Ear piercing/made in God's image/"improving His creation"/?

[faroukfarouk]

Hi there faroukfarouk, This is reads more like a commercial spiel than christian advice. It may indeed be 'undeniably' a widespread established custom but it is certainly not 'undeniably' benign. Since when has widespread custom been a reliable guide to knowing the will of God?
><>

I take your point in theory, indeed, yes.

But plenty of Godly women happen to wear extra pairs of earrings; and so I'll just recognize it's their preference, rather than find some reason to moralize against it.

2c...

 

[afishamongmany]

tuliplane said: ↑
If one earring in each ear is okay, why not two or three?

Hello tuliplane,
And then why not?

and then why not?

If you want to better understand the theology of the physical body as the temple of the Holy Spirit have a think on what this guy says, www.sbts.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2009/10/sbjt-2009summer-allison.pdf

A reasoned searching for God's will is necessary and good but in the end and without any contradiction of sincere and sound reasoning it is His Spirit that guides us into all truth.
Go well
><>

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

tuliplane said: ↑
If one earring in each ear is okay, why not two or three?

Hello tuliplane,
And then why not?
View attachment 178454

and then why not?

View attachment 178456




If you want to better understand the theology of the physical body as the temple of the Holy Spirit have a think on what this guy says, www.sbts.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2009/10/sbjt-2009summer-allison.pdf

A reasoned searching for God's will is necessary and good but in the end and without any contradiction of sincere and sound reasoning it is His Spirit that guides us into all truth.
Go well
><>

Glad you posted that. I was just going to do the same. If people feel those people are wrong, then they are going against their own belief about its ok to pierce. And even in those pictures its still safe. There are people who stitch a criss cross pattern of fabric down the back (literally into the body) so they can hang from hooks on a ceiling. Or men who pierce "certain" areas in order to hang weights from them. Is that ok too?

Though the question becomes what about something as simple as ear piercings. Because its rare I see a woman that doesn't have any. That end of it I am mixed on. In biblical times did they have piercings of the ear? One of my missionary friends has not only ear piercings but about 6 piercings on each eyebrow, a nose piercing, a lip piercing and a chin piercing. I think even if someone is ok with such stuff, that doesn't look good as a missionary whos christian. It makes people think you can look like the world and that its ok. >.<

 

[faroukfarouk]

tuliplane said: ↑
If one earring in each ear is okay, why not two or three?

Hello tuliplane,
And then why not?
View attachment 178454

and then why not?

View attachment 178456




If you want to better understand the theology of the physical body as the temple of the Holy Spirit have a think on what this guy says, www.sbts.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2009/10/sbjt-2009summer-allison.pdf

A reasoned searching for God's will is necessary and good but in the end and without any contradiction of sincere and sound reasoning it is His Spirit that guides us into all truth.
Go well
><>

You have a point, but I think you're cited some extreme examples, which are not representative.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Though the question becomes what about something as simple as ear piercings. Because its rare I see a woman that doesn't have any.

Well, exactly, and it's not something which is about to change any time soon, including among Christian women.

 

[Dave-W]

In biblical times did they have piercings of the ear?

Yes.

Ex 21.5 “But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’
6 then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.

 

[John Davidson]

Piercing is not taking care of anything, it is destructive.

Piercing is grooming your body. Its like putting icing on a cake.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Piercing is grooming your body. Its like putting icing on a cake.

Ezekiel 16.12

 

[John Davidson]

Ezekiel 16.12

Precisely.

And we know that king Solomon was arrayed in glory. So there is nothing wrong with grooming yourself and dressing up.

 

[tuliplane]

tuliplane said: ↑
If one earring in each ear is okay, why not two or three?

Hello tuliplane,
And then why not?
View attachment 178454

and then why not?

View attachment 178456




If you want to better understand the theology of the physical body as the temple of the Holy Spirit have a think on what this guy says, www.sbts.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2009/10/sbjt-2009summer-allison.pdf

A reasoned searching for God's will is necessary and good but in the end and without any contradiction of sincere and sound reasoning it is His Spirit that guides us into all truth.
Go well
><>

My point was not that everything is okay; my point was that just because a pastor says "You can wear a pair of earrings, but no more than one!", doesn't mean one pair is any better than two pairs, it's just a matter of opinion, not God's Word. The pictures you showed me definitely took things to the extreme. Nothing to the extreme is good. Wearing a pair or two of earrings can certainly just look "pretty" where the pictures you showed me are grotesque; there is a line to draw to be sure. Life is about balancing in the middle. Although I cannot judge the hearts of the people in the pictures, to me it showed that they don't care at all for their bodies and they like destruction and have no respect for the bodies which they were given. The same goes for just about anything in life; it is okay to have a little wine with dinner, but not consume a wine barrel and become a drunk. It's okay to wear clothing obviously; but of course clothing can become sinful too and you can't use the same argument for that or then all clothing would be wrong. Someone can show more and more and more skin, but that is them crossing the line, not that one thing leads to the other. Food can also become out of control; someone can eat for nutrition and a little enjoyment or they can become a glutton. I think it all boils down to motives of the heart and self-control.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Wearing a pair or two of earrings can certainly just look "pretty"...

So if you do it, do you think you'll permanently stick to one each side, or maybe consider 2 each side?

 

[afishamongmany]

Glad you posted that. I was just going to do the same. If people feel those people are wrong, then they are going against their own belief about its ok to pierce. And even in those pictures its still safe. There are people who stitch a criss cross pattern of fabric down the back (literally into the body) so they can hang from hooks on a ceiling. Or men who pierce "certain" areas in order to hang weights from them. Is that ok too?

Though the question becomes what about something as simple as ear piercings. Because its rare I see a woman that doesn't have any. That end of it I am mixed on. In biblical times did they have piercings of the ear? One of my missionary friends has not only ear piercings but about 6 piercings on each eyebrow, a nose piercing, a lip piercing and a chin piercing. I think even if someone is ok with such stuff, that doesn't look good as a missionary whos christian. It makes people think you can look like the world and that its ok. >.<

Hello there NothingIsImpossible,
Yea thanks.
We need to remember that the existence of a practice in biblical times, of itself, is not an automatic endorsement of that practice by God. Slavery and multiple wives and concubinage immediately come to mind.
To use the God ordained, circumcision ceremony and the symbolic ear piercing ceremony of Exodus 21 as support for doing what ever takes our fancy to our bodies, is not handling God's word with the seriousness it calls for.
Yea so easy to say, well just a couple of little hole and simple earrings, we don't want to be too different from everyone else do we?
Still if a brother or sister in Christ believes it's all ok with our Father, then it's their body and their responsibility.
Personally I would always counsel against it.
Go Well
><>

 

[tuliplane]

So if you do it, do you think you'll permanently stick to one each side, or maybe consider 2 each side?

I already have two on each side...I just wasn't sure if it was wrong and I was supposed to take them out.

 

[tuliplane]

Hello there NothingIsImpossible,
Yea thanks.
We need to remember that the existence of a practice in biblical times, of itself, is not an automatic endorsement of that practice by God. Slavery and multiple wives and concubinage immediately come to mind.
To use the God ordained, circumcision ceremony and the symbolic ear piercing ceremony of Exodus 21 as support for doing what ever takes our fancy to our bodies, is not handling God's word with the seriousness it calls for.
Yea so easy to say, well just a couple of little hole and simple earrings, we don't want to be too different from everyone else do we?
Still if a brother or sister in Christ believes it's all ok with our Father, then it's their body and their responsibility.
Personally I would always counsel against it.
Go Well
><>

I think with something like concubines and such, God was definitely not endorsing it. In Exodus though, God specifically gave earrings to His bride, so to me it seems that if He participated in that, He wouldn't think it a sin, or He would never have given into such a practice. We don't read that He gave two brides to one man for instance...

 

[faroukfarouk]

Yes, I do know of that verse, but isn't is specifically talking about "for the dead", some Pagan ritual they were participating in?

Nor is Ezekiel 16.12, where the Lord Himself gives earrings to Zion, a case of participating in cutting "for the dead"!!

 

[faroukfarouk]

I already have two on each side...I just wasn't sure if it was wrong and I was supposed to take them out.

Yes, 2 each side, if preferred, is a well established custom, and objectively at least - as opposed to people's various subjective preferences and opinions - why would it be 'wrong'?

 

[shelley1952]

This is my original statement and I stand by it.
what the Lord is trying to say about the earrings and flashy jewelry what it boils down to is vanity, pure vanity. Also I know as everyone does, people are going to do what they want anyway, a lot of times people are just wanting to find that one person to agree with them even if God had hung a sign on their front door saying thou shalt not but if that someone still wants to do it then finding that one person to agree then they will do it anyway. God gave us a free will to find out who loves Him enough to want to please Him and not man and since the roads in heaven are paved with gold then jewelry isnt going to be what pleases Him but I wonder sometimes how God feels when He sees His children do everything they can to get out of pleasing Him.

Hey Shelley,
Thanks for your input. I don't think John was trying to attack you...I think he was merely participating in theological debate.

oh but yes, if you read all the posts, he was, plus he has done it to me before in other places but asking if I was saying we should not take care of our bodies well in my original statement above no where did I even imply that we do not take care of our bodies,please, thats a total insult !
Let me ask you tuliplane, you know in your own heart why you are wanting to do what you said your mom told you was wrong, my mom said if we were meant to wear pierced earrings we would of been born with the holes in our ears. Anyway, I am a woman who pierced my ears before I was a christian, I wore earrings for attention which is what my friends did it for too. I had to be honest that it was for myself as was most of my jewelry. So the question is why are you wanting to do it.
This is between you and God, I dont care its your walk not mine, I dont mean to sound uncaring but just speaking truth..

Another thing is all those people who are saying you dont have to listen to your mom and blaa blaa, be careful, God talks about honoring your parents ......
Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise
Eph 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

you decide what you think is right and who you are going to listen to.

Rom 14:13-23 KJV
(13) Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Thank you DiscipleHetoo ! for reminding me of this verse.
Ah, yes, I almost forgot the Bible verse that people throw out there when they are doing questionable things and someone is trying to help them. They might not know anything else in the Bible but ah yes, this is their go to and stand on verse. This verse is the only good news there is in the whole Bible according to them.You can pretty well tell on these kinds of forums who are interested in pleasing the Lord verses pleasing themselves. Well whatever, we are truly in control of our own lives and each one of us stand alone before God and we all have faults in our lives and will answer whether we tried to deal with them or not. I may not know much but this I do know, I fell in love with the Lord and want to please Him, He comes first.

 

[Goodbook]

You just have to be honest to God about why you wear them. Only He can clear your conscience. I don't know your motives, but, personally, God has never told me I must wear fancy jewellery, pierce any part of my body, and that I look less attractive without earrings.

I don't judge others on what they wear, I am accountable for myself before the Lord as you are. But if we worship the same Lord, and read the same Bible, well, look God is gracious when we mess up.

Do you know that Paul, he had a thorn in his flesh that he asked God to take out but he wouldn't. He asked three times. God said His grace is sufficient.

Now this earring or piercing, may be one of those thorny issues. Its causing you a great deal of pain. But its not going to go away...God's grace is sufficient in this as well.

 

[pat34lee]

It's not for everyone. Although even in the Old Testament there is the bondservant's piercing of the ear to show perpetual, willing service; and in Ezekiel 16.12 the Lord Himself give earrings to Zion.

I guess it can be constructive, at least in theory?

Since they are a sign of having a master or husband, at least
make sure they declare the right one.

 

[pat34lee]

.double post.