Tattoos?

[Crotalus71]

I couldn't figure out where to post this specifically.

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.

Being that is Old Testament does it still apply? Is this considered a SIN and why would it be? Yes I have Tattoos but I am trying to identify the issue with marking or piercing the body I have earrings too. So I live in constant sin now and will not be saved or wat gives?

 

[Sphinx777]

I couldn't figure out where to post this specifically.

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.

Being that is Old Testament does it still apply? Is this considered a SIN and why would it be? Yes I have Tattoos but I am trying to identify the issue with marking or piercing the body I have earrings too. So I live in constant sin now and will not be saved or wat gives?

Ever heard of this site?

Religious Tattoos > A Web Site Devoted to Judeo-Christian Body Art

 

[NorrinRadd]

Well, if it DOES apply, so do 19:19 and 19:27.

 

[Mislaid]

I couldn't figure out where to post this specifically.

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.

Being that is Old Testament does it still apply? Is this considered a SIN and why would it be? Yes I have Tattoos but I am trying to identify the issue with marking or piercing the body I have earrings too. So I live in constant sin now and will not be saved or wat gives?

I think that the last part may give you your answer: "Do not cut the hair on the sides of your head or trim your beard or tattoo yourselves or cut gashes in your body to mourn for the dead" (GNB). Other versions phrase it differently that seem to alter the meaning quite a bit; regardless of which, I would presume that there would be some cultural significance behind this that we living today are not aware of. In other words, I would conjecture that since the pagans did those things, God told them not to because He wanted to set Israel apart, to keep it holy, because from that nation would eventually come the Saviour of the world.

I think that consulting a cultural background commentary would be a good idea as it may put this passage in its proper context, unforunately I've only got a NT one at the moment.

 

[fireman1173005]

Well, if it DOES apply, so do 19:19 and 19:27.

I agree with NorinRadd.
Leviticus 19:27-28 (New Living Translation)

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=51

27 “Do not trim off the hair on your temples or trim your beards.
28 “Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the Lord.

According to verse 27 we shouldn't shave, but almost all religions do. This is old testament law. I would never say to throw the old testament out and say it doesn't apply any longer because then I would be saying the 10 commandments we a bunch of crap. But I would say tattoos are ok. I don't believe that this part of the old testament law applies now. I am a minister and my wife got a tattoo on her foot about a year ago. One of our youth got a cool looking cross on his back with scripture in it. I don't want one but unless it looks satanic then go for it.

Brian

 

[angrylittlefisherman]

I had a discussion about tattoos with my priest (who does not think christian's should get tattoos. He believes that Christ who is God, created us as we are, therefore when we go to receive communion, when we enter into prayer etc...he wants us to come as we are. He did not create us with tattoos or piercings, in effect we are telling God his creation is not good enough. His second issue is that it is in fact to glorify our bodies, to draw attention to it etc...it is called body art so he does have a point there. I do not think that because you sin you are not saved. Christ forgives sins, even ones made out of ignorance, if we ask for it.

 

[NorrinRadd]

I agree with NorinRadd.
Leviticus 19:27-28 (New Living Translation)



27 “Do not trim off the hair on your temples or trim your beards.
28 “Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the Lord.

According to verse 27 we shouldn't shave, but almost all religions do. This is old testament law. I would never say to throw the old testament out and say it doesn't apply any longer because then I would be saying the 10 commandments we a bunch of crap. But I would say tattoos are ok. I don't believe that this part of the old testament law applies now. I am a minister and my wife got a tattoo on her foot about a year ago. One of our youth got a cool looking cross on his back with scripture in it. I don't want one but unless it looks satanic then go for it.

Brian

Really, I think 19:19 is even better. Good luck trying to find clothing made of only ONE kind of material.

 

[NorrinRadd]

I had a discussion about tattoos with my priest (who does not think christian's should get tattoos. He believes that Christ who is God, created us as we are, therefore when we go to receive communion, when we enter into prayer etc...he wants us to come as we are.

He didn't create us with tooth fillings, eyeglasses, etc.

More pertinently, he did not create us bathed, groomed, shaved, perfumed, or DRESSED. I'm sure your priest would be delighted if his congregants assembled naked, dirty, and smelly.

He did not create us with tattoos or piercings, in effect we are telling God his creation is not good enough. His second issue is that it is in fact to glorify our bodies, to draw attention to it etc...it is called body art so he does have a point there.

If self-beautification is the issue, the priest should also have problems with any and all jewelry, combed hair, well-maintained nails, etc.

 

[tulc]

He didn't create us with tooth fillings, eyeglasses, etc.

More pertinently, he did not create us bathed, groomed, shaved, perfumed, or DRESSED. I'm sure your priest would be delighted if his congregants assembled naked, dirty, and smelly.




If self-beautification is the issue, the priest should also have problems with any and all jewelry, combed hair, well-maintained nails, etc.

QFT.
tulc(doesn't have tattoos but has many friends that do)

 

[Hammster]

Jesus is tatted up. Revelation 19:16

(Plus, the OT law was written for the Jews).

 

[angrylittlefisherman]

He didn't create us with tooth fillings, eyeglasses, etc.

More pertinently, he did not create us bathed, groomed, shaved, perfumed, or DRESSED. I'm sure your priest would be delighted if his congregants assembled naked, dirty, and smelly.




If self-beautification is the issue, the priest should also have problems with any and all jewelry, combed hair, well-maintained nails, etc.

My priest does have a problem with jewelry and make up. He believes we are to be modest so dressing is important. But the problem with going about naked is that we are in a fallen state, God originally created mankind in the nude. My preist believes we are to care for the body because it is a temple of the Lord. But that our culture has taken it too far. His other issue with tattooing is the culture that is involved in it as well as the pagan origins of tattooing. I personally am not sure what I think about it yet.

 

[TasManOfGod]

Jesus is tatted up. Revelation 19:16

(Plus, the OT law was written for the Jews).

He has body piercing too -did you know?
No the Law was written for believers -Jesus just made it so that you didn't have to have a "schoolmaster" to explain everything

 

[ToxicReboMan]

Jesus is tatted up. Revelation 19:16

(Plus, the OT law was written for the Jews).

HAHA first time I heard that one. However, it is not certain if that is actually a tattoo on His skin. It might be another article of clothing.

To the OP: No, it is not a sin of itself. But it could be if you were say putting tattoos of the evil one on yourself maybe or maybe gang related...What are the motives?

 

[ToxicReboMan]

He has body piercing too -did you know?
No the Law was written for believers -Jesus just made it so that you didn't have to have a "schoolmaster" to explain everything

lol we are thinking of the same type of piercing right?

 

[AdrocK48]

well if we are to take the whole cutting thing literally, then what are we to do when Jesus tells us that if something is causing us to sin than we are to get rid of it ie the eye or a leg?
I would say that the OT passages like that do apply to us but not so much. we must be aware to who the writings were for... the Israelites and their leaders. Most of us are not Jewish, and do not live in that time. we are free to make decisions about tattoos and piercings and what not, but we must be aware as to why we do them. is it because we think its kool, or do we do them to honour God and use them as tools for His glory?

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

27 “Do not trim off the hair on your temples or trim your beards.

I do get hair cuts, a lot more often than I use to (which makes my Dad glad).

I don't shave my beard. Mostly because I have nothing to shave (I'm still devoid of facial hair).


On tatoos, I think unless one is Polynesian (where it's a rich part of their culture), it's stupid. And it's GOTTA hurt. IMHO, it's most unattractive. Is it sinful? I'm not sure...




.

 

[AdrocK48]

No I dont think its sinful at all. It's how you use it thats the issue, not the actual act of it happening!
It's like saying that eating certain types of food is sinful because people in the OT dont eat things like pork etc.
For some people, they see tattoos as sinful. For others its not.
Romans 3:20
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Romans 7:21
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

 

[ticker]

Tattoos?

...conviction by the Holy Spirit?


If no, you're ok.

If yes, you're not ok.


Piercings?

Secular music?

Adornments (including crosses)?

...no set rules for everyone, friend.

 

[Photini]

On tatoos, I think unless one is Polynesian (where it's a rich part of their culture), it's stupid. And it's GOTTA hurt. IMHO, it's most unattractive. Is it sinful? I'm not sure...




.

I have two tattoos. Yes, they can hurt...my first one took about four hours. It was surprisingly therapeutic.

But I didn't get either one of them "for the dead".

 

[TasManOfGod]

If you want to allign with the world you get inked -if you want to allign with the Word of God you don't -simple as that