A lot of people been asking me what does the bible say about tattoos & piercing? So her you go!
Old Testament
The only Scripture specifically mentioning “tattoos” is found in the Old Testament: “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:28. Tattoos were used extensively by the other nations for pagan worship, decoration, and to mark a slave. Based on Leviticus 19:28, tattoos are still forbidden among Jews today (by both Orthodox, Conservative, and Reformed Judaism). There is even one rabbinic text prohibiting the burial of bodies with tattoos. (However this prohibition is very rarely enforced – although some traditional Jewish mortuaries and cemeteries will not officiate at a funeral of one who is tattooed.)
The only Scripture that I know of on decorative “piercing” (as opposed to piercing by a sword or nails) is Exodus 21:6. This is a passage on piercing the ear lobe of a person to mark him as a slave. In the Jewish nation, slaves and pagans were the only ones with pierced ears. When Jacob’s family wanted to set themselves apart to the Lord, earrings are specifically mentioned as items that they put off (Genesis 35:4). Apparently any disfigurement or cutting of the body was not allowed for His “holy people” (see Leviticus 21:5; Deuteronomy 14:1-2; 1 Kings 18:28). The only exception to this was circumcision (Genesis 17:11-13). In modern day Judaism, it has become permissible for women in the West to pierce their ears because it is a common practice among the majority non-Jewish population. Jewish men, however, still may not pierce their ears.
In the Jewish writings on this subject, the rabbis refer to two concepts: (1) We were “made in the image of God.” Even though God is spirit, somehow our bodies reflect God’s glory. (2) Our bodies are a good gift from God – complete as is. As one Jewish rabbi put it, “No matter how well considered, a tattoo is the result of a short-term decision to decorate the body forever. What hubris to imagine that any of us, as individuals, can improve artistically on the original design of the Lord.”
New Testament
So if you were a Jew living in the Old Testament (or today), it would be clear that God forbids tattoos and piercings. However, Christians don’t obey all the Old Testament laws. As a matter of fact, some of them are specifically set aside by Jesus and the apostles. Are tattoos and piercings still forbidden or are they now acceptable for a Christian?
For more on the subject of taking Old Testament commandments and relating them to the present day, I recommend that you read How to Apply the Old Testament to Today. But let’s ask, “Do the Old Testament verses line up with any basic principle found in the New Testament?” The answer is “yes.” There is the New Testament concept that our bodies are not our own. This teaching is found specifically in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20:
“The body is meant for the Lord” 1 Corinthians 6:13.
“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 6:19.
“You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19.
“Honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20.
The key principle here seems to be that our bodies belong to God, not ourselves, and that we are to use them in ways that honor and reflect God’s glory.
Conclusion
Now let’s use deduction to arrive at a conclusion. Based upon these facts (the Old Testament commands against tattoos and piercings AND the New Testament principle that my body is not my own) I would reason that God would rather I leave my body free from self-inflicted marks and cuts. We were made in “the image of God.” Apparently He thinks no further pictorial adornment is needed.
Could I be wrong about this? Sure, it’s a deduction, rather than a specific New Testament command. But I think the key point that is clear in the New Testament is that our bodies aren’t really ours to decorate as we see fit. Therefore, I tell people to ask God whether He wants His body tattooed or pierced. If you get a “yes” answer, then I won’t condemn you. Just make sure it is God speaking to you and not you speaking to yourself in the name of God.
A Final Word
Nothing in what I’ve said is meant to imply any disapproval against those who come to Christ with tattoos, cuttings, or piercings. We come to Jesus just as we are – with all our imperfections in spirit and body. There are many people in our church who have tattoos and scars from their previous life before Christ. Some of these tattoos are even pagan or demonic. Some of the cuttings are from suicide attempts. No one looks down on these brothers or sisters or judges them. We are all flawed sinners. That is why we need Jesus. Some of us bear our markings outwardly. Some of us bear them more inwardly.
Speaker: Pastor Frank Osayi
Bible Scriptures:
John 15:1 - 6 - I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 3:16 - For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son, that who so ever believe in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
1st John 3:8 - The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
Notes: Unto us a son is given, a child is born, a gift was given to us. Jesus came into this world so we may have life. Jesus has come to give you life, if you want peaceful life, a joyful life, a blessed life, come to Jesus. The work of the devil was to destroy your life, and to steal, to kill, and destroy. The work of the Lord was to destroy the devil and his work. All Gods children must be attached to his vine, were the branch and he is the vine (we must be with God, and never leave his sight). Stay connected o Jesus, don't run away, a branch cannot survive when they are apart from the vine.
!NEW CHRISTMAS POST COMING ON DECEMBER 25, 2014!
!THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS, YOU GAVE ME A PASSION FOR DOING THIS, I WISH YOU THE BEST!
!MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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Speaker: Minister Anthony Chinan
Bible Scriptures:
Matthew 26:38 - 45 - Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.
2nd Chronicles 7:14 - f my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Notes: The thing that kept us going is prayers. Prayer and
forgiveness kept you going, because you are in a journey to heaven. Prayers got
you here today, if it wasn't for prayers, you would have been in the world and
be doing all this evil things. In the bible Judas one of Jesus disciples
betrayed Jesus, but Jesus forgive him, and he kept on going. Without prayers
the church will not stand, without prayers you will not survive in this world.
Prayers kept the family moving forward. When somebody breaks your heart only
Prayers will put it back together.
Speaker: Pastor Frank Osayi
Bible Scriptures:
Malachi 1:6 - "A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" says the LORD Almighty. "It is you priests who show contempt for my name. "But you ask, 'How have we shown contempt for your name?'
2nd Timothy 2:1-7 - You then, my son, be strong inthe grace that is in Chrit Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor's crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
1st Chronicles 28:9 - "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
Exodus 23:25 - Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you,
Notes: Harvest - is a result of all your effort; the process or period of gathering in crops. Whatever we are going through we wil have to enure it until our time has come. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, we must never break away from the vine, which means we should never run away or get away from Jesus. What makes you to be a Christian if you don't even pray, or read the Word of God. Example: Look at the muslims or islams they pray 5 times a day, and read their own book. It's not to difficult to pray or read th Word of God. Even the Bible reccomend you to pray. David was a man, he wasn't that perfect, he made alot of mistakes, but he's bold. He loves God, and dore him. He always pray to God, and ask for forgiveness. He had the boldness to fac Goliah the Giant, and when he had tha strong bold, he end up killing Goliah. The bible said out of thy belly shall flow rivers of living water. Serve the Lord with a perfect will and a perfect heart.
