Body Piercing

[goodgirl]

yeah... I have a feeling Jesus wouldn't eat a Hunt's butterscotch pudding cup either... he'd be like, "what the --!" That hardly makes it a sin. In most cases, the answer to "What Would Jesus Do?" is something like "walk on water, turn water into wine, or raise the dead." Being like Jesus is primarily internal and actional... we don't have to wear a loincloth.

Frankly, I like when people get a little surpised to find I'm a Christian. My two favorite compliments to get are "so that's why you're so _____ (nice, dedicated, patient, etc)" and "but.... you're fun!" Think it's a sad statement that Christians have the reputation for being party poopers. Jesus was the life of the party... just ask the wedding guests!

 

[wvmtnkid]

When I was reading through this I was thinking about a young man that goes to my church. Now if you came upon this young man in a dark alley he might cause you to become a little anxious. He is shall we say heavy set, has a bushy beard and LONG hair. I mean very long hair. Almost half way down his back long. I have had the opportunity to attend several different churches with him and he tells me the reason for his appearance is to make people get out of their comfort zones and think about what it means to be a Christian. We play this game when we attend churches, to see how many people will come up and shake his hand. Now all they have to go on at this point is his appearance. Will they extend the love of Christ to someone who looks very different from what you would expect a Christian to look like? It's interesting to see how people react to him. Most won't even speak to him. Some will shake my hand but not his. What does that say for us Christians as a whole? But then again, where does his appearance get in the way of his call to spread the gospel? Is there a fine line there?

 

[Stanfi]

But then again, where does his appearance get in the way of his call to spread the gospel? Is there a fine line there?

Thus my entire point.

 

[msjones21]

This has been a great thread! I asked my father about it last night (wordly father, not Heavenly Father LOL) about his human opinion on the matter. He said very simply, "Jennifer, if it doesn't hinder your walk with Christ, if you're not using it as a tool to seduce people, and as long as you don't feel conviction then it's okay." he went on to say, "it doesn't matter how Christlike and modest your outward appearance is there will still be judgemental Christians who will find something to nitpick about".

I think when the Bible says we are not project the appearance of evil it deals with your attitude. Granted, we should dress and act modestly but it's all about wordly perception of what is "modest". Look at how fashion changes. In Biblical times a woman leaving her head exposed was considered immodest. The Bible does't change, but at some point our definitions of what is virtuous and modest changes with time.

 

[ummidrinkcherrycoke]

I've had my share of piercings and the only people that have said anything negetive about them have been other Christians. I'm not a witness for other christians so it doesnt bother me that some of them don't like the way I look. The people that I do witness to on the other hand feel more comfortable around me because I don't look like the stereotypical christian. I know this because thats what they've told me. I don't know what a heathen is supposed to look like and I don't know a christian is supposed to look like. The last I checked the bible didnt have a dress code. I think thats because God doesnt care, What he cares about is the way we treat people. He wants us to love our neighbor as ourselves and when someone labels another person a heathen because of the way they look thats not a very loving thing. The only thing that seperates us from a heathen is that fact that we know the truth. I think that Christians need to drop the "holier than thou" attitudes and stop worrying about what other people look like and start doing what we were told to do. And that was to be salt and light to the world.

 

[two feathers]

"...it doesn't matter how Christlike and modest your outward appearance is there will still be judgemental Christians who will find something to nitpick about".

Your father is a wise man.

 

[1god4me]

Personally I find tattoos or piercings very unattractive but everyone has to make that decision for themselves. I have adopted the philosphy that the only holes that occur in my body will be the ones that occur naturally or accidentally.

 

[JOYfulbeliever]

This is definitely an interesting thread!!!

I have my navel pierced, as well as my ears. Personally, I don't have a problem with it, for me...but then again, there are very few people that see my navel piercing!! For me, I like it, it's just one of those fun things I did one day and really, in no way is it hindering my walk with Christ.

However, at the same time, the moment that it DOES become a hinderance (if it does, that is!) will be the moment that it is gone. But until then, and until God tells me that it is wrong for *me* I guess it's just gonna stay put! heehee

I do see the others points in here though...and you guys definitely bring up some valid thoughts!

's to all!!!

 

[Ebb]

I don't like body piercings and feel it ruins the natural beauty of a woman.

 

[punkprincess37]

i have my belly button peirced. i would not say that it is a problem there are many ways people express them selves. and many people in my church have peircings. umm i heard that there are thoes people who get peircings who arewell u could say the "bad" people ... i dont know if this will make sence but yeah .... umm but many people get pericings as part of a spiritual thing also i heard. quite tranquilling. umm when u think of christians with pericings ... i mean i know many of christians with pericings. my borther has his nose, chin, and like 4 in each ear, he has a tat across his lower back (Gods name (yahway) in hebrew) he wants to get another tat on his uper back of a crown of thowns. my brother is a extreamly spiritual man. he is 21 but as u can see his tats are a way he uses to express his spirituality. my brother is a very aproachable guy. and i think it is also good becasue it makes non christians realize that we are jsut as "normal" as they are ... and helps them gain more respect for us. sorry bout all that, hope it makes sence.

- em

 

[Donny_B]

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

 

[msjones21]

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

Leviticus lays out the laws for the Jews. The rules in Leviticus do not encompass all sects of religion, just the Jews.

 

[Donny_B]

Jesus was Jewish and would have fulfilled this law. I think we should try to follow His example, just like the saying says, "What would Jesus do?"

 

[msjones21]

Jesus was Jewish and would have fulfilled this law. I think we should try to follow His example, just like the saying says, "What would Jesus do?"

Indeed, but your Scripture reference was totally irrelevant, as it was a law handed to the Jews before Jesus came to redeem us. The law also stated what types of meat to eat and how to eat them. It also said a woman is to shroud her face and hair. Do we practice these rituals now? Should we?

 

[Donny_B]

I think it's another sign of the last days generation and the soon coming of Christ. Here is what that generation would be like, the Bible says:

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3: 3-5

I don't think it's a salvation question, but that it does not set a good example and nor does it honor Christ.

 

[msjones21]

Donny_B, you keep throwing Scripture out there which is totally irrelevant to the thread.

Do piercings set a good example? Does driving a sports car? Does eating processed foods? Does mixing plaids and stripes? I guess it really depends on who you ask.

Look at the members of P.O.D. They are a terrific Christian heavy metal band. Their contemporary music with a Gospel message reaches millions of young adults and they are all covered in tattoos. Why do you think they reach people? Because lost people can relate to them. If we come across as being unapproachable then how can we reach lost souls for Christ?

 

[Stanfi]

Leviticus lays out the laws for the Jews. The rules in Leviticus do not encompass all sects of religion, just the Jews.

I have to disagree with you here msjones. The purpose of the law is to reveal sin. Granted the law was given to the jews. However, when you saved you are "grafted in" to the jewish family. We who accpet Christ do not have to make the animal sacrifices, because Christ came and gave his life, which was the ultimate sacrifice for sin.

 

[msjones21]

I have to disagree with you here msjones. The purpose of the law is to reveal sin. Granted the law was given to the jews. However, when you saved you are "grafted in" to the jewish family. We who accpet Christ do not have to make the animal sacrifices, because Christ came and gave his life, which was the ultimate sacrifice for sin.

Yes we are, but how many Jewish laws do we Christians follow today? Do we take off our shoes and wash our feet before entering a house? Do we eat with our hands? Do we eat animal products from cloven hoofed mammals? Do women shroud their hair and faces? I could go on and on about Leviticus Law. Amusing how alot of people like to pick and choose which Levitical laws they think others should follow. What's the most common passage of Leviticus Christians throw out there? The ones regarding homosexuality. Granted, it speaks of that in the NT as well so we have to take that as being sinful; however, all of those other laws I mentioned we do not observe today. Are we being sinful when we eat with our hands?

 

[Spicy McHaggis]

Amusing how alot of people like to pick and choose which Levitical laws they think others should follow.

This is so wonderfully stated. I could not agree more with this.

*upon reading Leviticus 19:19, iklepac13 rips off all his clothes and decides to spend the rest of his day wearing only his 100% cotton underwear. When asked why he did this he simply replied "Hey, Leviticus says don't wear clothes made of two kinds of material..."

 

[Ebb]

I think it is mainly peer pressure that people get their bodies pierced. Each generation that comes on tries to "gross out" the other. What will it be like in 40 years, will every one try to look like Michael Jackson's plastic surgeries?