Should a Christian get tattoos

[Theopolis]

But by far the Christian tattooers favorite excuse for disobeying Leviticus 19:28 is the "that means nor print any marks upon you – for the DEAD". It’s ok, as long it’s not for the dead". See the "for the dead!!! . .for the dead!!!!".

Is it ok to practice satanic bloodletting, self mutilation or cutting of the flesh as long as it’s not for the dead? It’s in the same verse. . . Hmmm. . .?

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

Notice also, the phrase "for the dead" is ONLY referencing the "cuttings in your flesh". The condemnation of "nor print ANY marks upon you" is not qualified by the phrase "for the dead". Also, if you’ll notice the verse clearly says "ANY marks" period.

Merrill F. Unger's, very popular and authoritative, Unger's Bible Dictionary under the definition for "Mark" includes the following reference for Leviticus 19:28:

"In Lev. 19:28 we find two prohibitions of an unnatural disfigurement of the body: 'Ye shall not make any cutting in your flesh for the dead, nor any print any marks upon you.' The latter (Heb. qa aqa, incision) refers to tattooing, and has no reference to idolatrous usages, but was intended to inculcate upon the Israelietes a proper reverence for God's creation."
(Merrill F. Unger, Unger's Bible Dictionary, 1974 ed., p. 696)

Notice that Unger teaches that tattoos were forbidden without any reference to pagan, heathen, or idolatrous usages. In other words, the tattoo itself, regardless the reason, was forbidden. Amen. Brother Unger.

Wycliffe’s Bible Encyclopedia under the definition for TATTOOING distinctly says:

"While ‘cuttings in the flesh’ have reference here to mourning customs [for the dead], the tattooing does not appear to pertain to such practice."
(Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, 1975 ed., p. 1664)

The New American Commentary on Leviticus 19:28 writes the condemnation was for, "cutting the body either for the dead or with tattoo marks." (Mark F. Rooker, The New American Commentary on Leviticus, 2000 ed., p. 262) Explicitly recognizing the tattoo was not "for the dead."

Do you see how dishonest and disobedient this "it doesn’t apply to my New-Testament-Christian-marked-for-Jesus-tattoo" is? Find what you don’t like in the Word of God, cut it out (doesn’t apply to New Testament Christians) or misapply (it’s just for the DEAD, when it’s clearly NOT). Same tactics used by the satanic cults and heretics for years. You can prove anything and everything with such deceitful methods.

To read the entire article go to ....
http://www.biblebelievers.com/watkins_tattoos/bible.html

 

[blackbird]

Goodness gracious, the USA did this to Blacks just a few years ago. Let's not pour everything on the Nazis of Germany!!!! By the way, a lot of the criminals were members of Baptist Churches.

Cheers,

Jim

Big difference between back of a bus and back of a garbage truck

Big difference between hoseing down with a fire hose and hoseing down with a machine gun

Big difference between Tear gas and the gas the nazi swine dropped into air vents with doors locked from the outside

Big difference

Big difference

Big difference between passing a law "permitting" and a law forbidding such actions

Big difference between condoneing the Sheriff and condemning the Sheriff

Big difference

Lets just praise the Lord Jesus----those days are past and pray it will never happen again---the way the white race treated the black and the way the German treated the Jew---------and folks---lets not get too strung out on the idea that those things only happend here in the United States and over in Germany-----you uncover a blanket and you will find fine Englishmen in on the same things listed!!!

 

[menageriekeeper]

Figure out why God told those Hebrews to not blend fabrics---I mean--It don't take a Rocket scientist to figure this one out----you blend cotton with wool----whats gonna happen??

You done went and got into my area of expertise. Just what does happen when you blend cotton and wool? I'll tell you what. You get a nice fabric for making dresses and suits. Follow the link:

http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/catalog_items.aspx?TypId=639

Cotton and linen? Follow the link:

http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/search/search.aspx?source=searchbox&keywords=cotton/linen+blend

We are NOT under the Law when it comes to such issues. New Testament Christians have two commandments to hold to when it comes to making these decisions. Love your God and love your neighbor.

If having a tatoo means to YOU that you aren't loving God, then by all means refrain. "For unto him that believes it sin, to him it is a sin."

But don't expect the entire body of Christ to agree with you. We all live in different places and are called to and from different lives.

 

[Jerome]

"In our history, the local Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan was far too often a member in good standing of the local Southern Baptist church." —Russell Moore, An Exposition from the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on The Baptist Faith and Message 2000

 

[Scarlett O.]

Good morning, people.

Here's my last post on this topic.

Let me reiterate - I do not personally like tattoos. C'est la vie. But I do love all of you. I hate to see us scream at each other like this.

Jesus Christ made the Law, in some respects, even HARDER. He said not only was physically murdering someone a sin, but hating someone was also murder. Not only is the physical act of adultery a sin, but so is fantasizing about it in your heart. Jesus Christ made the Law fulfilled. That means He was the only person who ever lived who completely obeyed it. And it's still a sin to murder and Jesus explained what that means to us.

But let me ask one last question. And will someone please answer it. I will not argue this anymore.

For those who are so vehemently opposed to tattoos because they believe that civil law in Leviticus 19:28 applies to New Testament Christians - would you mind answering this?

(1) Do you have an untrimmed beard and sideburns? You should look like this if you are going to apply the civil Levitical law to New Testament Christians. And I'm not going for a laugh here. I'm serious. Do you wear your hair like this?

Leviticus 19:27​

(2) Do you stand up every single time without fail when an elderly person enters the room?​

Leviticus 19:32​

(3) Do you wear clothes of mixed fabric?​

violation of Leviticus 19:19​

(4) Do you plant a variety of vegetables in your gardens? You're not supposed to.​

violation of Leviticus 19:19​

I believe that the 10 commandments (except for the Sabbath Law - Jesus is our Sabbath Rest, today) still stand. I keep them on my wall at school. I believe what Jesus taught about the 10 commandments and their moral applications of the HEART.​

But I do not understand how those who cling to the letter of the civil code of the nation of Israel being binding on Christians today and they DO NOT practice the entirety of it. Do you stone your teenaged sons when they are rebellious? Do you burn to death your daughters if they are immoral?

That's my question. How do you pick and choose what you will obey and what you will ignore?​

Whew! My last word. (Aren't you glad?)​

 

[Revmitchell]

"In our history, the local Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan was far too often a member in good standing of the local Southern Baptist church." —Russell Moore, An Exposition from the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on The Baptist Faith and Message 2000

Nice way to rip a quote out of context and even present it as the whole quote.

Shouldn't Baptist confessions of faith focus on matters of faith, not politics? Why can't Baptists address issues such as the person of Christ and the way of salvation, leaving alone such thorny contemporary controversies as abortion and gay rights? Is it really our place as a convention of churches to speak to the fiery debates of the public square?

If the Bible addressed only matters of individual redemption and personal piety, such objections would be compelling. Such, however, is not the case.

The prophets denounced social evils ranging from legislation deemed unfair to the poor (Isa 10:1-2) to mistreatment of immigrants (Deut 10:17-19) to the "inappropriate relationships" of public officials (2 Sam 12:1-12; John 14:4). Jesus called on his followers not to disengage from society, but to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" (Matt 5:13-16).

But Southern Baptists are not willing to repeat the errors of turn-of-the century Social Gospel Protestant liberalism. This article makes clear that all efforts toward societal righteousness "can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ." In this, the article is consistent with the rest of the document.

Social disorder does not spring ultimately from an under-funded public school system or from crumbling infrastructure, but from the sinful rebellion of Adam's heirs. Thus, all attempts at social reformation are doomed to failure, unless they are joined with the full-throttled preaching of a gospel that results in a "new creation" in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17).

This confession asserts that Christians should "seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love." It does not leave these undefined, however, but contends that Christians should oppose such evils as racism, greed, adultery, homosexuality, pornography, abortion and exploitation of the poor and the weak.

In doing so, Southern Baptists are not taking a break from doctrine in order to address a few political matters. This statement recognizes that these injustices are often themselves theological claims - addressed not only to the world, but also to the members of our churches. In our history, the local Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan was far too often a member in good standing of the local Southern Baptist church. He was able to justify a hateful heart by assuring himself that black people aren't really made in the image of God.

Today, the neighborhood Planned Parenthood counselor is all too willing to assure the scared pregnant teenager that the fetus within her womb isn't really a human life. Gay rights slogans invariably include the theological assertion that God creates some human beings with an irreversible same-sex attraction. When it comes to sexual morality, Southern Baptist youth groups may hear from their pastors that "True Love Waits." But they also hear from their elected officials that, well, it depends on what the meaning of the word "is" is.

This article seeks to remind Southern Baptists that a Christian worldview means more than avoiding R-rated movies. Believers in union with Christ will share his priorities. They will be angered by those defrauded by unjust court systems (Isa 11:4). They will oppose those who seek to snuff out the lives of the helpless (Ps 72:4). They will stand against those who counsel sinners that there is no hope for them to change (John 8:34-36). Above all, they will warn the powers-that-be that all social unrighteousness will end when the kingdoms of this world are crushed by the kingdom of our Christ (Dan 2:44).

http://www.baptist2baptist.org/b2barticle.asp?ID=258

 

[Amy.G]

That's my question. How do you pick and choose what you will obey and what you will ignore?[/LEFT]

Whew! My last word. (Aren't you glad?)​

Thank you Scarlett. I don't see how anyone could argue against this post. But if they do, I suggest we stone them.

 

[Theopolis]

That's my question. How do you pick and choose what you will obey and what you will ignore?[/LEFT]

Whew! My last word. (Aren't you glad?)​

For me personally if it was practiced solely by pagans, I will try to avoid it as best I can.

 

[Jon-Marc]

I don't have any, don't want any and see no need for any. We had a man in church one time sitting right in front of me in shorts and a short sleeved shirt who was so covered with tattoos that I had all I could do not to stare at them. His arms and legs were covered with them. I usually sit in the third row from the front, and so he was in the second row from the front--apparently to be sure that he was noticed.

An obscure atattoo that no one can see when you're fully dressed is one thing, but being covered head to toe with them is ridiculous.

 

[Scarlett O.]

For me personally if it was practiced solely by pagans, I will try to avoid it as best I can.

Thank you, brother - You gave a simple, yet well-reasoned answer. :thumbsup:

Now if I could get answer to my question from those who believe the civil code of the Levitical Law applies to New Testament Christians.

 

[Robert Snow]

JohnDeerFan, when you see a woman with a tattoo do you tell her she is a tramp? You see, it's easy to make a fool of yourself on the Internet, I just wondered if you are also foolish enough to do it in person.

 

[paul wassona]

As has already been mentioned, I sure hope you do not blend different fabrics and cut your beard or hair at the temples!

Those are ceremonial laws not moral law.


Tattoos are placed on the BODY as a form of BODY worship. If this weren't true, then why are they not on the bottoms of your feet?:smilewinkgrin:

 

[Scarlett O.]

Those are ceremonial laws not moral law.


Tattoos are placed on the BODY as a form of BODY worship. If this weren't true, then why are they not on the bottoms of your feet?:smilewinkgrin:

Try again please. :flower::flower:

 

[paul wassona]

You done went and got into my area of expertise. Just what does happen when you blend cotton and wool? I'll tell you what. You get a nice fabric for making dresses and suits. Follow the link:

http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/catalog_items.aspx?TypId=639

Cotton and linen? Follow the link:

http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/search/search.aspx?source=searchbox&keywords=cotton/linen+blend

We are NOT under the Law when it comes to such issues. New Testament Christians have two commandments to hold to when it comes to making these decisions. Love your God and love your neighbor.

If having a tatoo means to YOU that you aren't loving God, then by all means refrain. "For unto him that believes it sin, to him it is a sin."

But don't expect the entire body of Christ to agree with you. We all live in different places and are called to and from different lives.

New Testament Christians have the "two" given by Jesus which encompass all the other together.

The part about loving God covers all the commandments about man towards God. The other one about loving man covers all the ones about man towards man.


Is it your thinking that some one doesn't know this already so they might think the O.T. moral laws don't apply?

 

[paul wassona]

Try again please. :flower::flower:

Tattoqs are a form of body worship.

 

[NiteShift]

Thank you, brother - You gave a simple, yet well-reasoned answer. :thumbsup:

Now if I could get answer to my question from those who believe the civil code of the Levitical Law applies to New Testament Christians.

Maybe you can explain for us which laws were merely civil codes and which were actually commandments. I'm not really being argumentative here, after all, to the Jews the Law was the Law period.

But even Paul and Peter had disagreements about keeping kosher, and he scolded others for insisting on circumcision. At the same time Paul strongly opposed sexual sin in the church, based on Mosaic law. If the New Testament saints weren't quite sure what applied to them, maybe you can forgive modern day Christians if they can't agree with you on all particulars.

 

[paul wassona]

The mixing of fabrics was not the intertwining of fibers like many fabrics are made of today.

 

[tinytim]

Nope... wrong again...

 

[Alive in Christ]

"Yes, I do, but that doesn't change the fact that women with tattoos look trashy."

I have always thought tatoos like trashy on everyone.

Men, women, young, old, black, white, hispanic, asian, rich, poor, lots of tatoos, one tatoo, etc etc.

I just cant in my wildest dreams comprehend how ANY human being can want one.

Thats just my personal feeling about it.

From a scriptural point of view, I would have to say we have liberty as long as we arent doing it as a form or worship, wich seems to be Gods specific OT prohibition.


I still think they all look trashy, though.

 

[Scarlett O.]

Maybe you can explain for us which laws were merely civil codes and which were actually commandments. I'm not really being argumentative here, after all, to the Jews the Law was the Law period.

But even Paul and Peter had disagreements about keeping kosher, and he scolded others for insisting on circumcision. At the same time Paul strongly opposed sexual sin in the church, based on Mosaic law. If the New Testament saints weren't quite sure what applied to them, maybe you can forgive modern day Christians if they can't agree with you on all particulars.

I'm quite familiar with the butting of heads between Peter, Paul, and James (et.al). And I will admit that I can be a head-butter myself. :laugh:

To me, if the law involved slaughtering animals, circumcision, or washing, it was ceremonial. Jesus Christ's dying on the cross took care of that for New Testament Christians.

If it involved peculiar things like not mixing fabrics or not cutting one's body or keeping blue tassels on one's clothes or keeping a certain hairstyle - for the sake of making the Israelites a separate and distinct people - not identifiable with any other nation on earth - that is civil.

Moral law (which you are correct, the Jews considered it all moral and so do some New Testament Christians) was and is applicable to all nations before, during, and after the rule of the Law.

The reason why other nations were so abhorant to God was because they were practicing sodomy, murder, fornication, adultery, idolatry and so forth. And God was angry with them - before the Law.

That's why Cain was punished. Murder was evil before the Law. It's why the world was flooded before the Law. The Bible says the heart of mankind was continually thinking on evil.

Joseph's brothers were jealous of him before the Law. That was a sin. Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him before the Law. Adultery was a sin before the Law. God was going to punish a king and his entire family because he took Abram's wife, Sarai, for his own - even though he didn't know she was already married.

Adam and Eve found out what good and evil was in the Garden - long before the Law.

This is moral law to me. It was binding on humanity from Adam and Eve and is still binding today. Jesus spoke of alot of this at the Sermon on the Mount.

Am I right? Maybe.

Am I dogmatic? No, not at all.

Am I bullheaded about it? One might say so. :laugh: