Why do some Christians say that piercings and tatoos are wrong?

Question

It doesn't say that in the Bible. In fact they had nose piercings back then...it was an engagement ring. It never ever says that piercings or tatoos are wrong. What i've always believed is that as long as we are living our lives for Christ and our modivations or reasoning for doing something isn't wrong than what could possibly be wrong with it?

It does not say in the Bible that your are not to mark or pierce your body. The part about your body being the temple of Christ...he means the inside. The Lord looks at the heart, man looks at the outside.

Answer 1

They have issues.

Answer 2

Piercing and tattoo's are nothing new, and truthfully every ancient culture has practiced such things. It is possibly more a cultural thing than it is a Christian abhorance, However, in the light of diseases and the way most tattoo's are applied should tell you that you are putting yourself at risk having one, or multiple ones. Tthe way tatoo's are put on the body even in the best of conditions uses an element of risk for blood disease and hepatitus. Sterilization kills germs, but that doesn't guarantee that you won't get a disease through such risky endeavor. You say well everything has an element of risk. This is true. However, when it comes to getting a disease that is both incurable and life threatening the risk to life and family should not be undertaken.

Yes the Holy Bible does menition ear and nose piercings. And some of them are ornamental. The problem is that "piercings" are not! That is piercing the flesh, body parts, lips, and numerous places and times. This is warned against in the New Testament and primarilary of women, men however did not do it, so the stipulation falls to that arena, yet in the light of day it would pertain to them if the practice was widespread. It does say that apparell should be modest, and of a humble nature, not extravagant or vulgar or repulsive - but this has to do with godliness and holiness, as befitting Christians.

The world held no such views and today again it is culture and disease more than anything. However some of these were used as ones worn to appease or signify ones gods they worshipped.

Answer 3

Some Christians think this is wrong because, it is stated in the Bible that your body is a temple and you should not deface that temple. So therefore by getting tattoos or piercings you are scaring or degrading the temple that God has created. I myself have both tattoos and piercings and always have very strong Christian influences in my life and I must say that they have been great about the amount of tattoos that I have. God also said love thy neighbor so I guess in this case some people choose to pick and choose which they wish to follow, but me personally I think they should all realize that if you share a common belief you are not somebody that defaced their temple, but rather someone who loves God just as they do themselves.

Answer 4

its doesnt specifically say that tattoos and piercings are wrong necissarily but it does say to treat your body like a temple. to most people this means to not mark it up with tattoos and stuff. I dont personally see anything wrong with them, just so long as they are not disgusting or graphic or raunchy in any way. My friend that i go to church with had a cross tattooed on his shoulder when his mom passed away, in memory of her... its stuff like that where i dont see a problem, i think that the tatoo or whatever should have a special meaning to the person getting it.

Answer 5

It's in the Old Testament - When Moses had his Exodus from Egypt, God asked that they purify themselves from Egyptian ways --- which included voiding tatoo's and body piercing <.

Jesus came and taught that not laws or religious practices are always necessary for salvation. It is in the intent. He also gave the keys to the kingdom of heaven to St. Peter. In the "Acts" Peter said it is OK do forego many of the jewish laws (including the ban on tatoo's and piercings).

Answer 6

Actually the practice of Christians not piercing or tattoing thier bodies goes back to the Levitical law. The law that was given to Moses in the desert. Most Jewish people also do not pierce or tattoo.

1. As far as piercing. In ancient times, to have ones ear pierced was an indication that you were a slave. Some Christians believe today that piercings are an indication that the individual is in bondage to something. Piercings in different parts of the body indicate bondage to different things.

See
Exodus 21:2
Deuteronomy 15:16
on piercings

2. As for tattoos. This was a practice of heathen nations. God instructed Israel to abstain from this practice when the entered the Promiseland.

See Leviticus 19:28

To many Christians today, abstaining from some practices that are common in the world is a way of being set aside for God. Being separate from the World

2 Corinthians 6:17 says, "Come out from among them and be separate".

As Christians we should not follow the traditions and trends of the world but rather pursue holiness (holiness simple means set aside for the Masters use".

Answer 7

There are a few passages in the Scriptures that talk about tattoos and piercing.
Lev. 19:28
"You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD."
This verse has reference to the custom among the pagan nations to pierce themselves, or tattoo themselves when a member of the family died. Such tattooing or piercing was an effort to appease the Idols they worshiped into accepting their departed relative. For an Israelite to pierce himself or tattoo himself was a sign that he was influenced by Idolatry. This was a serious sin.
This verse, however, cannot be applied to the kinds of tattoos or piercings that are associated with our culture except among the pagan worshipers. It is ALWAYS wrong to apply the Old Testament Law, which was given only to the Jews, to New Testament times. We DO NOT live under the Old Testament Law. To take a verse out of the Old Testament and attempt to apply it today is to practice legalism. This was the error of Judiazers of the first Century who were trying to teach that Christians had to obey certain aspects of the Old Testament. They were condemned for their error (c.f. Galatians).
In the New Testament there are no prohibitions against tattoos or piercings. Some would say that the "mark" in the book of Revelation indicates God's displeasure with tattoos. This cannot be demonstrated by the context of the book of Revelation. In Revelation the "mark" on the hands and the forehead are representative of what a person does with his hands and his head. God is concerned about the things that we do with our hands (whether good or evil). He is concerned with the way we use our minds (whether for good or evil). The "mark" in Revelation has absolutely nothing to do with a literal mark.
There is a consistent teaching throughout the Bible that we do not belong to ourselves. For the Christian this concept is clearly taught in 1 Cor. 6:19-20.
1 Cor. 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
The Christian must ask, "will this be harmful to my body?" If the answer is yes.......it is wrong. The Christian must ask, "can I glorify God by this action?" If the answer is no.....it is wrong.

Answer 8

Some think that it is wrong because your body is a temple of God. It's to be used for God's doing and some believe that tatooing and piercing it is disrespectful to God.

Answer 9

because certain verses in the Bible that say you not to tatto yourself in Leviticus and that you are make no holes in your body also from the book of Leviticus. I believe that is a matter of conscience if it brothers you do not do it and if does not brother you then it is ok for you to do just don't judge those say it is wrong and if it is going to cause somebody to sin then you should not wear the piercings in front of and you should cover your tattos for your weaker brother read in Romans 14 about this

Answer 10

...is that why so many little Catholic girls have pierced ears? I know that a lot of people (no particular religion) freak out about tattoos, and I think a lot of them use their religious beliefs as an attempt to excuse their prejudice against them. I think it's just like anything else -- there are people who cannot tolerate others who do things that stretch beyond their own personal boundaries. It's convenient for them to say "my religion doesn't advocate that"... but it's just simple prejudice - fear and ignorance. Oh...and also there are some people who just love to presume to tell other people what they can or cannot do.

Answer 11

Why is graffiti considered to be something undesirable in a neighborhood? Is it because it destroys the otherwise clean appearance, or because it represents a debased element of society?

The Bible says in Genesis that mankind was created in the image and likeness of God. To alter that image, particularly in a fashion that is according to the ungodly people who embrace such things is to deface God's image.

Are you going to hell because you got a tattoo, or because you got your tongue peirced? Probably not. Faith in Jesus Christ determines whether you are saved or not. But this is a matter of what message are you sending, and whether you are glorifying God in your body or not. (I Cor 16:19&20)

There IS a difference between a girl getting her ears pierced, which is aesthetically attractive and 100% accepted in our society and culture, and a guy walking around with a bone through his nose. The whole point of it is to broadcast an image and to get a rise out of someone else. If you say you are a Christian, I would have to question why you want to do as the heathen do. If you have that image because that's the subculture you are from, and you use it to befriend people that need Jesus, then that has a purpose - other than personal vanity.