Tattoos And Piercings

[jinjer]

I chose no, but guess I could have said "some." I don't think the tatoo should be vulgar or portray something unbecome a child of God. But, I don't think they are sin.

Jinjer

[Mike Vande]

If I recall correctly, there are scriptures in the OT regarding tattoos, but they are about getting tats for religious purposes, involvng pagan gods and such. I don't recall anything about piercings per se, at least not as practiced these days. So, as far as I can tell, unless done for a sinful purpose, in a NT context, tattoos and piercings are not sinful in and of themselves.

Stupid perhaps, but not inherently sinful.

But then, try explaining that to folks who think wearing wedding rings is sinful...

[Shellie]

Mike wrote:

there are scriptures in the OT regarding tattoos,

Well, one to be exact. Lev. 19

And you are correct. It speaks of cuttings in the flesh and marking of the body and for the purpose of doing it for the dead. It is a misuse to use it against tattoos and piercings.

Plus, within one or two verses of that scripture we find a scripture that is against men shaving!!!

Context and understanding is a wonderful thing.

[Paully_44]

Well, one to be exact. Lev. 19

And you are correct. It speaks of cuttings in the flesh and marking of the body and for the purpose of doing it for the dead. It is a misuse to use it against tattoos and piercings.

Context and understanding is a wonderful thing.

How right you are about contetxt and understanding.

Personally, I have 1 piercing and 1 tat. proud of them both, waited until I was well into adulthood before I got the tat, may get another one some day.

[The Martins]

Same here. I have a pierced ear, and a tatoo on my left upper arm. Wanting to add to the tatoo I already have and get another tatoo on the right arm. I don't see any sin in it... (obviously)

[Phil Hoover]

Not a sin...

And I have to remember the "such were some of you" passage from 1 Corinthians 6 because most, if not all tatoos are just repulsive to me...

Yet, when God cleanses and redeems a man/woman/boy/girl, then I have to look beyond their physical appearances....

And growing up in the very "strict" South, that is sometimes hard to do.

Phil Hoover
Chicago

[Little Sister]

I have 20 tats. with a piercing in each one and I'd like to know myself

This is the one I chose but I only have 1 tat (pelican on my right upper arm) and my ears pierced (3 piercings in each ear... used to have more in ears but let them close up... workplace actually made a rule that you could have no more than 3 piercings in each ear and none in your tongue, brow, lip, nose, etc).

[Jennifer Smith]

Wouldn't do tattos- this is something in my gut not as much from the Bible- (though there is that one verse:)) but from how I believe God feels about it. We are made in God's image and His likeness. Most tattooing and some body piercing is mutilation or distortion of the human image which springs from pagan rituals. The enemy knows that we were created in God's image and does whatever he can to distort it.

Our nation is becoming more and more pagan, that's why we see so many people with piercings, etc, going so far as ear stretchers, and other things you would normally expect to see in some remote African tribe.

When I see someone covered from head to toe with tattoos, often these people have grotesque pictures etc, it makes me think that in that person's life there is most likely something demonic driving them to keep going under the needle. I don't believe that everyone who has gotten a tattoo has sinned in doing so.
But my own personal conviction for myself is to not tattoo.

[Poimen]

Should I really share my thoughts?

Of course you guys know that I believe Christians should not wear jewelry. And I feel the same in general about tattoos and other piercings.

ESPECIALLY the spirit behind the fad among many street hardened kids, gothic groups, etc. I'm sure we are dealing with a whole different spiritual attitude in such cases, than when someone gets a "casual tat or piercing".

Simply put I don't feel a Christian should do these things. I don't feel that Christ would so I don't think we should. I will emphasize the word should. And I will add that I definitely feel that the whole rebellious obnoxious scene involving piercings, mutilating, and tats is certainly sinful.

I do believe all such to be ultimately sinful. But I recognize that many people do not understand these things the same way as I do, and that they may indeed be Christians.

As for what they should do after receiving salvation (or knowledge for those already saved)... some things can be stopped/fixed... other things cannot. I would encourage them to do what is possible/reasonable and to not let the rest worry them.

BTW, this is based on my beliefs surrounding adornment. To many of you that may be a heritage teaching... to me it is scripture.

[Shellie]

Poiman wrote:

Of course you guys know that I believe Christians should not wear jewelry.

And

this is based on my beliefs surrounding adornment

Poiman, I have always admired the spirit in which you share your beliefs. Please do not receive my questioning as offensive or instigative for it is not you I question, but your doctrine.

My question is............."What do you consider a tie?"

A tie does not hold your shirt up nor does it hold your head on, yet it is acceptable wear in "against adornment" arenas.

How is a tie not considered an adornment to a suit?

How is a pin (as long as it is not large and showy), not considered adornment?

When I was a sinner and not in the church, THIS is why I didn't listen to a word my mother in law had to say about God. I am not overly exaggerating.

I would look at her in her stick pins, (not large and showy), and listen to her preach against adornment. I would see pastors in expensive suits and cadillacs preach against "adornment and pride of life".

Don't you see that this comes across as hypocritical to wordly people?

[Poimen]

oh ... certainly Shellie.

Personally, I do not usually wear a watch because some people cannot see a difference, though I can.

When we reorganized we reworded the teaching to say "against the wearing of jewelry of any-kind on one's person or clothing". In the process of court stuff we were obliged to change the wording back, but it was emphatically stated that the spirit of the teaching was the same. Bro. Pruitt even addressed the pin subject. He stated that it was adornment and should not be worn. Of course there may be practical exceptions... pinning a blouse together where a button has been lost and not replaced yet, etc.

As for ties, the church has not felt (yet) that such is considered adornment in and of itself. But believe me it is something we are considering in conversation with one another. And I wonder about some people and if at heart they really have an "adoring " spirit. We don't want to exact more than the scripture does... but we don't want to be hypocritical in our stance either. We are searching to walk in the light we have the best we know how. I have some personal feeling on the issue both ways.. and needless to say am not settled on it. But I'm willing to do without a tie if that is what is pleasing to God.

[Gerald Creasy]

Poimen,


Are you justified by the works of these laws or are you justified by faith in Jesus Christ?

If you are justified by Jesus Christ, we then come down to the question which we have faced many times in the TCOG discussion: What good does it benefit you?

[Little Sister]

Personally, I do not usually wear a watch because some people cannot see a difference, though I can.

This is just unbelievable to me... I can't comprehend people spending energy worrying about these things.

When we reorganized we reworded the teaching to say "against the wearing of jewelry of any-kind on one's person or clothing".

This struck me as funny. When you reorganized, you reworded... that sums it all up. God isn't the one who's confused over jewelry, neckties, lapel pins... it's just you guys! Keep reorganizing and rewording teachings to "suit" yourself. God's teachings remain the same.

As for ties, the church has not felt (yet) that such is considered adornment in and of itself. But believe me it is something we are considering in conversation with one another.

You don't KNOW yet?? You haven't FELT yet?? You're "considering"? Uh-oh!!! Yet ANOTHER change in the teachings coming soon???

[Pastor Gary]

My question is............."What do you consider a tie?"

Tie? What is this foreign word you say here??

TIE? We know of no thing like "tie" here.

[Shellie]

Pastor Gary wrote:

Tie? What is this foreign word you say here??

TIE? We know of no thing like "tie" here.

In Hawaii, "tie" translates as "drawstring". You know.........that thing that holds your swimming trunks up.