(Another) question for christians.?

Question

My mother is trying to tell me that body piercing and tattoos is a sin, according to the bible. I asked a friend about this (a christian friend, very strong in his faith) and he told me that my mother was wrong, that what she was referring to was a bible verse taken out of context.

Are piercings and tattoos considered a sin? If so , what verse in the bible states this?

*sigh*.....right right..... Its early....I forgot.....Please dont answer just to tell me that christianity is fake. I have my beliefs, you have yours, lets leave it at that shall we?

I already have 2 tattoos...and yes I'm quite aware that Im going to have them in 50 years. Sure theyre going to look ugly..I'll be old, everything on my body is gonna be ugly, so why hold back just because of that?

Well now..I could be wrong but, the verse you guys are quoting makes it sound like, I'm not suppose to hurt myself because someone died? maybe not.

Im not a minor but I can see how you'd get that from the question.. I'll rephrase, my mother and I were debating tattoos and religion...she wasnt forbidding me from getting a tattoo. (I'm 24)

Answer 1

No they're not a sin, unless you believe they are.

Nowhere in the bible is anything like this forbidden. The reference in Leviticus should be read in the context of heathen practices carried out by the nations around Israel at that time.

We all have to act according to the dictates of our own conscience.

Paul said, "All things are permissible, but not all are beneficial." (paraphrase).
Only you can decide if this is beneficial for you. Don't let anyone tell you what being a Christian does and does not allow you to do - you have the Holy Spirit within you to teach you all things.

Ask the Lord in prayer and you will know His will for you in this.

But, above all, love Him, others and yourself.

God bless, Pete.

Answer 2

According to Old Testament, which is Christian Bible, one is not supposed to put marks, scars, paint, or maim themselves, this was an Old Testament thing. Some people would make a mark on there body with a blade or hot iron to show that they grieve for one that has died.
So your mother is half right. It is in the Bible. sorta.
CBN guy actually has a close answer to it:
the Bible does talk about scarring and marring of the body and cutting the body. These are pagan customs, and the Bible condemns it. All these scars, you look in pagan cultures, they cut themselves. They leave great scars in their bodies. And usually it was a scarring to indicate their allegiance to some pagan deity. So that’s what tattoos are all about.
Lev 19:28Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD.
Thats Leviticus or Levi. So you see granny is correct. sorta.
To get a flower or a rainbow because you are happy might be ok, prolly is, it is really up to you and how you understand your religion. I do not do organized religion anymore, I consider myself to be a good person, I just do not bow down to or worship any idols made by a mans hands.
Peace.

Answer 3

Though I have read the Bible from cover to cover I don't remember ever reading that tattoos and body piercings are an actual sin. But why do you want to scar your body up with such things? If it's for attention there are many other ways that are much more desirable. Although many young people think that it is "cool" most older people that I know that have gotten tattoo's regret the fact later. Realize that as you grow your outlook on many things change. But your tattoo is there for good. If you feel you need more attention, try working on the simple things, smile more, be more attentive to others, be a good listener, simple things like this will get you much more desirable and positive attention. It is always your own choice but I would give it a lot of consideration before deciding to do things to your body that you may be sorry about later. Let people see the real you and not just some decorations.

Answer 4

This is my own theology.
Some people take the Bible way too literally. For one it was written by man (of course with the wisdom of God) and also It was thousands of years ago and multiple translations that who knows what was meant in a verse.
My feelings on things like this is that a person is NOT going to Hell (if it even exists) for smoking, piercing, tattoos, responsible drinking, and even cussing.
Some may say "lukewarm" but I think it all depends on the purity in your heart.

Answer 5

In the Bible it tells you in Leviticus Chapter 19 verse 28 all about body piercing and tattoo's

Answer 6

The scripture she is thinking of is probably 1 Corinthians 6:19;
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"
There is no scripture that specifically says "thou shalt not pierce or tattoo", God does not attempt to spell out every single act that should or should not be done (one of the notable exceptions is the specific requirement for salvation, see Acts 2:38). What He did do was provide general guidelines for life in the scriptures and then gave us the mind to figure it out.
Of course, all scripture is for those who love God enough to want to apply it to their lives. Most people who genuinely love God would not consider a tattoo or a piercing simply because they would not want to be considered part of "the world". They are aware of how God feels about His people setting themselves aside from worldly practices (while remaining engaged in an effort to win the lost).
Folks who would rather get tattoos or piercings to please themselves instead of considering how God feels about it are usually not that interested God anyway.
Piercings and tattoos are not sin. But forcing you to not get a tattoo or a piercing really doesn't change your feeling about God, does it? If a tattoo or a piercing is what is most important to you, it probably is a fairly accurate indicator of your relationship with God.
It's also interesting that your friend who is "strong in the faith" would undermine your mother. One of the fundamental principals of Christianity is family and relationships. There's a scripture that say's "children, obey your parents". If your friend truly is "strong in the faith" he would encourage you to see your mother's side of it and try to help you understand why tattoos and piercings are not the image a young Christian should be interested in showing the world.
But that begs the question of what you want the world to see in you? Do you want them to see God or not? It's that basic really.

Answer 7

If you are treating your body as a temple the you are just decorating it with tattoos just like the churches with the stained glass windows.

Legends of Babylonia and Egypt
[1] Driver, /Modern Research as illustrating the Bible/ (The Schweich ... these two elements the varied practices of tattooing, circumcision, ear-piercing, ...
www.sacred-texts.com/ane/beheb.htm

Answer 8

Tattoos are considered a sin which holds that believers shouldn't deface their bodies.

Christian body piercing is (in the most honest sense) the vain cutting of the body, and self-mutilation of the Holy Temple which God has created for man. Likewise, Christians branding themselves with markings or tattoos is defamation of that body, and committing sacrilege against this Temple.

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."

1st Corinthians 6:19-20

* "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

* For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

Answer 9

I am not sure about piercings - but there is a ref. about tatoos.

Leviticus 19:28 is the reference for tatoos below:.
28 " 'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD

As believers, Jesus has come to save us from the "law" in that we don't have to follow the letter of the law to be saved. It is about honoring God with your body and life - Maybe a single tatoo would be okay (depending on the depiction). But with my nieces and nephews, they say it is hard to stop at just one. Also, it's a matter of honoring and respecting your mom. (I am assuming you are a minor).

Answer 10

Leviticul 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'

Well, you can tell your mom that this verse comes from the same book of the bible that says your clothing cannot be made from two seperate animal fibers and you can't eat pig meat, and the punishment for most offenses is DEATH....http://biblebabble.curbjaw.com/laws.htm