Does anyone know...
the theological point of view regarding tattoos...
Talking about it last night with rentals, it's like in the OT it was frowned upon,but was this because of the linking with pagan rituals, and this obviously does not apply to those people who have them already... rather to people thinking of getting new ones...
dicsuss please...
let me know your thoughts...
Talking about it last night with rentals, it's like in the OT it was frowned upon,but was this because of the linking with pagan rituals, and this obviously does not apply to those people who have them already... rather to people thinking of getting new ones...
dicsuss please...
let me know your thoughts...
posted by mrjohnfernandez at 8:48 am
7 Comments:
Hi,
Nowadays it isn't linked with pagan rituals, so I don't see a problem with it. However, the question is, why is someone getting it done, just like the question is always why, what are our motives? Also obviously the extent of it is a factor, e.g. if you cover yourself in tattoos you're gonna make other people be scared of you. Whether that's their fault or not is irrelevant.
IMHO.
Hope you're well!
I can think of three reasons why a Christian may be against tattoos- firstly that they feel it would just be spoiling the body God had given them, secondly that they felt they could use their money more wisely, and thirdly if they lived in a society where tattoos did carry certain connotations that a christian should not get associated with (e.g. El Salvador maybe?). Although the third reason is similar to the original Jewish law regarding tattoos, that would not be applicable in every situation as God's people now consist of more than one nation- which is why it really comes down to an individual's own decision now. Some people may be ok getting one, others might not- but no one should be judgmental of either decision. At least from a Christian point of view.
I believe the principles in Leviticus 19 stil stand. The nation of Israel were to follow God and that meant being different to the nations around them. We as Christians are called to be different. The origins of tattooing and piercing are pagan. Does Romans 12 2 apply? Has anyone asked a person who had tattoos/piercing applied before they became a Christian, how they feel about them now?
Steve
Steve: How do you distinguish between the (presumably ongoing) principles which stand, and the practice which was linked to the nation of Israel?
What about the Israelites, they all had earrings though didn't they?
Steve, would you say that women shouldn't have their ears pierced then?
Paul or Liz's question - I will take a little longer to respond on the detail and hope to in the near future.
All I was saying in response to the original question was that as the Israelites were supposed to be different and distinguishable from the pagan world arouund them - is there not a similar call to us as Christians to be distinguishable from the pagan world around us. Bec btw - I do not want to be over picky or personal!
Does 1 Peter 2 and 3 not have something to say about being a 'holy' or set a apart people?
What have I stirred up here?
Stephen
I agree, but I'm not sure if outlawing all tattoos and piercings is the way to do that. The texts in the new testament that refer to us being set apart and shining like stars all refer to character. I'm not saying that means we can't be set apart in other ways, but shouldn't we let the Bible shape our emphasis?
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