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NASB | Leviticus 19:28 'You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Leviticus 19:28 'You shall not make any cuts on your body [in mourning] for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves; I am the LORD. |
Subject: body piercings and why not |
Bible Note: Hi You will note that I was replying to your question as to what Scripture your mother had in mind, and I only referred to the one that applied, 'you shall not make a marking on your body'. There would certainly have been no thought of infections in Moses' mind. It was the marking itself that was wrong because it demonstrated that the person was dedicated to other than God. If we just dismiss something because it only applied 'then' we could use the same argument to disregard the Scriptures as a whole. None of it was written in the 21st century. But the point is that it has a permanent and enduring application because it is based on eternal principles and is the word of God. However the principle argument that we should consider is that of the New Testament Paul said that women should 'adorn themselves in modest clothing, with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly raiment, but, which is becoming to women who profess godliness, with good works' (2 Timothy 2.9-10). (He did not say 'but they can adorn themselves with less costly adornments'.) We can compare Isaiah 3.18-23. There we find a long list of things which God criticised. The hearts of these women were in the wrong place. What they wanted to glorify was themselves. The point is what is at the heart of what women (and men) wear. Is it in order to genuinely glorify God?. Or is it to glorify and advertise themselves?. (The same, I would hastily repeat, applies to men). Paul emphasises that we should concentrate on the positive of letting our light so shine before men that they see our good works and glorify our Father who is in Heaven (Matthew 5.16). Peter puts it this way. 'Beholding your chaste behavior coupled with fear (the fear of God). Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on striking clothing, but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible clothing of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God as of great price' (1 Peter 3.2-4). May I suggest that 'almost every (American) woman has that done' is hardly good grounds for anything. Every woman has also sinned. That is not a good ground for sinning. we must ask, 'what would God have me to do?' However it is not for me to say what women can or can't do (or men either). They may even not take any notice of me (perish the thought) :-))))) What we are seeking to do is study the Scriptures and learn from them. If we inculcate Scriptural attitudes the rest will follow. But what we have to do is ask,'what are they trying to tell me'?. Not, 'now how can I find my way round them?' (I am not in favour of being dowdy. I am not sure that that is glorifying to God, any more than a man is if he is untidy. I have deliberately avoided specific application (or answering your question about pierced ears which might be at peril of my life :-))). For that is a decision that you have to make. I will not be wearing earrings :-))) |