In this area of study we will be looking at body piercing and tattooing. These two items will be lumped together due to the nature of these acts which is referred to as body art (branding is also covered under body art although it is not mentioned by name). While body piercing and tattooing may be together in this study our main focus will still be the tattooing aspect. This, much like the other areas of study regarding liberal conservatives, is one that most Christians are not willing to make a stand on. Why? Why won’t people make a stand against doing body art? Is it because believers are unaware where God stands on the issue? Is it the fact that people have let the world begin to shape the thoughts of the believer?

These are very valid questions. But before we go too far we must once again address what we will use as a guideline. What will be the standard in which we make our decisions? This answer should be the Bible. We must make the decision to follow after the will of the Lord for all circumstances. Once we have made a conscious decision in following after the word and will of God we will be more apt to put His word into practice when it comes time to let the rubber meet the road.

You know, through my visitation of many different churches I have found many variations and different thoughts as to what is right and what is wrong when looking at the issue of tattooing/body piercing. The interesting thing is that years ago you were not accepted when you altered the way you looked. Even some countries had outlawed the act of tattooing. Now, at this time that we live in we find ourselves being the outsider if you aren’t “inked.” Before I was a saved person I saw a guy in the grocery store that I grew up with and we began to catch up on life and what each others families had been up to. During our conversation I noticed that he had a tattoo and I asked him about it. He then, in turn, asked me about my “ink” to which I responded that didn’t have any. At my answer it seemed as though I became the outsider because of not having one.

The interesting thing is that in the Old Testament we find God’s instruction not to mark the skin.

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.”

Many people when they read this say that because it is Old Testament it is not for us. To that I ask, “does the Old Testament apply to us today or has it become obsolete?” How do we choose what part of the scripture is applicable in our lives? Do we choose it based upon what we desire and what is conducive to our lifestyle? I will submit to you, as I have studied through this subject, that God is speaking to the priests. We know this because of the book, Leviticus, which was written to the Levites. The Levites were the priests to the Israelites. Remember though that God, in the New Testament, has called us to be a priesthood. In the Old Testament we had man interceding on our behalf before a Holy God therefore he had to come before God with an unmarked body because he needed to understand that his body was sacred. Now, in the New Testament times, we find ourselves able to come to God much like the priests so why should our view of the body change? We should view our body as being sacred. This should be done for a couple of reasons.

First, we should have a sacred view of our body because God made us the way He wanted us for a reason. Do you believe that God has sculpted you exactly the way He wants you. If you don’t, you should. God gave you everything that He wanted you to have. From your hair color, eye color, and skin color all the way to the personality that you have and spiritual gift that you have received. For clarification, you need to know that your spiritual gift was not something that you have been trained or something that you have learned to have but this is what God created you with. He knew from the beginning that you would be saved and which He was going to give to you. God is in control of all those details.

Secondly, we have to have a sacred view of the body because now there is no priest in intercede on our behalf. One on earth that is. I am not talking about Christ being the Great High Priest. I am talking about the one here on earth interceding on our behalf such as the one in the Old Testament. When Christ died on the cross the Bible tells us that the veil was ripped from top to bottom.

Matthew 27:51, “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”

This identifies for us that we no longer need a man to go on our behalf to talk to God but rather we can go and talk to God for ourselves.

In the Old Testament only the high priest could go into the holiest of holies to meet with God. The veil that is being talked about is what stopped every other person, other than the high priest, from going and talking with the Lord God Almighty. This was a barrier between man and God. In this verse, understanding that the veil was torn in two, we now see the barrier that at one time separated man from God is now no longer a barrier. This one time barrier is no more which means now all can meet with God.

Now we know about the Old Testament but what about the New Testament? What does the New Testament say about body piercing and tattooing? Is it right or wrong? After all we are in the New Testament times, right? I make mention of the last question loosely and with a hint of sarcasm because there are so many people that think the entire Old Testament is null and void. There are also a group of people that think only portions of the Old Testament are applicable. If you take notice, a lot of preachers and teachers like to preach only from the New Testament. What you need to know is that the Old and New Testament work hand-in-hand. God’s word works together, there are no contradictions.

So, understanding that the Old and New Testament work together, what can we find in the New Testament about body art? Well, in the New Testament we find that our bodies are temples of the Living God.

First Corinthians 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?”

Paul, the writer of 1st Corinthians, informs us that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost (Spirit).

Before we get too far along let us examine the thought of body art from a Christian perspective because to be honest with you most unbelievers don’t care one way or another about the decision of body piercing and tattooing. I have asked Christians about this subject many times and let me give you some of the responses. I have been told that body art is a Christian liberty that God gives to us. In other words He doesn’t care one way or the other because nothing has been directly said about this subject in the New Testament. How can this be? Is it possible that God has given us clear directive but because it is not spelled out then we think that He doesn’t care one way or the other? God’s word does not tell us that marijuana, cigarettes, crack, or heroin are not to be used. Does that mean that it is our Christian liberty or right to partake in those things? It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Think about all of the other issues in life that God has not touched on specifically in the Bible but yet we understand not to do including but not limited to such things as watching pornography and supporting gay rights. How could a perfect and holy God that has allowed His Perfect and holy Son die on a cross to pay your way into Heaven not care about what His children are doing. I disagree with this idea completely.

Another Christian response that I have heard in regards to body art (mainly tattoos) is the fact that the tattoos are used as witnessing tools. The first thing about this is that if you were getting a tattoo for witnessing why would you get it in a place that can not be seen on a regular basis? If you got a tattoo for witnessing the most effective spot would be on your face so that all could see it. Also, if you were getting a tattoo for a witnessing tool why would you put it in a foreign language such as Arabic, Chinese symbols, or Hebrew just to name a few (I am sure you get the point). These are languages that most people do not really understand. I can not believe that the main intention for a tattoo is for witnessing.

What about the response of people saying that they are getting body piercing and tattoos for decoration? I have heard people say that body art is a way to decorate or beautify our temples/bodies. This temple (our body) is the place in which God Himself resides. We need not decorate the temple for the Lord because He already did it the moment that you were saved.

2nd Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

We are new creatures. God has taken the old man, removed it and made us new. God gave us a complete make over. He is the ultimate interior designer. He did not just give us a partial new look but the Bible says that all things have become new. Furthermore, we know that God has taken the sin ridden man that we once were and washed us purer than snow. Once again, I disagree with this thought completely.

Our main focus should not be on ways to make tattooing and body piercing okay. Our main focus should be on what God has instituted our bodies to be. Our bodies are to be used as living sacrifices.

Romans 8:8, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

In this verse we see the true value of the flesh. If you live according to the flesh, you can not please God. That is the sole purpose of our being. We are to glorify the Lord God Almighty. That is why we have been saved, to bring glory to His name. So why do we invest valuable money and resources into the very thing that we are told can not please God?

Romans 8:13, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

The Bible tells us that if you live for the flesh you shall die (a spiritual death). However, if you live through the Spirit you shall live (eternal life). Take notice though, the writer helps us to understand what it means to live through the Spirit. He tells us if you “mortify the deeds of the body” then you will have life. Do you understand the significance of the verse? You can’t live through the Spirit unless you mortify (put to death) the flesh. This means that you have to put the fleshly, selfish, self pleasing desires to death. Living through the Spirit goes hand-in-hand with putting your flesh to death. Why do you think Paul indicates to us that we are to crucify our flesh daily? (Gal.5:24; Col. 3:5; 1st Peter 2:11, 4:2)

We have to remember that even Paul acknowledged that there is no good in the flesh. The body and the flesh are at war against each other. Look at what the Bible tells us through Romans 7:15-25:

Romans 7:15-25, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

This flesh that we war against is the same flesh that Christ came to rescue us from. So, once again, the question has to be asked, why do we do things according to the flesh opposed to denying the flesh?

Remember where Christ tells us to be a light unto the world? In Matthew 5:14 Jesus tells us that we are a light unto the world. In Matthew 5:16 Jesus tells us to let our light shine before man that they may see our good works and glorify God. You see, our light is our good works not our skin. Too many times I have found believers being bumper sticker Christians which indicates that we will wear t-shirts, put stickers on our cars, or even tattoo the body as a way to make ourselves feel as though we have fulfilled our duty of being a light unto the world. What needs to be mentioned here is that God has called us to be a light not a canvas.

In closing, we find some helpful instruction from 1st Corinthians 6:19-20:

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.”

Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit is in you and you have the Spirit in you because of God’s grace. Now, because of the fact that God has given you the Holy Spirit you are not your own. This means that you no longer are yours to satisfy. You don’t belong to yourself because Christ has paid a price for you. He has bought you with His very own blood that was shed on the cross. So, because you have been bought now you must glorify God in your body and spirit which are God’s.

This body, as mentioned previously, is the temple of God. Just as the temple in the Old Testament, our bodies should be used to offer sacrifices, to be sanctified, and commune with God. How do you think the temple would have looked, in the Old Testament, if the outside was tagged (spray painted) like a high rise building in the middle of a city? Our temple (body) must be set apart. Our temple must be holy. Our temple must display that we are not of the flesh but rather of the word.