TATTOOS
Besides tattoos there are other issues such as drinking, sex, drugs, body piercing, smoking, and gambling (see GAMBLING, DRUNKENNESS, DRUGS, and SMOKING; see CLOTHES; see FORNICATION; see MUSIC) that could be named, but hopefully the principles that will be given here will help one make decisions on other things as well. Any one of the following eight principles would be enough to stop what is in question.
1) Is it honoring to God? “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1Corinthians 10:31).
2) Will it cause others to stumble? “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak” (Romans 14:21).
3) What is my motive? Do I want to draw attention to myself, or be accepted, or associate with a group or gang? “For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
4) Is this what my parents want for me? “Honour thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12).
5) Will it offend others? “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” (1 Corinthians 10:32).
6) Who does my body really belong to? “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” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
7) What does the Bible say about it? “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:28). “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18). “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1; see also Leviticus 10:9–10; Deuteronomy 29:5–6).
8) Did I ask God in prayer about what I should do? “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).
Other things to consider: Will my future spouse want me to have done this? In the future, will I wish I had not done this? Are there any health risks involved? Could I become addicted to it? Could it keep me from getting a job? “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). People the world over respect others who can admit their wrongs. And all of us have broken one or more of these principles in our life, and we are still able to live for God and serve Him (see GAMBLING, DRUNKENNESS, DRUGS, and SMOKING; see CLOTHES; see FORNICATION; see MUSIC).
Besides tattoos there are other issues such as drinking, sex, drugs, body piercing, smoking, and gambling (see GAMBLING, DRUNKENNESS, DRUGS, and SMOKING; see CLOTHES; see FORNICATION; see MUSIC) that could be named, but hopefully the principles that will be given here will help one make decisions on other things as well. Any one of the following eight principles would be enough to stop what is in question.
1) Is it honoring to God? “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1Corinthians 10:31).
2) Will it cause others to stumble? “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak” (Romans 14:21).
3) What is my motive? Do I want to draw attention to myself, or be accepted, or associate with a group or gang? “For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
4) Is this what my parents want for me? “Honour thy father and thy mother” (Exodus 20:12).
5) Will it offend others? “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” (1 Corinthians 10:32).
6) Who does my body really belong to? “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” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
7) What does the Bible say about it? “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:28). “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18). “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1; see also Leviticus 10:9–10; Deuteronomy 29:5–6).
8) Did I ask God in prayer about what I should do? “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).
Other things to consider: Will my future spouse want me to have done this? In the future, will I wish I had not done this? Are there any health risks involved? Could I become addicted to it? Could it keep me from getting a job? “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). People the world over respect others who can admit their wrongs. And all of us have broken one or more of these principles in our life, and we are still able to live for God and serve Him (see GAMBLING, DRUNKENNESS, DRUGS, and SMOKING; see CLOTHES; see FORNICATION; see MUSIC).
