Christian Music, Piercings, and Tattoos

[Suffolk Sean]

Why do so many of the hard Christian music groups sport piercings and tattoos? I'm quite aghast at some of the things I see people do to themselves. I'm not saying these are bad people, but it seems like they are emulating the world.

Thoughts?

btw, I would ask the same thing if I saw them smoking, drinking, keeping questionable company, etc. I do not see how piercings give glory and they are dubiously safe as well (not to mention the fact that 20 years down the road, they will have to see the consequences in the mirror)

 

[soldout]

Why do so many of the hard Christian music groups sport piercings and tattoos? I'm quite aghast at some of the things I see people do to themselves. I'm not saying these are bad people, but it seems like they are emulating the world.

Thoughts?

btw, I would ask the same thing if I saw them smoking, drinking, keeping questionable company, etc. I do not see how piercings give glory and they are dubiously safe as well (not to mention the fact that 20 years down the road, they will have to see the consequences in the mirror)

The first pastor I had after I got saved used to say about women wearing makeup, "if the barn needs painting, by all means, paint it!" If it's applicable in that sense, I guess it ought to be in any other as well.

What do you think?

 

[JimB]

Why do so many of the hard Christian music groups sport piercings and tattoos? I'm quite aghast at some of the things I see people do to themselves. I'm not saying these are bad people, but it seems like they are emulating the world.

Thoughts?

btw, I would ask the same thing if I saw them smoking, drinking, keeping questionable company, etc. I do not see how piercings give glory and they are dubiously safe as well (not to mention the fact that 20 years down the road, they will have to see the consequences in the mirror)

This is a mixed bag. I used to be far more aghast (to use your word ) than I am now. The tattoos, piercings, etc. were once used by groups who really were trying to reach a particular subgroup (Goths, metalheads, etc.) and they chose to become all things to all people, just as Hudson Taylor grew his hair long and adopted the dress and customs of the Chinese people in order to reach them with the gospel. Of course, among Christian kids who want to emulate their Christian rock idols, it has spread to church kids. Personally, I salute those bands (like P.O.D., e.g.) who are willing to do what is necessary (and permissible) to reach a lost generation (I am unwilling to do it ). They are not responsible for their fans. Parents are responsible in this area. Christian bands who market to a Christian audience, however, are IMO more culpable. I think we have to hold bands who market to a mainstream sudience to a different standard.

\o/

 

[muffler dragon]

Why do so many of the hard Christian music groups sport piercings and tattoos? I'm quite aghast at some of the things I see people do to themselves. I'm not saying these are bad people, but it seems like they are emulating the world.

Thoughts?

btw, I would ask the same thing if I saw them smoking, drinking, keeping questionable company, etc. I do not see how piercings give glory and they are dubiously safe as well (not to mention the fact that 20 years down the road, they will have to see the consequences in the mirror)

Not that you, or anyone else on here, would ever know. But I'm sure you wouldn't be quite as aghast at me as you might think.

I have both ears pierced (at the interest of my wife). Three tats at the urging of G-d. And I love the hardest 'christian' music known to man.

But I know you're not laying judgment. Just talking about the things you might not be all that knowledgeable of.

I like what Jim said. I find his words to speak very well.

Shalom,

m.d.

 

[soldout]

Not that you, or anyone else on here, would ever know. But I'm sure you wouldn't be quite as aghast at me as you might think.

I have both ears pierced (at the interest of my wife). Three tats at the urging of G-d. And I love the hardest 'christian' music known to man.

But I know you're not laying judgment. Just talking about the things you might not be all that knowledgeable of.

I like what Jim said. I find his words to speak very well.

Shalom,

m.d.

MD,
I think you would have loved to be at my church this past Saturday night then. Disciple played, and I bet you would have loved it!

 

[A4C]

I think that the problem arises when the Church becomes like the world and then the next generation of the world becomes like the (modified) Church and all fall into a ditch

 

[Rillik]

This IS Kinda weird subject to Me. I Was raised in a "Biker" family and Tattoos and Piercing were the norm. I Knew How to Ride a Harley before I Knew how to drive a car. But the thing about the Piercing and tattoos is Kinda touchy. My Preacher and Church do not belive in Makeup, Jewelry, Women cutting their hair or wearing pants. So when I Started going to Church I Was this Young 16 yo Rebelling Goth/Satanic/Punk rocker. (Died Black Hair, Black Eyeliner, the Whole 9 yards). So to be delivered from such a thing I Jumped Right into the No Ear rings ECT.

to Make a Long Story Short I Backslid after a few Years and Put the Ear rings Back In (Didn't go as far as the Makeup ECT) but I Have been going back for a While Now and haven't taken My Ear rings Back out. I Feel that If the Lord Wants Me to take them Out, He will Put the Conviction in my heart to remove them.

 

[muffler dragon]

MD,
I think you would have loved to be at my church this past Saturday night then. Disciple played, and I bet you would have loved it!

I've seen Kevin and the boys live a few times. They are very cool.

I haven't seen them since the 'By G-d' album. But they're doing well from what I read.

m.d.

 

[fanatiquefou]

btw, I would ask the same thing if I saw them smoking, drinking, keeping questionable company, etc. I do not see how piercings give glory and they are dubiously safe as well (not to mention the fact that 20 years down the road, they will have to see the consequences in the mirror)

Am I the only one who doesn't quite see the problem with smoking, drinking, or keeping questionable company, either? Didn't Jesus drink and keep questionable company? I mean, I don't have a single piercing or tattoo, but apparently you'd decide that I was 'emulating the world' since I don't hang out only with good Christian people and like a nice glass of wine or a martini now and then.

Sorry to derail the thread. I'm just hyper-sensitive over the issue of Christians making judgments based entirely on appearances, deciding that because someone has a piercing or a beer in their hand, they're somehow being worldly.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

Why do so many of the hard Christian music groups sport piercings and tattoos? I'm quite aghast at some of the things I see people do to themselves. I'm not saying these are bad people, but it seems like they are emulating the world.

I wouldn't assume that they are doing it to emulate the world. As one poster mentioned, they may be adopting customs to reach a group. Or they may simply want to do it for no other reason than they want to. I don't see anything inherently worse about tattoos and piercings than, for example, cargo pants. I got my eyebrow pierced just because I liked the way it would look.

Thoughts?

btw, I would ask the same thing if I saw them smoking, drinking, keeping questionable company, etc. I do not see how piercings give glory and they are dubiously safe as well (not to mention the fact that 20 years down the road, they will have to see the consequences in the mirror)

I don't see anything inherently wrong with smoking or drinking and would remind you that Jesus was criticized for his questionable company. I don't smoke, but I wouldn't look down on others for smoking. Alcohol is fine in moderation (Jesus drank alcohol on occasion). I would also be very hesitant to judge the company of those I don't know personally.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

I think that the problem arises when the Church becomes like the world and then the next generation of the world becomes like the (modified) Church and all fall into a ditch

I think consumerism is much more of a danger to the next generation that tattoos or piercings.

 

[Suffolk Sean]

Thanks Jim and MD and others.
I really do struggle to see it. But the posts here have helped me lighten up abit. BTW I'm not talking about a few piercings necessarily, if you look close at my left ear you will note a couple of holes.

 

[oldrooster]

I have tats and ride a Harley, it makes me no less close to God than you are. If you do not like them, do not have them.

 

[muffler dragon]

Thanks Jim and MD and others.
I really do struggle to see it. But the posts here have helped me lighten up abit. BTW I'm not talking about a few piercings necessarily, if you look close at my left ear you will note a couple of holes.

Well, just a point of clarification. I do not find excessive facial piercings all that wonderful myself. I much rather a clean face; however, I find myself more disinterested than irritated. The same can be said of tattoo work. I don't justify my by any other reasoning than the fact that I feel that the L-rd guided me in this decision.

I'm glad to know that you might be able to lighten up about it. One thing that I've been coming to understand with a two-year-old is this: I am responsible for her until she starts making decisions on her own. Until I have the responsibility to make the best decisions I can for her. She is really the only person that I have that with. All others get to do exactly what they want and I can't really say much about it. Therefore, I need to just let it go for my own sake. Can't wrack my brain too much about things that I have no control over, ya know?

Shalom,

m.d.

 

[Suffolk Sean]

Actually the point is about Christian Musicians having them... I don't really care if individuals have them or not, just those that seem to be in a position to influence others.

But I see it is just my POV and if you can do it with a clean conscience, good for you.

 

[SOLDOUT4HIM]

I think that piercing (denoted lifetime slavery in the Old Testament) and tatoos (the bible says not to mark your body) are not advisable. I don't think smoking is a good thing either (it'll kill you, man). But I have no beef w/drinking as long as there is no drunkenness involved.