldly association or defiling the body. What is the difference, really? It's doing something unnatural to the body for a purely aesthetic purpose. I'm really not trying to argue here because I feel the same way. I'm not sure if it's a sin, but I do think that body piercings and tatoos look a little trashy.

So why is it that we've given a stamp of approval to ear piercing and not to anything else? Is there a biblical reason or has it just been in fashion for so long that most of us don't know anything else?

[Standing Firm In Christ]

For the record, I do not care for women or men getting piercings on the ears or anywhere else on the body.

When one studies the reason ears were pierced in the Old Testament, one finds that at the end of 7 years a master was to set his slave free. If the slave attested that he loved his master, and did not want to leave his service, then the master was to bore a hole through the servant's ear with an awl.

Who is doing the piercings today? Is it one who is loved by the one getting pierced? Is the one getting pierced in the employee of the one doing the piercing? Highly doubtful.

As to piercings other than ears, there is no authority to do so in the Word of God. There is a warning against doing such.... it falls under the defilement of the body.

[trc123]

And what defile's a person?

Mar 7:1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
Mar 7:2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
Mar 7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
Mar 7:4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
Mar 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
Mar 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mar 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mar 7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
Mar 7:11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
Mar 7:12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
Mar 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Mar 7:14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
Mar 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
Mar 7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Mar 7:17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
Mar 7:18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
Mar 7:19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
Mar 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Mar 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.


Jas 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

1Co 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.


There certainly are many things that defiles a person..............

[John81]

There certainly are many things that defiles a person..............

Indeed, and Christians should avoid them.

[JerryNumbers]

To be honest, I've never given a whole lot of study to the issue because I've never had the desire to get a tatoo so it hasn't been an issue for me. I know of the verse in Leviticus but I always equated it with other things that I previously mentioned under the law. I understand that the principle is to not defile our bodies and I completely agree with that. Here's the thing. Christians today don't have a prOBlem with women having pierced ears, but would generally say that piercings in other places are wrong - either due to a worldly association or defiling the body. What is the difference, really? It's doing something unnatural to the body for a purely aesthetic purpose. I'm really not trying to argue here because I feel the same way. I'm not sure if it's a sin, but I do think that body piercings and tatoos look a little trashy.

So why is it that we've given a stamp of approval to ear piercing and not to anything else? Is there a biblical reason or has it just been in fashion for so long that most of us don't know anything else?

The thing is, it matters not what todays Christians think and say, what matter is what God says. Please remember what Jesus said.

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Please notice, it does not say if you do as todays Christains say, you love me, it does say if you keep my commandments you love me.

Mt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Plus, it does not say if you follow todays Christains, its all about following Jesus, not man.

Following man is dangerous, putting truct in man is dangerous, and we are warned of this.

Ps 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Ps 118:9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes

[DennisD]

My Pastor and I both have tattoos, from another life if you ask me. About the only time they are visible on my Pastor is when he is baptizing someone and is in his short sleeve shirt and waders. I used to be all about showing off my tattoos, now I look to cover them up when they might start showing (short sleeve).

[JerryNumbers]

My Pastor and I both have tattoos, from another life if you ask me. About the only time they are visible on my Pastor is when he is baptizing someone and is in his short sleeve shirt and waders. I used to be all about showing off my tattoos, now I look to cover them up when they might start showing (short sleeve).

Are you saying that you regret having gotten them?

[irishman]

I used to work near a man that had tattoo's all over his arms--so mauch that it looked like he was wearing a long sleeved shirt, when he wasn't! I don't see how anyone could color themselves up like that. There was not one place that looked like normal skin anywhere on both his arms. One good thing about them though is that they easily identify someone when the police are looking for them!

[DennisD]

Are you saying that you regret having gotten them?

Hmm, good question. I can't say I've felt regret per say but I don't feel comfortable having them showing.

[trc123]

Hmm, good question. I can't say I've felt regret per say but I don't feel comfortable having them showing.

Especially when others would love to put you down or judge you for it, not even knowing you.

I'm responding the text in bold.

[HappyChristian]

I know a good number of people who have tats who have since gotten saved or right with the Lord (and, really, I can't say I knew their hearts when they got their tats). They are godly people (some of them my favorites...). As I said in a previous post, I don't believe it is right to get a tat. But on the flip side: neither do I believe it is right to make a person who has tats feel that they have committed the unpardonable sin (not saying anyone's done that here...but I have seen that attitude manifested by Christians).

The church I mentioned in my previous post actually encourages people to get tats...

(and just a side note: when our son joined the military, he talked about the possibility of getting a tat. We were not in favor, but realized that it had to be his decision. My hubby was going to use the argument that mom (me) wouldn't like it, so would our son think another woman would? I told my hubby that wouldn't be a good idea - because (please don't attack me for this!) I actually like the look of some tats...That said: I still don't think it's right, nor would I encourage anyone to get one. But neither would I want to make someone who has a tat feel like I'm looking down my nose at him/her.)

[CPR]

I know a good number of people who have tats who have since gotten saved or right with the Lord (and, really, I can't say I knew their hearts when they got their tats). They are godly people (some of them my favorites...). As I said in a previous post, I don't believe it is right to get a tat. But on the flip side: neither do I believe it is right to make a person who has tats feel that they have committed the unpardonable sin (not saying anyone's done that here...but I have seen that attitude manifested by Christians).

The church I mentioned in my previous post actually encourages people to get tats...

(and just a side note: when our son joined the military, he talked about the possibility of getting a tat. We were not in favor, but realized that it had to be his decision. My hubby was going to use the argument that mom (me) wouldn't like it, so would our son think another woman would? I told my hubby that wouldn't be a good idea - because (please don't attack me for this!) I actually like the look of some tats...That said: I still don't think it's right, nor would I encourage anyone to get one. But neither would I want to make someone who has a tat feel like I'm looking down my nose at him/her.)

Very well said! We would all do well not to look down upon others for exercising their liberty in Christ, even if we disagree.