Piercings and Tattoos

Eric's Note: In August 2005 a reader of our newsletter wrote to me and voiced concern about how easily folks in the Church accept cultural phenomenon such as Harry Potter. She then wrote:

"The same is true regarding the body piercing being accepted & glorified in the churches today. The Bible is very clear on this too in that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Yet I hear all the time that those with piercings will be able to go where "we" or others can't (or won't be able to go). Last I knew, it was the Holy Spirit that draws individuals to a personal relationship to Jesus.

As a former "everything" from occultist to Muslim to everything else, I am now a mother of seven children (six sons, one daughter) and I haven't wavered in the truth that the world is looking for something different in us."

Blessings,
Mary Ellen

AMEN Mary Ellen !!!

I also believe that whole piercing/tattoo craze is nothing but a desensitizing set up for the coming mark of the Beast. You can probably tell that I am not ranting and paranoid. I'm just pointing out a truth. The Enemy is preparing the hearts, minds and bodies of those who'll be deceived at some point in the future.

Bless you!
Eric

After reading Mary Ellen's email and my comments another other readers wrote:

Eric,

I work with my local youth groups and would like to have you send me as an attachment your views on tattoos and piercings. My daughter just got her belly button and tongue pierced and she is now engaged to a man with so many tattoos and piercings that I can not count them all, he is a freak and not a Jesus Freak, HELP!

Frankie

Frankie,

My reply to a question about tattoos and piercings in my August 23 online newsletter brought several responses, in particular from those wishing to defend the practices. My comments were geared not to bring guilt on those who have already gotten tattoos or piercings but were aimed at making others think twice before doing so.

I hear statements like this all of the time: "tattoos and piercings make me different" and "I'm unique with my tattoo." I can't speak for every case but I have the sense that this is a veil which hides a pervasive sin in the culture and Church alike. It is the sin of rebellion. Along side of this, I believe that many young people (many of whom claim to be Christians, are struggling with acceptance in the culture and tattoos and piercings bring some acceptance. The problem is (as you know) it's often with the wrong crowd of people!

A strong surrendered walk with the Lord which is filled with intimate times of praise and study in the Word doesn't lead a person to crave being unique on the outside. Instead, it leads us into a submitted, holy walk that reflects the uniqueness which God has placed in each of us on the inside.

I firmly believe that many young people today are going to wake up some morning in the future and completely regret marking their bodies in a permanent fashion. Regardless of the prophetic and Antichrist implications of marking one's skin there is going to be personal remorse because of this popular craze.

One redeeming factor is that no matter what tattoo or piercing a person may have subjected their body to, unless the marking is that of the Beast of Revelation God can and does bring forgiveness, freedom and joy to a repentant heart.

Thanks much for your input and support. Again, let me know what we can do to help.

Bless you!

Eric
www.ericbarger.com

Hi Eric

I was reading your monthly news letter and I read one of your articles called: Piercing and Tattoos.

I'm noticing a increase in people going for body piecing and tattoos these days. Young teens think that it's "cool". Many I found to be Christians teens. Some have compromised by getting a tattoo of Jesus or a cross and think that makes it OK.

I've always known the truth about tattoos ever since the Lord reveal it to me through His word years ago when I was a teen. He gave me this scripture Leviticus 19:28 "Never cut your bodies in mourning for the dead or mark your skin with tattoos, for I am the LORD. (NLT) Then I told the Lord that I wasn't planning to do this in mourning for the dead.

Then, He reminded me about 1 Corinthians 6:19 - "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? " (NKJV) Whether we do it for ourselves or for our friends it's still wrong in God's eyes Sin is sin. We forget as Christians from time to time that our bodies our not our own, and neither is our time, because Jesus paid the price for it in full. It belongs to God. We must honour God with our Body by keeping it clean and mark free.

The truth about body piercing and tattoos must be revealed. Many Christians find nothing wrong with it, as long it's in "moderation".

Eric, keep preaching the truth about the lies of Satan. Your doing the right thing. Don't let people's comments get to you, because you can't please everyone. Just please God.

Claude

Eric's Note: Here are a couple of other resources I came across concerning Tattoos, Piercings, etc.
http://www.ag.org/top/beliefs/christian_character/charctr_19_modesty_.cfm
http://www.pentecostalevangel.ag.org/News2002/4514_tattoos.cfm

Support the ministry here!