Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Before The Ink Dries
Although there are a few people who wake up in the morning and realize the results of a drunken fest the night before has left them with a permanent marking of a shameful tattoo . . . most people actually plan their tattoo. They have a reason and/or purpose behind it! Maybe it is to honor a love one. Is there any good reason for marking the body with ink?
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There are so many reasons why people get tattoos! But all reasons are founded on “Expression!” It may simply be the right of freely expressing their individuality. Expressing devotion to a love one, a significant event, commitment to an organization (legal and illegal), or spiritual status (cultural). There was a time when only soldiers, sailors, and marines got tattoos. Now, thousands of people are getting them. Some are not even of legal age yet, but they feel the need of expressing themselves! Sadly, some are getting tattoos simply because their favorite artist (singer, rapper, movie star) has one! I guess that is still considered expressing themselves! A major question all of them should ask is, “How will this tattoo look in 5 . . . 10 . . . or 15 years from now?” Will it still be cool! Will there still be the same level of commitment to that organization? Will you still believe in that same spiritual movement? But here is the even bigger question, especially for Christians! What does the bible say about it? Even if you currently have a canvas of tattoos on your body now, it’s still not too late to ask the question!
First of all, if you have tattoos before coming to CHRIST and now find yourself living in a sense of shame . . . please know this: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” Now you can live in the reconciliation through CHRIST! Not to mention, the possibility of laser removal!
In the book of Leviticus, chapter 19, we can read that The LORD told Moses to speak to the entire assembly of Israel. Moses spoke what GOD told him to and it was in reference to several laws. GOD didn’t just randomly bring up some laws for the sake of having something to say! GOD saw what the issues and bondages of the Israelites were! As part of this, verse 28 reads, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:28) Well, if anyone was struggling with what the bible says about getting a tattoo to honor a deceased love one . . . there it is! We are to commit ourselves to GOD! So we are not suppose to markup the bodies that GOD has given us. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." In a practical sense, if GOD wants us to have any markings, HE will give them to us at birth! (i.e. birth mark)
Someone may say that the Old Testament doesn’t apply to the New Testament Believer! I would like to encourage that person to become a whole Christian believer, and believe in the Holy Bible . . . not the Half Bible! Seriously! Go to GOD in prayer for everything and about everything! Let the Holy Spirit guide you. Study GOD’s Word and let it answer your questions! Don’t simply give into the “Expressing” of yourself, but give way to the “Expressing” of JESUS in your life! Here are some verses to visit! Hosea 4:6a says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
Leviticus 19:28; 1 Kings 18:28; Deuteronomy 14:1; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Colossians 3:20; Ephesians 6:4; 1 Corinthians 3:16; John 14:15; 1 John 5:3-5
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