Is it OK?

I was wondering what your opinions were on tattoos and piercings. I have a tongue ring, 2 upper earrings and am getting my tattoo in 3 months time, I have had a lot of people tell me it's not a "Christian" thing to do, and clearly, by the decisions I have made, I disagree but would like to know why other people beg to differ? And if anyone has answers for me? Is it ok? Does it make me a "bad christian"?

Paige,
I would like you to consider this illustration.
Think of being a christian as becoming a butterfly. The entire life process begins when the little catapiller is born, This is salvation. The catapillar grows and lives it's catapiller life, eating and growing into an adult, this is the 'baby" Christian stage. Then the catapiller has an urgency to find a nice place to make a caccoon, where it spend a season being transformed, this is a time of healing, restoration and birthing of spiritual maturity in the christian life. When the time comes, the butterfly breaks free from the caccoon,but it takes some time for the the butterfly to unfurl and fully display it's mature form... this is the fullness of the christian life which is the final season of the christian life.
You are still in your catapillar stage of your christian life and will go through many changes in your ideas and was of thinking on your way to becoming that butterfly. I would encourage you to consider the permanence of tattoos in the light of what I have said. Having a desire to define an identity for yourself is quite normal... but coloring your hair or changing your make up or decorating your skin with henna are ways to satisfy your creative identity urges... in a way that will not leave you with deep regrets in the future. Many Many non-christians have deep regret over the tattoos of their youth.

The rules against tattoos and piercings are Old Testament. We are not under the Old Testament. We are under "everything is lawful to me, but not everything is profitable to salvation" (I Cor. 6:12).

I would never have done either, because I did not know what God might want me to become (kind of like BarlyGirl's butterfly analogy). But it is not against God's law, and who can say what will work best for your generation? I know there are people who would never accept the gospel from someone with tattoos, and I know there are people who would not accept the gospel from someone without tattoos.

I would not want to say that it is always true that you cannot be mature in Christ just because you are only 15.

One of the worst possible things you could do is get a tattoo near a private area of your body.

As for a tattoo somewhere else on your body, it might seem cool now, but in ten years from now it probably won’t. You’ll probably be ashamed of it.

I think tat's are fine. I have a few myself and hope to add some eventually, but at 15 i think its a bad idea. You like certain things, and see a certain way now, as a teen, still somewhat of a kid. As you grow older your views on things will change, your likes and dislikes will change. You run a great risk of getting a 'teen tat' that you will regret as an adult. Or making a bad choice as to where to put it. As you can see by this video, these guys are well tat'd up, and on fire for God. I think the acceptance of the tats will also vary on where your future lies. These guys are in a band ministering to lots of secular metal types, so the tats fit, but if you wanted to do more traditional ministry, it may be a problem for some, or even in a regular job...

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HedUhbqZbeo[/video]

Maybe I should've explained myself, I'm getting a tattoo saying, VICTORY, on my wrist because I used to cut myself serverely and thought of it as quite appropriate as God has helped me overcome that part of my life and gave me victory in the war I was fighting when I was cutting myself, I am no longer a slave to that and so that tattoo would be a personal reminder of what God has bought me through. I've wanted this tattoo since I was 13 but obviously the word and meaning changed.

Thats a cool idea, but doesn't change what i said. I'm not sure of SA culture in relation to tats, but you have to think, when you become an adult, and you need to find a job, is having a tat that is easily visible going to hinder your ability to find work?
And you said yourself, the word and meaning has changed just in the past 2 years, and its going to change more over the next 5 years. I just think wisdom would say to wait. See where you end up in a career and if it will end up being a hinderance to you or not. And once you verify whether or not it will effect you, then it can be something to reconsider.
Remember, this is permanent, even removal surgeries leave bad scars. And cover up tats are very difficult and very few tat artists can pull them off correctly.

Rev 13:16 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:

For years, I couldn't see how this would be forced on people. Today, it is clear.
It won't be forced, since it will be socially accepted. Create a socially accepted practice, to make
putting the "mark" on people easy, and at the same time, convince them its a chip.
Satan is the master deceiver. He's even convinced die hard christians to do help get society
ready to take that mark. I would not want to have to stand before the Lord and be told, "you
did more to help them get to hell, than to get to heaven."

So, should you get one? My answer is NO WAY! Decide to whom you serve.

Ehh... that's a stretch. The 'mark' will more likely be a chip than simple inking of the skin. Apples to oranges. Decorating ones skin does not prepare a person to inject a chip beneath their skin.

God accepts the 'natural you' as you are - without modifications.

You need to learn to do the same - to accept yourself as God has made you.

You do not need to "create identity" for yourself - God has already done it for you - you are very unique in the sight of God.

You are "the most beautiful" in your 'natural state' - without the man-made alterations.

You need to learn how to 'see' that "natural beauty" from God's perspective - and that the man-made alterations "currupt" it...

In time, you will understand this better.

For now - I believe you would be very wise to wait and give yourself an opportunity to consider it further in light of God's Word.



.

Paige, that is a beautiful testimony, full of grace and truth.

I dislike tats, probably because I am ancient.
Our son, who had a stroke at 19, wanted to get one as a result of his testimony, too.
He did. (as a 24 yo) I am a little sad about it, but I don't condemn him for it.
Indeed, how could I? He is not my servant! lol
I didn't save him, I don't sanctify him, I don't indwell him.

Our son got a...half sleeve? Is that right? lol
So that it wouldn't ever be visible at work. (covered completely by his shirt)
So that it wouldn't upset or offend anyone he doesn't know well.

And he waited five years, to pray about it, and think about it.
I'm just sayin'...maybe he's wiser than I give him credit for.

Perhaps waiting a while wouldn't be a bad idea?
Although the law regarding that sort of thing was fulfilled in Christ,
here's what held up our son, and why he prayed about it:

Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible--but not everything is constructive (1 Cor. 10:23)

grace to you,
ellie

Greetings Little Sister,
Let me preface this with stating that I am a biker. Your story about getting a tat to cover your scars was VERY moving to me. I have a christian biker brother who also cut himself on his shoulders before his salvation during a very confused time in his life. He now has tats covering those scars that proclaim glory to God. So I completely understand you motives for wanting that victory tattoo. Bikers, who were not christian but have come to salvation in Christ usually have multitudes of tattoos. Unfortunately, most of these are not what you would label as ~saintly~ in style. They usually get another tat over an offending tat that is more biblically orientated in nature.
God will "cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19). What we do before salvation, PaigeyStorm, is gone as far as God is concerned. All those things we have done that only we and God know about will never be know by others unless we make them known. What we have done to our bodies outwardly, however, is there for all to see for all time. As bikers, we don't necessarily look at tats & piercings the way most do. But then, most people do not look at bikers the way God does. He sees our hearts, not our outward appearances.
So little sister, the question becomes this. Is what you are doing to your body edifying for others about God, or detracting others away from God? That decision can only be yours.
May God Richly Bless You.
Cavil

Waiting probably would be a good idea, thanks guys. And no, it's not for others to see its for my own reminder and its not my "indetity" haha. And Trax I really don't think by getting a tattoo or having piercings it will help people into hell, being rude is not my intention but that is pathetic, I know a few church pastors in South Africa who have tattoos and I don't think someone who is bringing people to God would in any way be helping people get into hell. But, that is your belief so by all means, stick to it, I just beg to differ.
And to everyone else, thanks for the help I will definitely wait and pray about it

Amen to that!

Its also important to remember that getting tattoo, spiking or coloring one's hair may not be sin in itself (intent of the heart is what matters) but what if these action of ours (no matter how good/right the intent may be to us) make other weak believers stumble Or for that matter sends out 'false signal' to non-believers? So, as a professing Christian, we need to be careful and think of our actions along this line so that it does not necessitate other weak believers to stumble.


God bless you my dear sister!

But then again, for non-believers, thinking Christians have no fun and are boring (which my generation tend to think), wont it show them that being a Christian isn't like living in a box your whole life? I don't know, I just think , maybe my generation also needs to see Christianity doesn't limit you to everything and isn't all about rules
And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that now I'm going to get a tattoo to show people that, it's still for my own benefit, but it comes with that advantage, that's the way I see it

The question shouldn't be weather its OK to get gross body piercings and tattoos, but weather you have crucified your flesh with Christ through repentance and are walking in the spirit, because if you are, then your question would be irrelevant.

Its simple to answer your question, but many will not see to understand why a real follower of Christ, will be dead to the world and all its vain attractions, so the piercings and tattoos, are just the tip of the iceberg in the apostate worldly church today.

You can really gage where a persons heart is when you tell them these vain worldly practices and not of God, you can argue day and night how these things are Grey areas in the Bible, then make many excuses why you can be like the world and still be saved.

I urge you to get into the word, repent unto salvation as Jesus commands, crucify your flesh with all its passions and desires, flee from the lust of the flesh, the love of the world, and the pride of life, then your eyes will be open to why your question is a straw man excuse to be a lukewarm Christian.

The church is supposed to be an example of holiness, seperation and purity, a separated people zealous for good works, not copying the vanity and idolatry the world offers!

1Jn 2:15 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.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1Co 6:19 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?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Jas 4:4 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.

2Co 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

As a child of God, your priority should be to please God and not others i.e. your non-Christian friends. Non-Christians may consider us "boring" or "living in a box" but if you enjoyed living a life pleasing to God (which may include not doing what your non-Christian friends do), that is what matters most. And I dont think (atleast in the country that I live) non-Christians think us Christians as "boring" for not getting tattoo or being "funky" In fact, they think we Christians are cool (Btw, I have my nieces and nephews your age)

I really don't think you understood what I was trying to say.

Wow, do I disagree, this really doesn't at all stop me from getting my "gross" tatoo. Thanks for being so damn disrespectful, God also says, "don't judge" maybe you didn't find the bible verse for that did you? People like this make me angry, express your opinion, that's what I asked for, but be respectful while doing so!