is getting a tattoo bad in the eyes of the lord??? im confused on weather or not i should get one.. need some help.

please help. thanks.::))

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Permalink Reply by Caroline Phillips on November 30, 2010 at 5:39am

- No you put it better bro! Another point to the question is, if we are likely to cause offense or, through our action cause someone to sin then we should not do whatever it is we are being tempted to do.

Also temptation; if, after honest consideration, you recognise that you are being tempted then you know what to do! Resist the Devil and he will flee from you! It will probably mean another precious stone in your crown of Righteousness.

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Permalink Reply by Dean & GladysBeaty on November 30, 2010 at 5:18am

There are a few passages in the Scriptures that talk about tattoos and piercing.

Lev. 19:28
"You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD."

This verse has reference to the custom among the pagan nations to pierce themselves, or tattoo themselves when a member of the family died. Such tattooing or piercing was an effort to appease the Idols they worshiped into accepting their departed relative. For an Israelite to pierce himself or tattoo himself was a sign that he was influenced by Idolatry. This was a serious sin.

This verse, however, cannot be applied to the kinds of tattoos or piercings that are associated with our culture except among the pagan worshipers. It is ALWAYS wrong to apply the Old Testament Law, which was given only to the Jews, to New Testament times. We DO NOT live under the Old Testament Law. To take a verse out of the Old Testament and attempt to apply it today is to practice legalism. This was the error of Judiazers of the first Century who were trying to teach that Christians had to obey certain aspects of the Old Testament. They were condemned for their error (c.f. Galatians).

Exodus 21:6
"then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently."

Deut 15:17
"then you shall take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also you shall do likewise to your maidservant."

In Old Testament times tattoos and piercings were used in a way similar to the way we "brand" cattle today. It demonstrated ownership. Slaves were "marked" indicating that they were an indentured servant to another. These verses would not find application to the current situation of tattoos and piercings.

In the New Testament there are no prohibitions against tattoos or piercings. Some would say that the "mark" in the book of Revelation indicates God's displeasure with tattoos. This cannot be demonstrated by the context of the book of Revelation. In Revelation the "mark" on the hands and the forehead are representative of what a person does with his hands and his head. God is concerned about the things that we do with our hands (whether good or evil). He is concerned with the way we use our minds (whether for good or evil). The "mark" in Revelation has absolutely nothing to do with a literal mark.

There is a consistent teaching throughout the Bible that we do not belong to ourselves. For the Christian this concept is clearly taught in 1 Cor. 6:19-20.

1 Cor. 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

The Christian must ask, "will this be harmful to my body?" If the answer is yes.......it is wrong. The Christian must ask, "can I glorify God by this action?" If the answer is no.....it is wrong.

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Permalink Reply by Caroline Phillips on November 30, 2010 at 12:43pm

In that case Tammy - please explain why you may be having pork sausages for dinner - just throwing that one in -

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Permalink Reply by Caroline Phillips on November 30, 2010 at 1:56pm

I confess to being a tad confused now are you saying that you keep the kosher law?

I have to say - and this is probably going off the subject but I don't eat pork - haven't done for ten years - for a variety of reasons, one, the way it is farmed, two, why would Jesus send the demons into a herd of pigs if He was at all concerned about the farmers - they should not have been farming pigs. And thirdly pigs are well known for eating garbage - so they are not clean animals.