Post by pitbull on Aug 20, 2006 15:19:10 GMT -5
Are Tattoos and Body Piercings Unchristian?
-by Tony Warren
here was a time when markings on the skin were only made by the primitive and heathen tribes, or by sailors who had traveled to their countries and brought these customs back with them. Body piercings were traditionally done only by primitive tribes who didn't know the God of Israel. However, it is indeed a sign of the times that over the last few decades, body piercings and tattoos, which are reminiscent of the unregenerate pagan nations, have become very popular in Christian countries. So much so that today it is not uncommon to find that people professing to be Christian are either in support of, or defending the claim that there is nothing Biblically wrong with these practices. You can even search the internet and find so called 'Christian tattoo parlors' and 'Christian body Piercing studios.' Indeed, the time is upon us where it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the world and the Church.
1st John 2:15
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
The Church loves the world today, and as a result is becoming just like it. Where once there was a 'distinct' separation from the way of the world and the traditions that the children of God practiced, today there is no separation. There seems to be a race by many professing Christians to see how much like the world they can become, while still professing themselves as Christians. Granted, it is true that the modern Church has been in doctrinal degradation and decay for over fifty years, but it now appears to be in total free fall where any orthodoxy or adherence to Biblical principles is actually considered "unchristian" or "judgmental." And although this degeneration of historical Church doctrines has been well documented by many Theologians, very few Pastors have either the will or the inclination to preach against such practices. They are so affected by the malaise of exegetical hypnosis that they have no ability to discern between their right hand and their left. The result of this spiritual malaise is both predictable and inevitable.
2nd Timothy 2:19-20
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour."
Thus we have in the Church the post-modern Christian mixing the holy with the unholy, and blending the spiritual with the fleshly, all in the name of being open minded and inclusive. Many indeed exhibit indignation against anyone making righteous judgments concerning these worldly practices. Their rationalization for support of tattooing and body piercing is that, "by not preaching against this, they are actually helping young people find more things in common with Christ." But on the contrary, what they end up doing is making Christ, common. By unrighteous oxymorons like "Christian Rock," "Christian Tattoos," and "Carnal Christians," they effectively blur the line between the world and the Church. So much so that today it is nearly impossible to tell where one stops and the other begins. Wrong passes for right, and worldliness is spoken of as Christian empathy. But the people who do this will not go blameless before God.
Isaiah 5:20
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
Those whose consciences are not seared are vexed by the troubling question, "is it a sin for Christians to get tattoos or body piercings?" Most modern theologians will not answer the question directly, but instead will navigate around common sense and scripture like a politician navigates around tough issues. Nevertheless, this really isn't a gray area (as some unwilling to tackle the question honestly would allege), because there are many Christian principles which would prohibit these actions. Not the least of which is that we are to live life as a new creature, different from the world, humble rather than vain wherein we look for ways to be adulated, as the world does.
Proverbs 15:32-33
"He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility."
Matthew 23:12
"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
Christian body piercing in the most basic (honest) definition, is the vain cutting or self-mutilation of the human body for the express purpose of adulation and admiration. You want others to see this thing that you've done to yourself, that you may glory in it. Harsh evaluation, yes, but what other reason is there for these actions except the lust of the eyes? These are the same reasons that the world does these things. As we saw in 1st John 2:15, this is their way, not the way of one who is supposed to be "set apart" for the service of God. Verse 16 continues..
1st John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
Wanting to have body piercings is the lust of the flesh, not a desire of the Spirit. Those people accepting these trends are embracing dangerous practices that may seem harmless, but are about as harmless as an Adder. Just because something "seems" harmless to the naive, doesn't mean that it is.
Proverbs 16:2-3
"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established."
In other words, a person's ways may seem innocent to him, but God doesn't look on the outward appearance, the hidden vanity, agenda, motives are all weighed by the LORD. Whether they are to be like the world, or to rebell against parents, or to stroke our egotism, it is not hidden from God. We may deceive ourselves, but we don't deceive God. And it's not just a fad or trend, it's a symptom of a much greater spiritual problem in the world. And it just keeps getting worse, with people getting multiple rings in noses, ears, in the tongue, eyebrow, navel, and other unmentionable parts of their bodies. Yet we have Christians protesting against us in support of this practice? This is not Christian activity no matter how much rationalization you may hear. It is an abnormal unseemly and unnatural practice for Christians. And we will continue to preach against it by authority of scripture..
Likewise, Christians branding themselves with markings or tattoos is an unnatural defacing of their body, which God has deemed His Holy Temple. We might go so far as saying that it is near to committing sacrilege against this Temple, because these are the actions of the worldly unsaved children, not of God's children. We are the visible representations of God on earth, and thus are to walk circumspectly. Our body is not like the world's body, it is a temple to the Holy Spirit. Marring or disfiguring the body the creator made for us will not add one single thing to the glory of God, or to the extending of the gospel. And there is definately inference from the fact that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, that we should honor it, rather than disrespect and desecrate it. For it is God's living testament to us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:13). It's strength, symmetry, endurance, and inherent beauty declares how wonderful a creator our God is. What can man's tattoos, sundry metals and nose jewels add to this creation but paganism and vanity. We should never attempt to make any non essential, permanent "improvements" to the body God created for us. For if we nobly consider this, it is clear this pagan conduct is done to be grandiose, or for reasons of show, vanity, or pride. Many in the Church today have their eyes squarely on the world, and that is why they love to emulate what they see in the world, and bring it into the Church. i.e., the proliferation of worldly dress, speaking, music, entertainment and practices.
Of course, there are few professing Christians that are going to confess their own vanity and desire to be immodest, so in an attempt to obscure their reasons for tattooing their body, they have substituted worldly images for pictures of Christ, hearts, doves or crosses. Their conscience cleared, now they can claim that it was all done as a witness to their faith rather than their flesh. However, even a rudimentary examination of the motives will show these things are almost always done for self, and not for Christ. Christ is just a convenient excuse, the rationalization they need to appease their conscience. Moreover, where is that excuse for body piercings? Can we say we got six ear rings in order that it be a witness to Christ? Not with a straight face we can't. Yet even that is rationalized today by professing Christians.
Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
God knows the heart of man, and he knows it is full of excuses, justifications and self-delusion. And He is not fooled by it. The lust of the flesh is not something new, even for Christians. And so we should be able to understand that when man wants something bad enough, he can rationalize away almost anything. The truth is, tattoos and body piercings are really a witness to these people's worldliness, and not to their faith in Christ. For Christ is "not of this world," and as Christians we should also take up our cross and deny ourselves the lusts the world loves. Christians today seem to want to have one foot in the world, and the other in the kingdom.
Titus 2:12-15
"Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."
Denying ourselves these worldly lusts shows that we are a peculiar people, a special people set apart from the world. The children of God are to take their sanctification with all gravity and sobriety, taking special care that they not expose themselves or their profession, by any inappropriateness, to contempt. Let no man despise us or have contempt for us because of our hypocritical worldly actions or lusts. There is no way that we can justify our worldly lusts by self-serving platitudes about what, "good it can do as a witness to unsaved people." One professed Christian rationalized it to me, saying, "The tattoos I have provoke conversation and questions about Christianity." I would think that it would, but for all the wrong reasons. His problem was that he concluded that, therefore, it was good for him to have a tattoo. But using this logic, I could say that because a person from Iran heard of Christ in a mosque, that means God uses mosques to provoke people to come to Christ, so they are a good place to witnesses. Again, this is self-justification and self-serving. The ends "never" justify the means. We cannot do what is both unlawful, and a bad witness, in hopes that the end good that might come would justify the means. Did Lot start emulating the practices of the unrighteous around him, or was he troubled daily by the degradation?
2nd Peter 2:6-7
"And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:"
The world's conversation and behavior vexed Lot "because" he was a different creation of God. He was chosen of God and thus had a spirit that was vexed by the ways of the world. Could any of us "honestly" imagine Christ piercing His nose and putting rings in His ears because that was the worldly fad of the day? Could we imagine Christ having the Temple, Olive trees, or grapevines tattooed on His body as a witnessing tool? Of course we couldn't. Knowing Christ (which Christians do), the mere suggestion is outright ridiculous. Because as Christians we inherently know that's not a Godly practice. It is indeed disgusting to see professing Christians deform the body, the holy that the Lord made in perfection. Yet people will rationalize, and are blindly led to suppose that this heathenistic practice can be used to God's Glory by His disciples today. On the contrary, God specifically instituted laws to make the children of God "separate" from the heathen nations and their worldly traditions. From not mingling two kinds of seed, to not mixing livestock, these were all Old Covenant laws to illustrate that God's people were to be separate from the unbelieving peoples of the world. They were not to mingle with them as one seed was not to be mingled with another. And that included embracing their traditions of markings in their flesh, which characterized these ungodly nations.
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."
The objection here by some is that it was the stipulation of piercings or cuttings in the flesh "for the dead," which is true. However I think that it is perfectly clear from the text that God was instructing them not to follow the practices of these heathen nations around them. And God says, "nor print any marks upon you." And the reason is because they were a "separated" people, a "called out" people, and a "different" people from those of the world. And that is the point that Christians today don't seem to comprehend.
1st Peter 2:9
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"
We are a possessed or acquired people who have been called out of the ways of darkness, into the light. Shall we go back in the lusts of the flesh for the ways of the world? Shall we who have been called out of the world and its ways, continue to desire to live in the flesh as the world? God forbid, for we are a people who serve the true God translated into a different kingdom. And we cannot lust after the old ways, as Lot's wife who looked back to that she had left.
Of course those objecting to what Leviticus teaches are quick to point out that Leviticus chapter 19 also forbids cutting your hair off around the sides, rounding the beards, and mixing different seeds.
Leviticus 19:26-28
"Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD."
Take note how they leave out not eating blood, using enchantments, and observing times. You see they understand they should continue to keep these laws, but they joy in pointing out these "other precepts." In their zeal to justify themselves, they neglect to see that 'all these laws' were clearly written to keep the Children of God from emulating the heathen customs of the ungodly people around them. Customs like eating blood soaked meats, drinking blood, using enchantments, cutting their hair to leave a plot on top, cutting the corners of beards, cutting themselves for the dead, and branding themselves with what we call Tattoos. They all represented things which God's people were not to do because these heathen nations around them did them, and they were to be special. They were commanded to be diverse from the world, a people set apart and sanctified for the service of God. This caveat really starts in chapter 18 Where God says Israel must not be like the world that He brought them out of, as Egypt, and must not be as the land they are going into Canaan, they must do His judgments and keep His ordinances because He is the Lord your God. Clearly God is instructing them not to act, mimic or be like the unsaved world. How then can these scriptures in Leviticus be used today in support of doing the exact same thing that they clearly warn against? Namely, going after the same ungodly traditions of those "outside of the camp" of God's people, and doing exactly as the world does in tattooing and the cutting and piercing the body? Far from proving their point, these scriptures are another strong prohibition to God's people of following after these traditions of the ungodly such as tattooing and piercing the body. And the ungodly world is exactly where these practices came from. This law stands today that we (like Israel) are not to become as the unbelievers around us that we take their customs of tattooing, cutting out flesh or putting rings in our noses and eyebrows. And it is indeed a telling indictment of themselves when they can say "see" when talking about cutting round the corners of the hair, and accept the other prohibitions of not eating blood, using enchantments, and cutting for the dead. i.e., they want to have it both ways where they can pick and choose which laws they should keep, depending upon what is the latest style, craze or fad. The classic case of "situation ethics," or obedience dependant upon the times in which we live.
Malachi 3:6
"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
The Lord God is immutable. So just as He didn't want His old Covenant congregation Israel mingling with the world and learning their customs, He doesn't want His New Covenant congregation mingling with the world and learning their customs. For it will "adulterate" the congregation. Let's face facts, tattoos and body piercings are not in any way a good testimony for Christians. When even an unbeliever will tell you it seems out of place for a Christian to have tattoos, then we should know something is not right. Certainly we are not to appear gaudily in ways that attract attention to our body or dress. The Scriptures command us to present a modest appearance and to walk after the Spirit in meekness, not after the flesh, that we not be conformed to this world. Tattoos do not fit that command in any sense. We are to live as far from the way that the world lives as we can, not see how close to the world we can live. When you're walking along a precipice or cliff, if you have wisdom you don't see how close you can get to the edge without falling off. On the contrary, you stay as far away from the edge as possible. Likewise, we are at enmity with the ways of the world. We are two 'distinct' kingdoms that should retain their distinctiveness. i.e., Carnal Christians, Christian Rock and Roll, Biblical Divorce, Christian Tattoos, White Lies, Christian Body Piercings, etc., these are all oxymorons. These are not things that should go together, they are things diametrically opposed to each other. The laws God instituted in Leviticus were designed "specifically" to keep the children of God and the children of the world separate in their customs, traditions, desires, deeds, gods, and appearance. This unadulterated truth is conveniently forgotten in modern day lust to be like the world. To dress like them, to tattoo themselves like them, and to even live like them. Pride, arrogance, rebellion and vanity are the hallmark of those who mark, cut and pierce their bodies. Are we not spiritual adulterers when we abandon Godly virtues in fleshly lust after the world? In attempting to be like the world, are we not yet carnal? For it is written, friendship with the world is enmity with God.
James 4:3-6
-by Tony Warren
here was a time when markings on the skin were only made by the primitive and heathen tribes, or by sailors who had traveled to their countries and brought these customs back with them. Body piercings were traditionally done only by primitive tribes who didn't know the God of Israel. However, it is indeed a sign of the times that over the last few decades, body piercings and tattoos, which are reminiscent of the unregenerate pagan nations, have become very popular in Christian countries. So much so that today it is not uncommon to find that people professing to be Christian are either in support of, or defending the claim that there is nothing Biblically wrong with these practices. You can even search the internet and find so called 'Christian tattoo parlors' and 'Christian body Piercing studios.' Indeed, the time is upon us where it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the world and the Church.
1st John 2:15
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
The Church loves the world today, and as a result is becoming just like it. Where once there was a 'distinct' separation from the way of the world and the traditions that the children of God practiced, today there is no separation. There seems to be a race by many professing Christians to see how much like the world they can become, while still professing themselves as Christians. Granted, it is true that the modern Church has been in doctrinal degradation and decay for over fifty years, but it now appears to be in total free fall where any orthodoxy or adherence to Biblical principles is actually considered "unchristian" or "judgmental." And although this degeneration of historical Church doctrines has been well documented by many Theologians, very few Pastors have either the will or the inclination to preach against such practices. They are so affected by the malaise of exegetical hypnosis that they have no ability to discern between their right hand and their left. The result of this spiritual malaise is both predictable and inevitable.
2nd Timothy 2:19-20
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour."
Thus we have in the Church the post-modern Christian mixing the holy with the unholy, and blending the spiritual with the fleshly, all in the name of being open minded and inclusive. Many indeed exhibit indignation against anyone making righteous judgments concerning these worldly practices. Their rationalization for support of tattooing and body piercing is that, "by not preaching against this, they are actually helping young people find more things in common with Christ." But on the contrary, what they end up doing is making Christ, common. By unrighteous oxymorons like "Christian Rock," "Christian Tattoos," and "Carnal Christians," they effectively blur the line between the world and the Church. So much so that today it is nearly impossible to tell where one stops and the other begins. Wrong passes for right, and worldliness is spoken of as Christian empathy. But the people who do this will not go blameless before God.
Isaiah 5:20
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
Those whose consciences are not seared are vexed by the troubling question, "is it a sin for Christians to get tattoos or body piercings?" Most modern theologians will not answer the question directly, but instead will navigate around common sense and scripture like a politician navigates around tough issues. Nevertheless, this really isn't a gray area (as some unwilling to tackle the question honestly would allege), because there are many Christian principles which would prohibit these actions. Not the least of which is that we are to live life as a new creature, different from the world, humble rather than vain wherein we look for ways to be adulated, as the world does.
Proverbs 15:32-33
"He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility."
Matthew 23:12
"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
Christian body piercing in the most basic (honest) definition, is the vain cutting or self-mutilation of the human body for the express purpose of adulation and admiration. You want others to see this thing that you've done to yourself, that you may glory in it. Harsh evaluation, yes, but what other reason is there for these actions except the lust of the eyes? These are the same reasons that the world does these things. As we saw in 1st John 2:15, this is their way, not the way of one who is supposed to be "set apart" for the service of God. Verse 16 continues..
1st John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
Wanting to have body piercings is the lust of the flesh, not a desire of the Spirit. Those people accepting these trends are embracing dangerous practices that may seem harmless, but are about as harmless as an Adder. Just because something "seems" harmless to the naive, doesn't mean that it is.
Proverbs 16:2-3
"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established."
In other words, a person's ways may seem innocent to him, but God doesn't look on the outward appearance, the hidden vanity, agenda, motives are all weighed by the LORD. Whether they are to be like the world, or to rebell against parents, or to stroke our egotism, it is not hidden from God. We may deceive ourselves, but we don't deceive God. And it's not just a fad or trend, it's a symptom of a much greater spiritual problem in the world. And it just keeps getting worse, with people getting multiple rings in noses, ears, in the tongue, eyebrow, navel, and other unmentionable parts of their bodies. Yet we have Christians protesting against us in support of this practice? This is not Christian activity no matter how much rationalization you may hear. It is an abnormal unseemly and unnatural practice for Christians. And we will continue to preach against it by authority of scripture..
Likewise, Christians branding themselves with markings or tattoos is an unnatural defacing of their body, which God has deemed His Holy Temple. We might go so far as saying that it is near to committing sacrilege against this Temple, because these are the actions of the worldly unsaved children, not of God's children. We are the visible representations of God on earth, and thus are to walk circumspectly. Our body is not like the world's body, it is a temple to the Holy Spirit. Marring or disfiguring the body the creator made for us will not add one single thing to the glory of God, or to the extending of the gospel. And there is definately inference from the fact that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, that we should honor it, rather than disrespect and desecrate it. For it is God's living testament to us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:13). It's strength, symmetry, endurance, and inherent beauty declares how wonderful a creator our God is. What can man's tattoos, sundry metals and nose jewels add to this creation but paganism and vanity. We should never attempt to make any non essential, permanent "improvements" to the body God created for us. For if we nobly consider this, it is clear this pagan conduct is done to be grandiose, or for reasons of show, vanity, or pride. Many in the Church today have their eyes squarely on the world, and that is why they love to emulate what they see in the world, and bring it into the Church. i.e., the proliferation of worldly dress, speaking, music, entertainment and practices.
Of course, there are few professing Christians that are going to confess their own vanity and desire to be immodest, so in an attempt to obscure their reasons for tattooing their body, they have substituted worldly images for pictures of Christ, hearts, doves or crosses. Their conscience cleared, now they can claim that it was all done as a witness to their faith rather than their flesh. However, even a rudimentary examination of the motives will show these things are almost always done for self, and not for Christ. Christ is just a convenient excuse, the rationalization they need to appease their conscience. Moreover, where is that excuse for body piercings? Can we say we got six ear rings in order that it be a witness to Christ? Not with a straight face we can't. Yet even that is rationalized today by professing Christians.
Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
God knows the heart of man, and he knows it is full of excuses, justifications and self-delusion. And He is not fooled by it. The lust of the flesh is not something new, even for Christians. And so we should be able to understand that when man wants something bad enough, he can rationalize away almost anything. The truth is, tattoos and body piercings are really a witness to these people's worldliness, and not to their faith in Christ. For Christ is "not of this world," and as Christians we should also take up our cross and deny ourselves the lusts the world loves. Christians today seem to want to have one foot in the world, and the other in the kingdom.
Titus 2:12-15
"Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."
Denying ourselves these worldly lusts shows that we are a peculiar people, a special people set apart from the world. The children of God are to take their sanctification with all gravity and sobriety, taking special care that they not expose themselves or their profession, by any inappropriateness, to contempt. Let no man despise us or have contempt for us because of our hypocritical worldly actions or lusts. There is no way that we can justify our worldly lusts by self-serving platitudes about what, "good it can do as a witness to unsaved people." One professed Christian rationalized it to me, saying, "The tattoos I have provoke conversation and questions about Christianity." I would think that it would, but for all the wrong reasons. His problem was that he concluded that, therefore, it was good for him to have a tattoo. But using this logic, I could say that because a person from Iran heard of Christ in a mosque, that means God uses mosques to provoke people to come to Christ, so they are a good place to witnesses. Again, this is self-justification and self-serving. The ends "never" justify the means. We cannot do what is both unlawful, and a bad witness, in hopes that the end good that might come would justify the means. Did Lot start emulating the practices of the unrighteous around him, or was he troubled daily by the degradation?
2nd Peter 2:6-7
"And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:"
The world's conversation and behavior vexed Lot "because" he was a different creation of God. He was chosen of God and thus had a spirit that was vexed by the ways of the world. Could any of us "honestly" imagine Christ piercing His nose and putting rings in His ears because that was the worldly fad of the day? Could we imagine Christ having the Temple, Olive trees, or grapevines tattooed on His body as a witnessing tool? Of course we couldn't. Knowing Christ (which Christians do), the mere suggestion is outright ridiculous. Because as Christians we inherently know that's not a Godly practice. It is indeed disgusting to see professing Christians deform the body, the holy that the Lord made in perfection. Yet people will rationalize, and are blindly led to suppose that this heathenistic practice can be used to God's Glory by His disciples today. On the contrary, God specifically instituted laws to make the children of God "separate" from the heathen nations and their worldly traditions. From not mingling two kinds of seed, to not mixing livestock, these were all Old Covenant laws to illustrate that God's people were to be separate from the unbelieving peoples of the world. They were not to mingle with them as one seed was not to be mingled with another. And that included embracing their traditions of markings in their flesh, which characterized these ungodly nations.
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."
The objection here by some is that it was the stipulation of piercings or cuttings in the flesh "for the dead," which is true. However I think that it is perfectly clear from the text that God was instructing them not to follow the practices of these heathen nations around them. And God says, "nor print any marks upon you." And the reason is because they were a "separated" people, a "called out" people, and a "different" people from those of the world. And that is the point that Christians today don't seem to comprehend.
1st Peter 2:9
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"
We are a possessed or acquired people who have been called out of the ways of darkness, into the light. Shall we go back in the lusts of the flesh for the ways of the world? Shall we who have been called out of the world and its ways, continue to desire to live in the flesh as the world? God forbid, for we are a people who serve the true God translated into a different kingdom. And we cannot lust after the old ways, as Lot's wife who looked back to that she had left.
Of course those objecting to what Leviticus teaches are quick to point out that Leviticus chapter 19 also forbids cutting your hair off around the sides, rounding the beards, and mixing different seeds.
Leviticus 19:26-28
"Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD."
Take note how they leave out not eating blood, using enchantments, and observing times. You see they understand they should continue to keep these laws, but they joy in pointing out these "other precepts." In their zeal to justify themselves, they neglect to see that 'all these laws' were clearly written to keep the Children of God from emulating the heathen customs of the ungodly people around them. Customs like eating blood soaked meats, drinking blood, using enchantments, cutting their hair to leave a plot on top, cutting the corners of beards, cutting themselves for the dead, and branding themselves with what we call Tattoos. They all represented things which God's people were not to do because these heathen nations around them did them, and they were to be special. They were commanded to be diverse from the world, a people set apart and sanctified for the service of God. This caveat really starts in chapter 18 Where God says Israel must not be like the world that He brought them out of, as Egypt, and must not be as the land they are going into Canaan, they must do His judgments and keep His ordinances because He is the Lord your God. Clearly God is instructing them not to act, mimic or be like the unsaved world. How then can these scriptures in Leviticus be used today in support of doing the exact same thing that they clearly warn against? Namely, going after the same ungodly traditions of those "outside of the camp" of God's people, and doing exactly as the world does in tattooing and the cutting and piercing the body? Far from proving their point, these scriptures are another strong prohibition to God's people of following after these traditions of the ungodly such as tattooing and piercing the body. And the ungodly world is exactly where these practices came from. This law stands today that we (like Israel) are not to become as the unbelievers around us that we take their customs of tattooing, cutting out flesh or putting rings in our noses and eyebrows. And it is indeed a telling indictment of themselves when they can say "see" when talking about cutting round the corners of the hair, and accept the other prohibitions of not eating blood, using enchantments, and cutting for the dead. i.e., they want to have it both ways where they can pick and choose which laws they should keep, depending upon what is the latest style, craze or fad. The classic case of "situation ethics," or obedience dependant upon the times in which we live.
Malachi 3:6
"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
The Lord God is immutable. So just as He didn't want His old Covenant congregation Israel mingling with the world and learning their customs, He doesn't want His New Covenant congregation mingling with the world and learning their customs. For it will "adulterate" the congregation. Let's face facts, tattoos and body piercings are not in any way a good testimony for Christians. When even an unbeliever will tell you it seems out of place for a Christian to have tattoos, then we should know something is not right. Certainly we are not to appear gaudily in ways that attract attention to our body or dress. The Scriptures command us to present a modest appearance and to walk after the Spirit in meekness, not after the flesh, that we not be conformed to this world. Tattoos do not fit that command in any sense. We are to live as far from the way that the world lives as we can, not see how close to the world we can live. When you're walking along a precipice or cliff, if you have wisdom you don't see how close you can get to the edge without falling off. On the contrary, you stay as far away from the edge as possible. Likewise, we are at enmity with the ways of the world. We are two 'distinct' kingdoms that should retain their distinctiveness. i.e., Carnal Christians, Christian Rock and Roll, Biblical Divorce, Christian Tattoos, White Lies, Christian Body Piercings, etc., these are all oxymorons. These are not things that should go together, they are things diametrically opposed to each other. The laws God instituted in Leviticus were designed "specifically" to keep the children of God and the children of the world separate in their customs, traditions, desires, deeds, gods, and appearance. This unadulterated truth is conveniently forgotten in modern day lust to be like the world. To dress like them, to tattoo themselves like them, and to even live like them. Pride, arrogance, rebellion and vanity are the hallmark of those who mark, cut and pierce their bodies. Are we not spiritual adulterers when we abandon Godly virtues in fleshly lust after the world? In attempting to be like the world, are we not yet carnal? For it is written, friendship with the world is enmity with God.
James 4:3-6