Waching daily Aug 3 2018

Tattoos in the United States are huge and only getting more popular.

One in five people have a tattoo

and that is significantly higher for people who are under the age of 35.

So the question we have is, "Is it okay for a Christian to get a tattoo?"

If you asked me this 3,500 years ago, the answer is no.

In Leviticus 19, verse 28 God says very clearly:

So the answer, very clearly, is no.

However, God gives us laws for specific times, to specific people, in specific places.

For example, at the time of Moses, God gave them specific laws

to keep them separate from the other nations.

And this really served two purposes.

One, it was to point to the coming savior, who had come about 1,500 years later,

who ultimately would fulfill all laws on the cross.

And two, it was to keep them separate from the Pagan nations.

So, if the Pagan nations use cut stones in their altar, God says, "Do not do that."

If they cut their beards a certain way, God said, "Don't do that."

If they cut their bodies in worship, God says "Don't do that."

And in this case, use tattoos in worship, God says, "Don't do that."

It is too closely associated with Pagan worship.

However, it seems in our society of the United States, since Janis Joplin was tattooed by Lyle Tuttle,

this has kind of sprung into the mainstream since the 1960s.

And society's view of tattoos, I think, has changed with it.

No longer are tattoos directly associated with bad decisions and uncleanliness and motorcycle gangs.

Instead, it's moved into an art form, from tattooers.

Now they're called tattoo artists.

So, although the Bible doesn't specifically say yes or no on tattoos,

We can get some guiding principles.

The Bible does tell us that God cares about our body,

not just our mind and our soul.

And he says your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

so you should take care of it.

Is putting needles into your body with ink is the best thing for your body?

You have to ask yourself that question.

Secondly, God says just because something is permissible doesn't

necessarily mean that this is wise.

I think you have to ask yourself, "Where exactly am I going to put this tattoo?

What part of my body am I trying to get people to focus on?"

I'm not going to show pictures, but I think you can figure out there certain tattoos that highlight sexuality.

What message are you trying to promote with your tattoo?

For many people, it's belonging to a group.

For some people, it's signifying a certain event.

And for some people it's simply art.

But the question is , "Am I giving a clear witness to my savior; am I giving a clear witness to my God?"

Because ultimately, that's the group we belong to.

A savior who died on the cross and rose again, as it says in Isaiah,

and put our names on the palm of his hands.

I really enjoyed this week as we talked about, "Is it ok for a Christian . . ."

Are there other questions that you have?

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