To tattoo or not to tattoo, that is the question?

A person will find himself in many situations, and would wonder within themselves, what would Jesus do? Or what would God say about the situation I am in. This is known as situation ethics. The situation a person may find themselves is in this instant, all their friends are having themselves tattooed. It seems exciting, you may feel that you are "hip", rebellious, just a crowd follower or even a friend pleaser. you may even think that your body is a canvass and the tattoo is an artist expression on a living canvas, or you may have just been drunk and in the heat of the moment you woke up and found that you have this beautiful work of art that is displayed for the world to see, or you have been more daring and the tattoo is placed where only your partner has the privilege to see. Whatever your reasons the question that I was asked about the other day is "Is it right for a Christian to be tattooed? or another way to look at it.."what does God say about the art of the tattooist? Incidentally while we are at it, this by implication includes body Piercing etc. I want to say first and foremost out right. it is not right for a Christian to be involved in, nor to partake of the tattoo artistry, for the following reasons: I. The First mention "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." Lev 19:28 A. Found in the Old Testament 1. This is known as the law of first mention. To search the Scripture we have to go back and see if God had spoken directly about the topic you are inquiry about. In this case it is found in the Old Testament, We find that God is speaking to Israel, during the time of Moses, and he is stipulated that this is a commandment of God, and He says "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." Lev 19:28 2. It is also prudent to mention that we find that God is laying down holy laws that He requires Israel to follow(There are 613 laws stipulated in the O/T), He starts out the whole commandment thing with, " And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, :2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy" lev 19:1-2, and He finishes off by saying " Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD. "Lev 19:37 3. We should be able to deduce three things here, namely: i. God wants Israel to be holy, that is to say, set apart for God's purposes, set apart from sin, or without sin, as God is. God is our standard that we are to do and become in our lives. ii. That God commands Israel not to Pierce themselves, nor to mark themselves (this can be in the form of physically cutting into the flesh or it can be inked markings within the flesh). There was a heathen practice to cut yourself as a sign of mourning for the dead Deu_14:1 iii. God does not open this for debate, He says you shall observe all my statues and He says you shall do them! 4. It can be argued, and rightly so, that this does not apply as this commandment was given to Israel and not to us today. We do not fall under the Mosaic law. We are not Israel. i. This is true, but I want to express that this is whats known as first mentioned, I also want to add that God gave commandments, judgments etc as examples for us to learn from today. " Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" 1Co 10:11. I must also add that the topic of tattoo's etc is not address further in the New Testament; however it does not mean that God has changed His views on issues.

ii. Many times there are not directives that specifically deal with your situation, but there are principals that apply. In this case there is a first mention, and we see God's specific directive and his view on how we are to behave. In the New testament we come across another command "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; :16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1Pe 1:15-16 This by implication in regards to the command of lev 19:28 about tattoo still applies. iii. You may contend that we are not under the law, yet I see that God has not changed about Him being holy, nor has His command about us being holy changed either. Christ was asked which of the laws are relevant for us today, "Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? :37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.:38 This is the first and great commandment. :39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. :40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Mat 22:35-40. This would mean that, if I love God with all my heart and soul, I will try and obey Him in all aspects. Being holy and doing right by God in this instant would mean that I would not go out and have a tattoo done, nor by implication would I place my self in the position by causing others to sin by me doing a tattoo on someone else B. But they did do it! 1. The background to tattoo is steeped in heathen practice of cutting their bodies in honour of the dead, they believed that if they marred themselves that the God's would be appeased, they also went one step further and would ink in the name of their deity upon their flesh, thereby showing their allegiance to that god 2. Aben Ezra observes",.. for there were who marked their bodies with a known figure, by burning, for the dead; and he adds, and there are to this day such, who are marked in their youth in their faces, that they may be known; these prints or marks were made with ink or black lead, or, however, the incisions in the flesh were filled up therewith; but this was usually done as an idolatrous practice; so says Ben Gersom, this was the custom of the Gentiles in ancient times, to imprint upon themselves the mark of an idol, to show that they were his servants;" 3. Although the Israelites obeyed God at the time, they reintroduced the practice later on as we see in Jer 16:6 4. Just because Israel did it it does not make it right, God promises punishment for disobedience read Leviticus 26 to get an idea how God feels about disobedience II. The Christian perspective A. Does not the Scriptures teach that I have freedom to do as I please? 1. No it does not, you have freedom to do as you please within the boundaries of God's word. It has been remarked "God's leading is in accordance to His word, and God speaks through His Word" this being the case Paul said, " 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? :20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1Co 6:19- 20. Your body does not belong to you, it belongs to God (This only applies to those who have asked Christ to save them, those that are born again, those that are saved, those that are known as "the sons of God".) 2. But it does not hurt anyone, in fact it is art! The background to doing a tatto is steeped in the doctrines of devils, heathern worship, which has carried over today and we call it art form, it may take a skill it may look beautiful but it is not to be mentioned among Christians " But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. :21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. :22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? :23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth." 1Co 10:20-24

3. Having a tattoo, including Piecings etc is a heart issue, is your heart for God and the things of God, or is rebellious and contentious and against God. We are told in the above verse that we are not to seek our own wealth, but the wealth of another. (this speaks of wellbeing, not his money). What Paul is saying there are things that I am allowed to do, but if it harms the conscience of a weaker, we are to stop, not for our sakes but the sake of another " And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? :12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. :13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." 1Co 8:11-13 let me illustrate it another way so that you understand it better, I believe I will not be doing the Scriptures an injustice to support my view " And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? :12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. :13 Wherefore, if a tattoo make my brother to offend, I will not tattoo my body while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." 1Co 8:11-13 " But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: :29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? :31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. :32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: :33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." 1Co 10:28-33 The point of the exercise is not to offend the weaker brother, consequently you are to desist what you are doing, as his conscience is seared, so that you can win him for Christ.. in this case your tattoo will offend, his conscience will be seared and you are to stop.. so that they through your humble, obedient spirit will be a witness and a testimony to them, and they in turn will want what you have. Jesus Christ! B. But everyone is doing it! 1. Just because everyone is doing drugs it does not mean that you should 2. Just because everyone is committing suicide, it does not mean that you should 3. Just because everyone is getting a tattoo, it does not mean that you should 4. There are several commandments for the Christian in the world today i. If you are God's child then your mindset is elsewhere " These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country." Heb 11:13-14 ii. If you are a child of God you would not want to conform to the world "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,.."Rom 12:2 conform speaks about doing the same thing. the world is being tattooed, you shouldn't iii. If you are a child of God then you will not march to the steps of the world " Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" Col 2:8 The word "rudiments" speaks of walking in step with, marching to the drum, the world is marching to the step of a tattoo, you shouldn't

C. But it means nothing! 1. Not true, God had mentioned to Isreal that they should not do it for any reason. He did not debate it, he commanded it! 2. Not true for you, because you are now aware of this fact, so you cannot declare that you are ignorant of this, because I have just shared this with you "But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Jas 4:16-17 3. Not true, hereafter, if you are a Christian and persist in doing as you please, you have a rebellious heart, I would then say to you: "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputing: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" Php 2:12-15 D. Does this mean that I am not a Christian if I have a tattoo? 1. No it does not imply that. What this means for the Christian, that if you had a tattoo before you are saved, at the point of salvation you are forgiven all sin (past, present and future) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Psa 103:12 2. What if I received a tattoo after salvation, now you know to do right, confess as a sin and stop doing it. It may also mean that you would want to have it removed. Part of confession is restitution (making up, or making good) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1Jn 1:9 This was written to Christians, to have them know that God forgives sin, if confessed 3. What if I am not a Christian, what is my standing before God? It is irrelevant at the end of the day, This will not be the issue before God, it would be, What have you done about my Son Jesus Christ? He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. :8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Rev 21:7-8 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Joh 3:36 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. :12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. :14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Rev 22:11-15 If this is a concern, Ask Stitch for my contact details, I would love to share Christ with you Conclusion: A Tattoo is the outward sign of a rebellious heart against God, parents, and authority. It is interesting to note that everyone thinks that they are unique, that they are non conformist, but the moment you have a tattoo your are a conformist, marching to the beat and drum of your peers, as Israel did, so do ye!.