Hey all you stressed out parents/teenagers looking for advice..

Our youth pastor sent me the following mail (which he had in fact emailed off to a concerned parent just the other week).

I thought that this was really great biblical advice, and if you are looking for biblical answers, I’m sure you would find then here.

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Is it wrong for Christians to get body piercing or tattoos?

The Issue

As youth leaders or parents we might feel awkward with this type of question. Let’s face it, you don’t want your kids to come home looking like circus freaks. While wisdom may scream ‘No!’ (and in many cases should be heeded) I think you would be hard pushed to argue that piercing and tattoos are unchristian. You have also got to watch the ‘slippery slope’ in answering this question. Those who say it is wrong usually don’t mind girls having one piercing in each ear. Where do you draw the line? How many piercing makes it ‘wrong’? And we need to make sure that we handle the OT in a way that takes the new covenant and the death of Jesus into account (i.e.: you are giving an answer to NT Christians, not to OT Jews).

Verses to Consider:

Leviticus 19:28 – The principle for not marking your body is so that Israel will not conform to the practices of the pagan tribes around them.

I Cor 9:19-23 – Paul’s announcement that “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some . . .”

An Answer to Consider

There is a verse in the OT that says tattoos are not appropriate for the Israelites. But the trick is to ask what is the NT application for that OT verse? Lev 19:28 is part of the holiness code for Israel as they embark on life as a nation chosen by God. The immediate context of 19:28 seems to forbid Israelites from imitating the practices of pagan cults and religion that used body cutting and tattoos as part of their idol worship. Which is why the verse finishes with the reminder ‘I am the Lord’. Holiness for Israel meant to be set apart from the nations and kept undefiled by their pagan ways. They were to do this by keeping these various laws regarding their bodies, food, even farming etc.

However Jesus comes and fulfills the law, bringing it to its proper conclusion (Matt Ch 5). For instance, he announces that all foods are now clean for the believer to eat (Mark 7:14-19). This would be one example of how the gospel will interpret and apply the OT law for the Christian today. Although Jesus doesn’t refer specifically to Lev 19:28, it is correct to say that holiness now finds its home in the person and work of Jesus Christ, not in various laws of the OT. To be holy now, as God’s people, is to be found ‘in Christ’, and the old divisions of race, gender and status no longer apply (Col 3:11) In fact it seems that much of the ‘old’ is made a non issue as it is fulfilled in Christ. (Check Colossians Ch 2:16-17)

So while it is good to remember that you don’t get to heaven or belong to God’s family here on earth because you look a certain way, it is also important to keep in mind that we do still need to honor and obey your parents, and that we don’t do anything illegal. If these things check out, then wisdom kicks in!

Consider the following:

• Christians are called to be counter culture. In your community will having piercing or tattoos associate you with gang members, criminals, or as someone who hates authority? (which was the principle behind the command in Lev 19:28) If so, don’t bring shame on the gospel for the sake of looking cool.

• Remember, tattoos are permanent! If you get a tattoo of your favorite Dragon Ball Z character on your arm, how cool do you think this will be when you are 45?

• There are health considerations. Dirty needles, infections and, in the case of tattoos, an increased risk of skin cancer might be good reasons to think twice.

• Even if your parents are OK with it, your school probably won’t be. If they make you take it out or cover it up it will end up being a wasted effort.

• Don’t do it for shock value or to become the center of attention. That is a cry for help, not a fashion statement.

• Don’t do it because you either hate your body or because you love your body in a self-obsessive kind of way. Your self-confidence comes from knowing Jesus loves you, not because you have a tongue stud.

• Even if you are over 18 but still live at home and benefit from your parents support – you need to ask yourself, while I am not a child any more, to what extent am I an adult independent of my parents? It would seem to me that to honor your parents in this situation may still mean submitting to some of their rules as you are a dependant member of the household. Is it worth asserting your authority (and thus moving out, paying your own way, doing your own laundry and suffering the damaged relationship with mum and dad) for the sake of a tattoo? Even if you are convinced that there is nothing unchristian about the decision, you may decide to put your own interests aside for the sake of others (the Bible considers this a mature and Christ like attitude to take).

You can visit his blog @ www.accordingtoscott.blogspot.com
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There, I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did..

Peace out and God bless.