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Abraham ibn Ezra, body modification, Body piercing, Christian, demonic, God, Harley Davidson, ink, Life, religion, Tattoo, Tattoos, Worship
Not long ago, one of our church members asked me a question. “What should be the Christian attitude toward tattoos, or body modifications?” I put the following together to answer that question.
Observe: By definition, modification means changing. Back in my 1960s “muscle” car days, many of those street legal cars were modified; that is, changed from the original form. I enjoyed the drag races, and worked one year at the Clairmont Nationals Drag Race. The “modified stock” was one of the most popular classes. More recently, I heard someone say there was probably not a stock Harley Davidson on the road. Every one had been modified in some way. Of course, H-D urges such modifications as they greatly increase the profit.
Body modifications. The person is displeased with their God-given appearance, and seeks to change it. When even Christians are displeased with the way God made them, then how can we condemn those who are displeased with the way God made the plant and animal world. Has the Christian attitude toward physical modification over the past couple of decades resulted in plant modification over the past couple of decades, GMO? Are not both the sinful outworking of man’s displeasure with God’s design?
Those of my generation look on in amazement at the appeal of tattoos, as well as body piercing, to Christians. For many years, tattoos have been one of the world’s mark of demonism, rebellion, or even of worldly “manhood”. When my generation (70 in Aug), thinks of tattoos and piercing, we think of “bikers” (no, I don’t have a tattoo nor piercing) and seminude “biker-babes”.
(There was a man in my battalion in the service who was tattooed over every inch of his body, so he had to wear long sleeves at all times so the tattoos would not show. He was the only man with a sewing machine, and made some good money with it.)
In other words, Satan worship through body modification has been common throughout history among those in rebellion against God, which results in rebellion against man. Therefore, we are left in amazement at the appeal of such openly demonic things to Christians.
The world exalts tattoos, and pastors have failed to condemn them for what they are. So these demonic activities have quietly been accepted by many who have professed Christ.
The world has dressed up tattoos. Rather than naked women and other openly wicked tattoos, tattoos are changing shape to hide their true nature— pretty butterflies, flowers or other delicate things, and then those shapes are put in an inconspicuous place. (Secret rebellion against God and man. See Jeremiah 6:20, which we will discuss at a later time.)
What does God, and secular history, say about body-modification?
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.
Print any marks Tattooing was probably practiced in ancient Egypt, as it is now by the lower classes of the modern Egyptians, and was connected with superstitious notions. Any voluntary disfigurement of the person was in itself an outrage upon God’s workmanship, and might well form the subject of a law. (Barnes’ Notes)
nor print any marks upon you—by tattooing, imprinting figures of flowers, leaves, stars, and other fanciful devices on various parts of their person. The impression was made sometimes by means of a hot iron, sometimes by ink or paint, as is done by the Arab females of the present day and the different castes of the Hindus. It is probable that a strong propensity to adopt such marks in honor of some idol gave occasion to the prohibition in this verse; and they were wisely forbidden, for they were signs of apostasy; and, when once made, they were insuperable obstacles to a return. (See allusions to the practice, #Isa 44:5 Re 13:17 14:1). (Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary)
nor print any marks upon you; Aben Ezra observes, there are some that say this is in connection with the preceding clause, for there were who marked their bodies with a known figure, by burning, for the dead; and he adds, and there are to this day such, who are marked in their youth in their faces, that they may be known; these prints or marks were made with ink or black lead, or, however, the incisions in the flesh were filled up therewith; but this was usually done as an idolatrous practice; so says Ben Gersom, this was the custom of the Gentiles in ancient times, to imprint upon themselves the mark of an idol, to show that they were his servants; and the law cautions from doing this, as he adds, to the exalted name (the name of God): in the Misnah it is said {h}, a man is not guilty unless he writes the name, as it is said, #Le 19:28; which the Talmudists {i} and the commentators {k} interpret of the name of an idol, and not of God: (John Gill)
After doing much research, I found the following to be true to both Scripture and history. So rather than “reinventing the wheel”, I will present the “wheel” as these men have developed it.
If you do not want to follow the documentation, and it is quite clearly presented, I will quickly sum up the matter. Tattoos are clearly forbidden to God’s people, with good reason. History tells us that tattoos are seen as bloodletting rituals to demonic gods. The numerous pin pricks are considered by the occultist as inlets for evil to enter the body. Moreover, there is no effort to deny nor even hide the satanic nature of tattoos by those involved in the industry.
Scripture, facts and history prove that tattoos are earthly, sensual and devilish. James 3:5, which brings us to,
Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
I am confident that the vast majority of those receiving, even purchasing, tattoos have no clue of the horrendous demonic influence to which they are subjecting themselves. Paul tells us that Christians can, and do, give place for the devil to work in their lives. Scripture tells us that seeking after the things of this world given place to the devil, and tattoos are one of the more obvious ways place is given to the devil. Regardless of the motive behind a tattoo, the results are the same. They are demonic in origin, as well as in practice. Throughout history, tattoos spoke of and speak of worshiping the gods of evil of every description, as well as slavery
Observe:
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.
“But that is Old Testament. We are now under grace, not under law!”
Can you say then that the ancient demonic nature of tattoos no longer applies, though modern tattoo artist tells us it is? Does Christianity innoculate us against the works of the devil in our lives? Did Paul “miss speak” when he said, Neither give place to the devil, for there is no way a Christian can give place to the devil.
Now What?
Leviticus 5:4 Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these. 5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:
Once a sin has been revealed, it must be confessed, renounced and the blood of Christ applied to that sin. 2 Cor. 4:2. Otherwise, the power given to the devil will continue, and can even increase, because the enemy has been given our permission to work in us.
- Ovid Need
What is amazing is that some christians believe that going to some sleazy hovel,often run by bike gangs as a laundering front, handing over currency to have a bible verse inked [ just in case you misplace your bible], somehow brings glory to God.
Seriously!? That’s your comment? Do you think judging brings Glory to God Ray?
Clearly using Lev. 19:28 to prohibit the tattoo itself no matter what it is or in what period in time and context it happened in would be using it out of the context of Leviticus. To follow this logic we would have to also not trim our beards which would assume we must have one. Now I know that you will obviously disagree on this. But your case must be from the context of scripture. Appeals to how this culture or that culture has or does view this or is a certain people group i.e. bikers do this mostly only make a case based on tradition. To say that tattoos are worldly and sensual, well we could say that about most of the clothes we wear today compared too many periods in history. Or that the person who buys the next I phone version as soon as it comes out is worldly. Clearly what is condemned in Lev. Is a specific physical activity that is done for the sole purpose of expecting a spiritual result.
Trevor, comment policies exist for a reason. I do not have time to police comments 24/7. You would do well to read it (see menu above). Normally, post as long as the one you’ve written above before i took out the incredibly lengthy quote from matthew henry, was just that, too lengthy. normally, post that long are automatically deleted. Take note for future reference. if it happens again, it won’t see the light of day. Secondly, I did not write the article.
Some time back I was edging away from the Lord. During that time I was around many Christians who had tattoos. My deceived heart allowed me to get one. From the beginning I had a condemning feeling. The more I denied it, the more I became ok with the ink. When I began to repent of the sins I committed during that time God immediately led me to repent of the tattoo. Now I’m stuck with a reminder of my rebellion. It didn’t matter that the subject matter is “honorable”, the tattoo was still wrong. I’ll remind you that I never stopped going to Church. I even preached during this time. Yet, looking back, I see that my rebellion was a slippery slope. It wasn’t until I looked at the sex offender registry and noted that most of them had tattoos, that I fully realized that I had participated in rebellion that is practiced by the worst offenders in society. Now I realize that the objective isn’t to push the boundaries of my freedom, but to seek the deepest places of His holiness. The only ink I need to do this is found on the pages of the Bible.
Larry,
First I want to say that it is not my intent to die on this hill and also that the content of many tattoos are very inappropriate just as are many clothes people wear and the words they say. But I just want to be consistent. So my question is this; are you really saying that your confirmation of the intrinsically evil nature of tattoos comes from the fact that many sex offenders have them? also I must say that a earring is a body piercing so of course all who make the objection to body piercings would not have a ear ring nor allow a immediate family member to have ear rings either, right?
In all the research I’ve done on this topic, this is the first article I recall reading that gets to the core of the issue: failing to be content with how God has made us. Lack of trust in God leads to all sorts of sin – many of which are accepted and welcomed in most churches.
Many thanks for this post!
Manfred – How can you assume that it is “lack of trust in God” that leads a person to get a tattoo?
Larry and Manfred – How can either of you assume that a failure to be content with the body God gave a person is the motive that anyone gets a tattoo, much less everyone. To say that definitively you would have to a) ask them or b) read there mind. I don’t think either of you have asked every person that has a tattoo what there motivation was, and I seriously doubt either of you would venture to judge the motives of a man’s heart.
JC – I did not say that there is no other cause that might lead one to get a tattoo. I was agreeing with the author that a lack of trust in God is A reason for such and a common reason for many sins.
Secondly – lack of contentment is A reason people get tattoos. Not THE reason everyone who has one gets it.
You need to learn to read without jumping to conclusions.
Actually, my friend, you called lack of contentment “the core of the issue”. I think I read it just fine. So again, have you done surveys of tattooed christians to come to this conclusion, or are you just presuming this to be the case?
JC – something being the “core issue” does not make the “sole issue”. I don’t need to survey sinful humankind to know they hate God and idolize self – the Bible makes that clear. It is a logical construct, in that context, to see that lack of contentment with self – the center of one’s life – would cause one to want to “enhance” the appearance of self. It may not be the individual’s perception of the tattoo that matters, but how people respond to it. We all just want people to adore us and drawing attention to self – with tattoos or outlandish braiding of hair that the Apostle Paul wrote about – are symptoms of something sinful going on.
Not all tattoos – or braided hair – are such. I do know of people with a small tattoo of Scripture in a place where it does not show; it’s something to remind them of God’s sovereignty when they look at themselves in the mirror.
While I do agree that we as sinful creatures hate God and love self in our natural state, I don’t agree with your diagnosis that a desire to enhance one’s appearance of self is the primary motivating factor of, or is the “core issue” behind Christians getting tattoos. Nevertheless, what you explain here is quite different than what you posted the first time.
Curious JC, do you have a tattoo? If so, why did you get one? Seriously.
Yes I do. I originally got it because I thought, “oh, that will be cool” I got my last name plastered across my back. And it was pretty cool. It wasn’t necessarily so that the whole world or anyone in particular could see it and admire it, I mean I’m not all that much to look at with my shirt off, and a tattoo wouldn’t help that much. I just got it because I liked it. I’ve never been much of a self-conscious person, at least not in regards to my body and how I look, so I haven’t really sought approval in that way. Not my cup of tea.
If God can write my name in the palm of His hand….http://bible.cc/isaiah/49-16.htm……
Then I have no problem glorifying Him with artwork on my flesh as well. The bible said do not tattoo yourself for the dead as the pagans do. My tattoos glorify the living Christ are works of art taken from scripture
Good thing Jesus isn’t as judgemental as some related to this blog. Be on the lookout for a new clothing line coming soon…..tat2dsaint…..like it or not, that’s what I am
Fascinating to me that this entire tattoo issues is predicated upon the current public craze for them. This tattoo zeal of late has produced many followers, and decreases the need (tfor those seeking tattoos)to have ANY apologetic for the behavior, much less a Christian based one.Fickle popularity creates it’s own mindless defense, e.g. “everyone is doing it.” I can think of dozens of reasons, with no strain, why NO ONE ought get a tattoo, and why a Christian obviously ought not. For the life of me I cannot think of any Christian,God-honoring rationale or even just a clear-headed, mature,thoughtful justification for inking your skin like a cheap newspaper.