There was a time when markings on the skin were only made by the primitive and heathen tribes, or by sailors who had traveled to their countries and brought these customs back with them. Body piercings were also traditionally done only by the primitive tribes who didn't know God. However, it is indeed a sign of the times that over the last few decades, body piercings and tattoos which are reminiscent of the unregenerate pagan nations, have become very popular in Christian countries. So much so that today it is not uncommon to find that people professing to be Christian are either in support of, or defending the claim that there is nothing Biblically wrong with these practices. You can even search the internet and find (so called) 'Christian tattoo parlors' and 'Christian body Piercing studios.' Indeed, the time is upon us where it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the world and the Church.

Where once there was a 'distinct' separation of the traditions which the Children of God practiced, from those of the children of the world, there now seems to be a race by many to see how much like the world they can be, while still professing to be Christian. While it is true that the modern Church has been in doctrinal degradation and decay for over fifty years, they now appear to be in free fall where any orthodoxy or adherence to Biblical principles, are actually considered unchristian and judgmental. And although this degeneration of Historical Church doctrines has been well documented by many Theologians, very few Pastors have the will or the inclination to preach against such practices. They are so affected by the malaise of exegetal hypnosis that they have no ability to discern between their right hand and their left. The predictable results of this spiritual malaise is inevitable.

Thus we have the post-modern Church mixing the holy with the unholy, and the spiritual with the fleshly, all in the name of being open minded and inclusive. They indeed exhibit indignation at anyone making righteous judgments concerning these practices. Their rallying cry in support of tattooing and body piercing is that 'by not preaching against this, they are helping young people find more things in common with Christ.' However, what they end up doing is making Christ, common. By unrighteous oxymorons like 'Christian rock,' 'Christian tattoos,' and 'carnal Christians,' they blur the line between the world and the Church so much that it is nearly impossible to tell where one stops and the other begins.

This is why the question is frequently asked, "is it a sin to be a Christian and get tattoos or body piercings?" Most theologians will not answer yes or no, but will navigate around common sense and scripture like a politician would navigate around tough issues. This isn't a grey area (as some unwilling to tackle the question honestly would allege), there are many Christian principles which would prohibit these things.

Christian body piercing is (in the most honest sense) the vain cutting of the body, and self-mutilation of the Holy Temple which God has created for man. Likewise, Christians branding themselves with markings or tattoos is defamation of that body, and committing sacrilege against this Temple. We as the visible representations of God on earth are to walk circumspectly, but this pagan conduct is generally done to be grandiose, or for reasons of a show in vanity, or pride. Many want to fit in with the world, which is akin to putting a square peg in a round hole.

Of course, no Christian is going to admit their vanity and desire to be immodesty, so in an attempt to obscure their reasons for tattooing their body, some have substituted worldly things for pictures of crosses, or of Jesus, so they can claim that it was done for a witness to their faith. However, even an honest rudimentary examination of the motives will show it's done for self, not for Christ. Christ is just an excuse or the rationalization for having it. Moreover, where is that excuse for body piercings?

The lust of the flesh is not something new, not even for Christians. And we understand that when man wants something bad enough, he can rationalize almost anything. But the truth is, it is really a witness to their worldliness, and not to their faith in Christ, who is 'not of this world.' We cannot justify our worldly lusts by self serving platitudes about what good it can do as a witness when unsaved people see it. As one professed Christian put it, 'The tattoos I have provoke conversation and questions about Christianity.' He surmises, therefore, it is good for him to have them. But using this philosophy, I could say that because a person from Iran heard of Christ in a mosque, that means God uses mosques to provoke people to come to Christ, so they are a good witnesses. Again, this is self-justification and self-serving. The ends never justify the means. We cannot do what is both unlawful and a bad witness, in hopes that the end good that might come, will justify the deed.

Could any of us 'honestly' imagine Christ piercing His nose, or having the Temple, or Olive trees, or grape vines tattooed on His body? Of course not. Knowing Christ, the mere suggestion is ridiculous. Yet we rationalize and are blindly led to believe this heathenistic practice can be used to God's Glory by us today. On the contrary, God specifically instituted laws to make 'separate' the Children of God from the heathen nations and their traditions. From not mingling two kinds of seed, to not mixing livestock, these were all laws to illustrate that God's people were to be separate from the unbelieving peoples of the world. They were not to mingle with them as one seed was not to be mingled with another. And that included getting markings in our flesh, which characterized these ungodly nations around them.

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."

We are not to put any marks on us, or cut holes in our flesh for the dead, as was the practices of the heathen nations around the Children of Israel. They were a 'called out' people, a 'separated' people, a 'different' people.

1st Peter 2:9

• "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"

We are a possessed or acquired people who have been called out of the ways of darkness, the ways of the world. Shall we who have been called out, live any longer therein? No, for we are a people who serve a different God, and who are commanded not to go after the traditions of the world, as the ungodly do.

Of course those not willing to surrender to the precepts of Leviticus are quick to point out that Leviticus 19 also forbids cutting your hair off around the sides, rounding the beards, and mixing different seeds.

Leviticus 19:26-28

• "Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.

• Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.

• Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD."

Take note how they leave out eating blood, and using enchantments, and observing times. You see they understand they should continue to keep these, but they joy in pointing out these other caveats. In their zeal to justify themselves, they neglect to see that 'all these laws' were clearly written to keep the Children of God from emulating the heathen customs of the ungodly people around them. Customs like eating blood soaked meats, some even drinking blood, using enchantments, cutting their hair to leave a plot on top, cutting the corners of beards, cutting themselves for the dead, and branding Tattoos on themselves. They all represented things which God's people were not to do because these heathen nations around them did them, and they were to be a different, a special, a peculiar, a set apart people. How then can these scriptures be used today in support of doing the exact same thing today they warn against? Namely, going after the same ungodly traditions of those of the world in the markings of tattoos and the cutting and piercing the body? Far from proving their point, these scriptures are another strong prohibition to God's people of following after the traditions of the ungodly as tattooing and piercing the body. And the world is exactly where these practices came from. This law stands today, we are not to be as the unbelievers around us to mark up our bodies, or cut holes in our flesh, or put rings in our nose. And it is indeed a telling indictment when these professing Christians who say, "see" when talking about cutting round the hair, will accept the other prohibitions like not eating blood, using enchantments, and cutting for the dead. They want to have it both ways where they can pick and choose which ones they should keep, 'depending upon' what is the latest style, craze or fad. The classic case of situation ethics, or obedience dependant upon the times in which we live.

Let's face facts, tattoos and body piercings most certainly are not a good testimony for Christians. When even an unbeliever will tell you it seems out of place for a Christian to have tattoos, then we should know something is not right. Certainly we are not to appear gaudily to attract attention to our body or dress. The Scriptures command us to present a modest appearance and to walk after the Spirit in meekness, not after the flesh, that we not be conformed to this world. Tattoos do not fit that command. We are to live as far from the way that the world lives as we can, not see how close to the world we can live. When you're walking along a precipice, you don't see how close you can get to the edge without falling off, you stay as far away from it as possible to be safe. Likewise, we are at enmity with the ways of the world, we are two 'distinct' Kingdoms, which should retain our distinctiveness. i.e., Christian rock, biblical divorce, white lies, Christian nose rings, carnal Christians, etc., are all oxymorons. They are not things which should go together. The laws God instituted in Leviticus were precisely designed to keep the Children of God, and the children of the world separate in tradition, desires, deeds, gods, and our appearance. This unadulterated truth is conveniently forgotten in the today's Christians lust for the ways of the world. It is pride and vanity which is the hallmark of people who make marks and cuttings in their body. Are we not adulterers when we abandon Godly virtues to lust after the world? In attempting to be like the world, are we not yet carnal? For friendship with the world is enmity with God.

James 4:3-6

• "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

• Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

• Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

• But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

Don't kid yourself, people do not get tattoos for Christ's sake, we all know Christians preached the Word of God effectively without tattoos for 2000 years. So this 'line' some people use about a witness is nothing but the tickling of the ear. It's an excuse, not a Biblical reason. People get tattoos and body piercings for their own glory. For they are not walking in the Spirit, but in the carnal mind of the flesh.

Romans 8:4-7

• "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

• For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

• For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

• Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

The carnal mind wants tattoos and body piercings because they like the way the world looks with them. They (whether consciously or not) believe that they can have one foot in heaven, and one in the world. However, as said Jesus, can the Kingdom of God be divided? If they are neither hot nor cold, then they are lukewarm, and under warning of God to repent. God rejects lukewarm as He is a jealous God. We are not to mind the things of the world, but the things from above. When we are 'born from above' we are a new creation in Christ where our desire is no longer to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, but to surrender to the will of God in the spirit. Being a different creation than the Children of the world, we walk according to the Kingdom, not according to the traditions of men. These ungodly markings in the flesh, the body piercings in the tongue, nose, lips, navel, and elsewhere, aren't glory to God, they are the glory of man, and a shame and a disgraceful show in Christianity. For glorying in the flesh, we become enemies of Christ. True Christianity is a way of life and a state of mind, not a label that we call ourselves simply that we may feel justified.

Philippians 3:15-20

• "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

• Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

• Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

• (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

• Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

• For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:"

Our conversation (citizenship) or place of our communing together is in the Spirit, and in Heaven, not together with those who are of the flesh earthly. The curious thing is, Christian most often don't even try to defend these practices 'biblically,' rather their defense is the humanistic reasoning that we are not actually harming the body, so what harm is there? But the harm is in the body of Christ. When we are disobedient and prideful to go our own way in refusal to heed God's precepts about separation, modesty, and markings in the flesh, we do harm to the body of Christ. Moreover, our bodies are the Temple of the Lord, and we should no more mark them or disfigure the flesh, as we would paint graffiti on the walls of our Church buildings. For our builder and maker is God.

1st Corinthians 6:19-20

• "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

• For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

It is interesting that in the justification of this behaviour (weaknesses) many professing Christians say that they should have the free will or 'Christian liberty' to do what they chose to their own body. Indeed this sounds perilously close to the justifications of those who support the right to choose in the abortion 'rights' issue. I'm not saying that people who want tattoos and body piercings are akin to abortionists, I am saying that the mindset is the same. One of love of self and what we want, more than love of God and what He wants for us. A lack of 'surrender' of self and our own will, to the will of God. We are living in the 'me Generation' where there is a marked and growing disdain for Godly sacrifice or 'work.' As long as some can do what they want, they will joy in calling themselves Christians. But if there is any restriction, then they want no part of that kind of Christianity. That's considered a violation of their 'so called' Christian liberty. There is no such Christian libery which allows us to do such things.

Another attempted justification offered by some is, 'isn't someone who has an arm amputated defaming the Temple of God to save his life?' The answer is no. For his mind isn't to join the fads and customs of the world, or to mar the Temple of God, his mind is to preserve it. To equate someone needing an amputation to someone putting rings in their nose to glorify themselves, is a pitiful defense. They are not becoming like the world for their own glory, so this is mixing apples and oranges. It seems people have their eyes so trained on themselves, that they aren't even addressing the fundamental questions. Our body is the 'perfect' creation of God, and so why would we mar that because of custom? Shall we carve into God's temple for our own fleshly eyesore, or that we might possibly improve the appearance of it as the heathen attempted to do? As that verse in 1st Corinthians 6:19-20 states, we are merely tenants of God's house. Our body is not ours to simply do with it as we please, we have been bought with a price, and we should not forget these truths in our vain and egotistical rantings about how, 'it belonging to us.' Not only for our own sakes, but we should be concerned about the impression that we give to other people by these body piercings and tattoos. For even an unbeliever knows something is amiss and gives a 'double take' when he sees a person full of tattoos or piercings who claim to be a Christian. He knows it is out of place (and so do we all) because Christians are 'supposed' to be different from the world. Our body is part of our witness, the testimony of how we live our lives. ..as it is to them.

1st Thessalonians 5:21

• "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

• Abstain from all appearance of evil."

Sadly, so many professing Christians simply choose to ignore all these scriptures in order to continue doing whatever 'they want' in all areas of their life. They have not 'surrendered' their life to Christ. Indeed, they are fighting to hold on to their life in the world.

Why would I even do something which would give the appearance of evil? For example, would I live with a woman without being married, even though there was no immorality going on? No, I would not. Because I understand that it would 'still be sin,' because I am giving the appearance of evil which we are commanded not to. We should not act in any way which would lead people to conclude that we were involved in something unbecoming a Christian. So that even if we were to stubborn and prideful to see the inherent sin ourselves, we should still not do it for the sake of others. Give no appearance of evil by following after every new trend or flavor of the month that the world will come up with. We should be constant, a lighthouse always shining with the same light, grounded, not blown about with every wind. The Child of God shouldn't get caught up in fads and the traditions of the world because they are not part of it. Why doesn't he think on what God would want him to do, rather than what's going to make him feel good about himself, or what's going to look good 'to the world' on him? The answer to that question may be one which most don't want to hear. Rather than seek a tattoo or piercing to glorify ourselves, we should seek how we can glorify God with our bodies, a living sacrifice. We do that by giving our body in service to the Lord, not as a billboard for heathen traditions.

1st Corinthians 10:31

• "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Christians should not adopt styles and fads which will cause offense to other Christians because these practices 'clearly' identify them with false religions, tribes, and unregenerate morals and attitudes. I find it hard to believe that any believer would think that He is piercing his tongue, lips, nose, or putting markings on his skin, all to the glory of God. I find it hard to believe that any believer truly thinks that he can glorify God in their bodies by cuttings in the flesh, or by tattoos. When God said our body is not our own, "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. -1st cor. 6:20," you can be sure God is not saying go put cuttings in your skin, and holes in your tongue or lips. He's not saying go mark up your body and pretend you're doing it for me. But this is the delusion of man who has taken His eyes off the prize, and put them on himself. Christian liberty (contrary to popular teaching) does not mean that we can go back into the bondage of the world because nothing is forbidden.

Galatians 5:1

• "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

Rather, it means that our sins are forgiven, as we are no longer enslaved by the way of the world. There is a big difference between freedom to sin that grace may abound, and freedom from sin. We are not entangled again a slave of the world, we are Christ's freemen. We are free from that bondage wherein Satan once ruled us as he does the ungodly around us. It is self evident that the modern day encroachment of tattooing and body piercings into the Church is yet another test of our Biblical resolve. Will the Church keep the faith, or will God's people again turn away from the faith to do their own thing and go the way of the world. The Christian mind should be on things of good report, not tattoos.

Philippians 4:8

• "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Does tattooing and body piercing conform to this command? Every man and woman looking deep into the mirror, must answer this question in Christ. But to be sure, when people want to do what is pleasing to the flesh, they usually pretend that they don't know it's wrong, or don't believe that what they do is against God's laws. They feign that they can't discern God's clear Word on abusing the body, or marking up the skin, on modesty, and on what appearance the Christian should give. Yet they can discern something more complicated, like heredity, or like when the wind blows from the south, that heat will follow. They can discern that, but they can't discern that God means 'exactly' what He says?

Luke 12:56-57

• "Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

• Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?"

The very thought of mutilating or disfiguring our bodies should be against everything in our very nature as a new creation in Christ. Christ is our example, and just the thought (whoever would honestly even bother to think) of Christ wearing pierced ear rings or having images or writings permanently placed in His flesh, of the Spirit 'should' be enough to settle the issue. Do not men who have never even read scripture know that it's wrong to kill? So as scripture says, 'Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?' And that my friend is a very good question.

If Christ wouldn't do it, why would we do it and then claim it's Godly? One Christian insisted that 'earrings and tattoos open doors,' and that 'this is the best way to reach people in our modern culture.' As if we must become as the world, in order to get people out of the world? Misapplying Paul's, 'I become Roman to win the Romans,' they delude themselves. Paul didn't imply disfiguring the body because heathen do it. This passage is taken totally out of context. Did Solomon bring the wicked to God by marrying women who had false gods, or were they a problem to him? This logic is as unsound as their belief that tattoos will win souls. Our path is not in the way of the world, but in showing them there is another way 'different' from the way of the world. Tattoos are the physical equivalence of outwardly adorning ourselves, showing a spirit of exaltation. The spirit of the unbeliever, not of the believer.

1st Peter 3:3-5

• "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

• But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

• For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:"

Let our adorning be a spiritual adorning, a crown which no man can take away, and a robe of righteousness which is a far better witness than any marks in the skin, or holes and jewels in our ears as the heathen nations around us. Our mark is the name of God written in our foreheads, where the only way people can see it is by our life. Our adorning is the crown which Christ has given us, which is so different from the adornings of the world that there is no comparison. Let us glory in this, and not in tattoos, and in being assimilated into the world.

1st John 4:4-6

• "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

• They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

• We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."

May the Gracious Lord, who is rich in mercy, by the gift of His Holy Spirit, guide us all into the truth of His most blessed Word.

Amen!