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I would like to tell you about what I think of Piercing and tattos. Just so my arguments don't sound too hollow, I have my eyebrow pierced, a lipring, and two sets of ear plugs(large gauge holes).
All of us, male and femle, who have piercings and tattoos, or want them, have had Leviticus 19:28 thrown in our faces -- "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, not tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord." Also other verses about it being for outward appearance only. Most people say it to condemn christians with pierced and tattooed skin. People have gone so far as to tell me that i can't be a Christian if I have my piercings!
Is tattooing and piercing making the temple of God unclean? Am I blatently ignoring Gods commandments? I say no, for many reasons. We can look at it through scriptural doctrines. FIRST, by knowing a little about history and the land in which the Israelites were living in at that time (when Leviticus was written) piercing was done to get the attention of pagan gods, and was done to 'prove' their sincerity. It was done as a form of making oneself worthy to approach some graven image though self mutilation. God (and rightly so) forbid his chosen people from following such pagan and evil rituals.
Either way, there are always people who take the word of God and do not regard its textual meaning, and take it to the literal letter. Yes! The whole Bible IS God breathed and is the word of God, but it shows his plan for redemption! The law was only given before Jesus came to show that we could not save ourselves from Hell. We see God's plan to restore mankind into his kingdom.
In Romans, and indeed throughout the new testament, the apostle Paul writes that we are no longer to be justified by the law, and that it was given to reveal sin. Only through faith in Jesus can one be saved (Rom 3:20-26). In fact, Jesus actually did away with the law, and its curse! (Gal 3:13-22). The writing about piercing (cutting) and tattoos is part of Levitical Law, BUT - if we are going to live by ANY set of these laws, we have to live by ALL of it (James > 2:10). If we break one, we are guilty of breaking all of them.
According to this law, we can't eat pigs or rabbits (LEV 11:6-7), we can't eat lobster, crabs, or clams (LEV 11:10-12). We are not allowed to shave (LEV 19:27) or so many other things! So if we have ever eaten pork, or gotten pierced - we are guilty. But God had a better plan than a "no-pig-eating" law book. He sent his son Jesus so that we could be reconcilled with the Father! Romans 5:1-2 says that we are justified by FAITH in Jesus, not by works. Read the 5th chapter of Galations. It deals with this issue.
Under this "new covenant" in Jesus' blood, ALL the law is fulfilled in loving God with all your heart, and loving your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:36 - 40 and Galations 5:14). Jesus is now our rightstanding with God. Our reighteousness is not based on the law, but on Jesus' blood. (Galations 2:21) > But aren't our bodies the "temple of the holy spirit? Yes, BUT - When people quote these verses, they take them out of their intended context!
This saying (the temple one) shows up three times, in 1 Corinthins 3:16, 1 Cor. 6:19, and 2 Cor. 6:16. In the first one Pual is addressing the divisions in the church and is telling them that they need to be careful what they put their trust in "lest the temples be defiled". In the 2nd verse, Paul is refering to sexual immorality, and the harm it does to your body. In the 2nd Corinthians one, Paul is talking about destroying your body with idolic worship. None of these are relevant to the argument against piercing and tattoos.
In Matthew 15:11, Jesus says that it is not what is on the outside or in the body that makes a person unclean in God's eyes, it is what is on the inside, and what the heart speaks (Matt 12:34). It is the love and faith and purity of heart that keeps the piercing fine in God's eyes, BUT - it can be the immorality, and unbelief within your heart that can defile it. I do not personally see what the big fuss is about piercing, looks and tattooing! As Christians we should be attacking the work of the devil, NOT our fellow Christians and brothers and sisters in Christ who happen to be pierced!! Paul tells us not to engage in foolish disputes and arguments over things concerning Levitical law. He says it is useless and unprofitable (Titus 3:9) One thing that I, and everyone with or wanting piercings needs to be weary of - do you rememeber the controversy in Paul's day over whether eating meat sacrificed to idols was okay or not?
Paul said that eating the meat was not good, nor was it bad IN ITSELF. The heart motive of the participant either cleansed the meat, or defiled it. Paul affirmed our freedom in Christ- piercing is okay! BUT - he also warns us to be careful that our liberty does not become a stumbling block to others. This may mean taking piercings out for church, and covering your tattoos or taking off spikes and studded bracelets ( I know I have to). A word of caution - do not flaunt your Chrisitan freedom. One person's freedom could be anothers downfall. We need to make sure our piercing intentions are pure! My decision for getting pierced was half becuse I knew that people who werent christians would pay more attention to what I say.
In 1 Corinthians 9:19, Paul says, ". . .I am free, and do not belong to any man, but I will make myself a slave to everyone, so that I may win them (to Christ). To the Jews I will become like a Jew, so that I may win the Jews (to Christ). To those people who are under the law I will become like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win them (to Christ). To the weak, I will become weak, if it means bringing them to Christ, and I will become all things that by all possible means I might save some people. I do this all for the sake of the Gospel that I may share in its blessings."
I am able to spread the good news with people who most christians see as outcasts (though not intentionally). Just think - most people would stare at a guy with more than a couple of facial piercings. I do not just have christ in common, I have the piercings.
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