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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Does the warning against tattoos apply | Lev 19:28 | kalos | 157175 | ||
'Is It Wrong to Get a Tattoo? by Gregg Farah 'Q. Is it wrong to get a tattoo? Isn't there somewhere in the Bible that says it's a sin to pierce my body and have tattoos? 'A. Oh boy ... lots of opinions on this one! This is a highly cultural issue and a biblical one. Culturally, it wasn't too long away when it was considered wrong for guys to have tattoos, or earrings, or long hair! During the '50s, people considered these things wrong because they weren't masculine ... and then came the '60s, when everything changed. Since then, tattoos, earrings and hair length (and everything else) have gotten pretty casual. Today, those issues are more a reflection of style, fashion and individuality than a statement about masculinity. 'But the Bible does speak specifically about tattoos in Leviticus 19:28 and Isaiah 44:5. Here's the Leviticus verse: "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD." Seems pretty clear: don't get a tattoo, except that we need to consider the context of the verse. 'When Moses wrote those words, the Israelites were living in the lands of people who cut their bodies or tattooed them for religious reasons, meaning it was a form of worship to a god other than the God of the Bible. This practice was also used like a "good luck" charm to keep evil spirits away. God instructed His people not to do this because He wanted them to trust Him only - not some other god. 'Today, people tattoo themselves more for individual expression than to worship another god, so I don't believe this verse addresses the majority of tattooed biceps, wrists, and ankles we see today. Of course, there are people who still do this. 'My advice? Before considering getting a tattoo, think through these questions: '1) Have you prayed about it? '2) Does your tattoo honor God? '3) What do your parents think? '4) Are you willing to deal with the consequences of living with it for the rest of your life - or paying for the painful tattoo removal? '5) Will you be content with your tattoo if popular opinion changes and tattoos are no longer cool?' ____________________ http://www.crosswalk.com/510496.html |
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2 | Does the warning against tattoos apply | Lev 19:28 | MJH | 157232 | ||
Kalos, Have you heard the Midrash (story) about Solomon changing the law about Kings having many wives by removing the Hebrew letter Yod from the text? It’s a wonderful legend begun by Rabbis that pre-date Jesus. (At least that is the belief since Jesus seems to allude to it in Matt 5.) In sort (it’s a long story) the story goes like this: 1) Solomon is copying the text per the Law that Kings write a copy of the Law. 2) He comes to the offending law which says he can not have many wives otherwise his heart would turn away from the LORD. 3) He thinks, “I know the purpose of this law, and I will not turn from God, so it doesn’t have to apply to me. I will obey the ‘spirit’ of the law.” 4) He removes the letter “yod”. 5) The letter “yod” ascends on high to the throne of God, prostates itself and says, “Look what Solomon has done, if you allow this, then soon a whole word will be removed, and then whole commands, and your law will be meaningless.” 6) To this, God says, “Do not worry, Solomon and thousands like him will come and go, but not so much as a ‘yod’ will be removed from My Law until heaven and earth disappear.” The Rabbis used this story to teach that one must not think he knows more than God, and therefore think he can disregard one of his commands because he thinks he knows why it was put there. I really like this parable or legend, because it has helped me to stop justifying certain actions that in my heart I know violate God’s commands. Solomon had a good reason to think he knew why God put the command there, since the text says why it is there. But at the end of his life the text says that Solomon multiplied wives and his heart turned toward other gods and away from the Lord. (1 Kings 11:4) It is also said that it would have been better for Solomon to have cleaned latrines his whole life than for that sentence to have been written about him. In relation to the current topic, it is my personal belief that the command still stands. We may think we know why God gave this command and therefore rationalize why we do not have to obey it. But this is my opinion, and I hold no real judgments against those who arrive at a different conclusion. Just my two sense worth. MJH |
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3 | Does the warning against tattoos apply | Lev 19:28 | kalos | 157242 | ||
MJH: You make a good point and I would not judge those who agree with your conclusion. Personally, I wouldn't have a tattoo if someone offered me 10,000 shekels to have one. I think they are repulsive -- not the people who have them, but the tattoos themselves. And thank you for the Midrash about Solomon. I agree with the point of the story. Grace and shalom, Kalos |
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