I'd like to know what all you think of henna tattoos- from a personal, spiritual perspective-
For those of you who don't know henna is used to adorn the body before, during, a big celebration- It is used at weddings, and also Bat/Bar Mitzvahs... it is not a permanent tattoo but rather body decor...
Hello,
I am a Christian and also a henna artist. I work for a company that specializes in henna, face paint, temporary glitter tattoos, fairy hair, and a midnight blue "henna" derived from the Jagua fruit.
I don't want to disrespect other views or denominations on this controversial subject, but I am going to share my honest opinion. The HUNDREDS of laws given in the OT were given to set the Israelites apart from the pagans, but when Jesus came to earth, He demolished the Jewish laws. Now, God knows who His people are based on the blood of Jesus.
So now the question is, are all the laws from the OT irrelevant? I don't believe so. I believe the Ten Commandments are there for good. But, there were some laws set for the safety of God's people that were relevant just for their time, and when Jesus came down to earth, He set us free from those laws by being the ultimate sacrifice.
1. The laws were given right when they came out of slavery. Imagine if you only knew how to wake up, eat, make bricks, eat, go to sleep, repeat? What would you do when you were set free in the wilderness and knew just that? What is there was no one to help you? Could you survive? The answer is more than likely NO.
Here's an example: Manna. In Exodus 16, God provided food for His people wandering aimlessly in the wilderness. They didn't have any way to get it themselves, so they relied on God to provide. We still rely on Him providing for us, but He already has. John 6:31-35 says: Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said, "always give us this bread." Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
God sent Jesus as our "manna"
2. Why couldn't Israelites eat pork?
God's chosen people couldn't eat pork because it was "unclean," but what does that even mean? What happens if someone eats uncooked meat? Salmonella, worms, parasites, etc. how would anyone with no knowledge of science or food know about disease? Only the Creator of all earth would.
Back in BC, they didn't have stoves. If you eat raw meat, you can get so sick that you could die. God was keeping His people healthy.
3. Keeping the Sabbath Holy.
I agree that the Sabbath should be a day of worship and rest. BUT, look at how Jesus did "work" on the Sabbath. Many Jews have taken this so seriously that they ignore the opportunity to show God's love to people.
Jesus pulled someone's animal out of a ditch. If it's the Sabbath and we see someone on the side of the road needing help, should we stop? Ummm YES. Never ever ever pass up a chance to show God's love to others!
4. Animal sacrifices.
The reason Jews can't sacrifice animals anymore is because God said to only sacrifice in the temple... the temple that is currently not here. But looking at this from a Christian or Messianic view point, Jesus was the Ultimate Sacrifice. He shed His blood so we don't have to shed ours or an innocent animals blood. Hebrews 10 says: The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.
Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.
Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’ ” First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.
For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”
Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
Our bodies are the "temple." Once we accept Jesus, He dwells in us and always forgives us no matter how far we stray.
So the Bible may not say anything directly about allowing us to adorn our bodies now, but can we? To be honest... I don't know for sure! But if God keeping His people pure was his way of telling them apart, then we should be allowed to adorn our bodies because of Jesus. We are now SET APART BY THE BLOOD OF THE PERFECT LAMB.
5. Henna is mentioned in the Songs of Solomon.
Henna is a type of art, so is music... If henna art is bad... is painting bad? Is singing bad? Obviously not, because we see sooo much art throughout the Bible: Psalms, Creation (yes, Creation is God's art!), God dwells in the perfection of beauty (Psalm 50:2), Isaiah 64:8, Exodus 35:35, Exodus 35:25, ROMANS 12:6.
We are made in God's image. He is perfect. He is holy. He is righteous. He is...... (drumroll) CREATIVE!!
Now you decide how you feel about Mehndi
Below is a design I did on my boyfriend of a cross and symbols that mean "God is Greater Than the Highs and Lows."