TATS AND PEERCE

Lev 19:28

THE SCENARIO: Tats and Peerce are a couple of Christian kids. Well, they aren't really “kids” anymore, they're getting up in their later teens now. Somehow they got this notion to unreservedly tattoo their bodies, and to pierce themselves with sundry “jewelry rings and sticks and pins,” in the eyelids, the eyebrows, the nose, the lip, the tongue, and more. “It's the hip thing to do these days” they say.

In the outworking of this scenario please consider the following:

1. The ubiquity of tattooing and body piercing must surely be another sign of the God-disdaining times in which we live in this early twenty-first century—here is a blatant, direct violation of a command by Jehovah God that forbids this practice, as reflected by our subtitle verse Lev 19:28 (compare Lev 19:27 and shaven heads to this present hour!). What being has the capacity to infuse such God-disdaining Sin into the human race, and make it appear benign, on such a grand scale? In other words, would you agree that the prince of this world Satan instills a passion for such desires into the hearts and minds of humankind (...”it's the hip thing to do...”)? Isn't it interesting how these desires can spread pronto back and forth across the globe like a contagion? Christian friend, if an unbeliever said to you “...that verse, Lev 19:28, is out of touch with reality; is out of touch with the times...” what would you say to them? Have you heard many Christian sermons and/or teachings concerning this subject? Is this not an area that the Christian Church should take a loving stance for Jehovah God for the sake primarily of guiding and protecting the Flock?

2 Please discuss any three of the following verses in the context of this scenario (Lev 21:5, Isa 15:2, Eze 7:18, Eze 44:20).

3. Tats and Peerce would say “...hey, what we are doing is no big deal; you do your thing, we do our thing...” Maybe they just aren't spiritually mature enough yet to see the danger in what they are doing. What precisely is the danger/s here by the way, from a Scriptural perspective (for example, how does this connect to God's stance against paganism past and present, what is the demonic element at play, how does this blaspheme God through the markup and marring of the human body created in God's image, etc.)?

4.What, if anything, is wrong with a woman piercing her ears (we do not think that there is anything wrong with that by the way)—why would this largely be acceptable, and yet the body piercing of these times not be acceptable from God's perspective; what is the difference?

5. For the purpose of illustration, and with no disrespect meant to our Lord, can you imagine Jesus walking around with nose piercing jewelry, or some kind of clever self-expressive tattoo (it is clear from Scripture that He did not “adorn” Himself so)? Why would He not do such a thing? Would you agree that He was perfectly content with His “individuality;” that He would never have made a self-expressive splash such as attends tattooing or body piercing? Jesus' life was one that knew no hint of self-expressive “individuality;” indeed, just the opposite (Phl 2:5-11), amen? To what degree is arrogance at the root of tattooing and body piercing?

6. As their Christian parents, how would you counsel Tats and Peerce? This question might be a good one for a Christian group to work out under the Holy Spirit's leading. Ask Him to lead each of you, and learn from one another, in accord with His sensitizing counsel. If you are Christian parents being confronted by such a scenario, your church family should be able to help you. On the other hand, if you think that tattooing and body piercing is acceptable in the eyes of God, please defend Scripturally.

7. Dear Christian friend, what is the difference between the pornographic exposition of the human body, over against its marring through willful tattooing and piercing? We reckon that there is not much difference at all. Both degrade the human body, a body created lovingly in the image of its Creator. Surely both of these degradations are pinpoint assaults directed at our God; an effort to degrade God, as also us, the object of His love, by God's enemy Satan, through the vehicles of wanton lusting, and/or prideful human self-expression, both of which Satan would opportunistically endeavor to exploit in effort to affront the very image of God resident in a human target. Let us not be an instrument of Satan's incessant blaspheming of our Creator Jehovah God. Join with us if you will in prayer for the Tats and Peerce of this world, as also for their concerned family and friends. Christ bless you and yours Christian friend.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE LEGEND

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