Question:
I have 2 teenage sons and they feel that having a tattoo and their body pierced is OK. I know the body is a temple but they have gone to a church camp and several of the advisors have ear rings etc. What is the Bible’s answer to my children on this issue?
Answer:
I am enclosing some other recent questions and answers about the very same topic. I would also encourage you to either print off the Bible Course on the Christian’s Appearance on this Web Site, or else send me your address, and we will send some copies of it to you. I would definitely sit down with your sons and teach them what the Bible says.
First, you cannot always follow leaders, if they are not following the Word of God themselves. We are told to check out what we hear, and in this case, what we see leaders do. Acts 17:11 says, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Jesus warned the people of His day about hypocritical leaders. Matthew 23:1-3 says, “Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.”
Please notice now some previous questions and answers.
BEGIN QUESTION 1
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Question:
Does the New Testament have any scriptures about tattoos?
Answer:
Yes, the New Testament does have a reference to tattoos — those required by the antichrist during the Tribulation Period. Revelation 13:16-18 says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, TO RECEIVE A MARK IN THEIR RIGHT HAND, OR IN THEIR FOREHEADS: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the MARK, or the NAME of the beast, or the NUMBER of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”
The people will have their choice of three tattoos, and their choice of two places to be tattooed. The choice of tattoos will consist of: the MARK of the antichrist; or his NAME; or his NUMBER (the number is given to us in the verses above — 666, but his name is not revealed, nor is his mark). This will be similar to Germany under Hitler. Their mark was the swastika. Their leader’s name was Hitler. I am not familiar if they had a specific number by which they were recognized, but the antichrist will.
When people receive the tattoo (the mark) of the antichrist, it is an indication of their hardened hearts, that they will never repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 14:9-11 says, “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive HIS MARK in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he SHALL BE TORMENTED WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Those who take the antichrist’s tattoo will be tormented for ever and ever.
Revelation 20:4 reveals to us that many will lose their lives for refusing to take the mark (the tattoo) of the beast. “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, NEITHER HAD RECEIVED HIS MARK upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
In Leviticus 19:28, God warned His people, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, NOR PRINT ANY MARKS UPON YOU: I am the LORD.” In the New Testament we are told in I Corinthians 6:19,20 says, “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.”
We are living in a day when people are cutting their flesh all over and placing jewelry in those holes. Along with that fad has come the popularity of getting tattooed. God has forbid both practices. Not very long ago, it seemed repulsive to get tattooed. People thought of tattoos as ugly, dark marks upon a person’s body that could not be removed. Usually, only drunken soldiers got them when they went to shore on leave.
Today, the mood of the public has changed drastically. It seems to be a very popular thing right now to get tattooed. Not just sailors are doing it, but many young men, and many young ladies and women. What would have been repulsive to the general population just a few short years ago, is now a popular fad. This will definitely be a plus to the antichrist, if his reign of terror is coming shortly. He is not going to have to overcome the obstacle of people not wanting to put a mark on their bodies — that obstacle seems to be gone already!
When you stop to think of all that is taking place around us, the time seems to be very short. People are being accustomed to getting tattooed already, so it is going to be nothing to get tattooed by the antichrist for the privilege of buying and selling. The one world church is already forming. Promise Keepers, the Charismatic Movement, and most every denomination of church is crying out to forget doctrine, and just get together in love and unity. That is setting the stage for a one world false church. Any church that stands against it will come under pressure as disrupting the all important unity. Remember, the antichrist is going to come in with peace and unity. Daniel 8:25 says, “And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and BY PEACE SHALL DESTROY MANY: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.”
I was faced with this very thing this last week — peace, unity, and tattoos. A young man from another state was here on business. He was staying in a motel, and was out for a little exercise, when he saw some of us from the church playing softball. He came up to some of our men, and wanted to know if he could play softball with us. They sent him over to me. He told me of his request, and a little about himself. His grandfather is a Southern Baptist preacher in Texas. He wanted to fellowship with us and play some softball. I then told him that he could play, if he would put on some more modest clothes. At this, he became very indignant. He tried to tell me that fellowship or unity was the most important thing amongst Christians. When I would not change my position, he then started questioning whether I was really saved. He got rather heated, and then pulled up his shirt to reveal a tattoo on his back, and at the bottom of it was lettered the word “Christian.” I guess that was supposed to prove to me that he was indeed a Christian, but I did not have a tattoo to flash back to him.
Peace at any cost; unity despite false doctrine; tattoos despite the Bible forbidding us to put marks upon our bodies; it is all leading to the end times. Are you saved and willing to stand upon God’s Word? You might have to stand alone.
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END FIRST QUESTION AND ANSWER
BEGIN SECOND QUESTION AND ANSWER
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Question:
What does the New Testament say about men piercing their ears.
Answer:
In the Old Testament, when a man had a hole pierced through his ear, it was because he was making himself a life-long slave to a master. Exodus 21:5,6 says, “And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever.”
I Corinthians 7:21-23 says, “Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE; BE NOT YE THE SERVANTS OF MEN.”
That verse answers that Old Testament situation. No man should ever get his ear pierced today, because we are not to bind ourselves as life-slaves to any man. As Christians, Jesus has bought us with His precious blood — we are His forever!
Men who get their ears pierced today are just showing that they are slaves to this old world and its fads. I John 2:15 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
It is the same for women today. Women are not to make themselves life-slaves to anyone. And when it comes to wearing jewelry, it is always to be done in moderation. I Peter 3:1-4 says, “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 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.” When a woman is willing to cut her flesh for the sole purpose of hanging jewelry in it, is not that an indication that jewelry has come to mean a great deal to her? And if she cuts her body in one place to hang jewelry, what is wrong with cutting someplace else to hang more jewelry? More holes in the ear? A hole in the nose? A hole in the eyebrow? A hole below the lip? A hole in the tongue? A hole in the belly button? Remember what James 2:10 tells us? “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” No woman ever got the idea to pierce her body to wear jewelry from the Bible. Christian women got that idea from watching the women of the world. I John 2:15 applies again, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
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END SECOND QUESTION AND ANSWER
Young people must learn to stand alone for the Lord Jesus Christ, despite the fads that are popular at the present time, and despite the hypocrisy seen in leaders.