Friday, 20 April 2012
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Tattoos: Do They Defile God's Temple?
[This is reposted as part of our Best-Of Revelife Week. It was originally posted on February 24, 2011.]
Two of the first things to know about me are that I am a Christian and I have tattoos. Both are incredibly difficult to hide. Several good people have approached me in the last 8 years of my life (the amount of time in which I've been a Christian and collecting tattoos) and discussed with me the moral issues revolving around tattoos. I've heard every argument against tattoos. I've wrestled the issue out with great intensity for many years. I've concluded that tattoos are permissible for Christians but they aren't always wise.
Knowing that, I am intentional about not displaying my tattoos in the midst of certain people and I am careful about how I discuss the issue of tattoos (especially with those young in their faith). The most popular argument I've heard against Christians collecting tattoos is one of the most poorly supported theologically and scripturally. The argument: The human body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and tattoos defile that temple.
At first hearing it seems like a logical and scriptural argument. But it isn't. The main problem with this argument is the misunderstanding of the nature of God's temple in the New Covenant and how it is defiled. Jesus refers to the temple he will raise up in Mark 14:58 and says that it will be a temple not built by human hands. So far we are all still on the same page. In John 2:19 Jesus refers to himself as the temple that will be destroyed and he will raise again. Now we have some progression.
Paul writes in 1Corinthians 3:16-17, "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple." Now we have been told that Jesus is the temple and so are those who have been raised with him. Paul argues that the people of God are the temple of God and they are the temple because the Holy Spirit dwells among them. In this passage Paul doesn't teach that the physical body of the individual human is the temple of God but rather the baptized people of God are the temple and the temple is marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit in that community. The apostle then informs the Corinthians that anyone who destroys the temple (people) of God will be destroyed (most commentators believe Paul is speaking eschatologically here). Then Paul once again confirms that it is the united people of God that are his temple proving that a mere physical body is not the temple of God.
However, Paul revisits the temple language in the same letter in chapter 6 verses 12-20 to discuss sexual immorality. Verses 19-20 state, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples 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 bodies." That's pretty cut and dry. He's definitely talking about the physical body this time. However, Paul does not classify defaming or destroying of the temple as any activity that brings intentional physical harm or alteration to the body. In fact, Paul doesn't even focus on the exterior of the body but rather the interior for he states, "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body" (v. 18).
There is a specific type of activity that defames the body in terms of it being God's temple and it is sexual immorality because sexual immorality is not merely a physical activity. Paul speaks to the nature of sexual immorality and how it affects the person and not just the physical body when he writes, "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit" (vv. 15-17). Again, Paul speaks of the spirit. Sexual immorality is a uniting of what is Christ's with that which is contrary to him. It is activity that creates division between God and the person by creating a union that is unholy. The temple is not merely a physical body but a unity between persons. The temple is damaged when the unity is damaged. When Christ and his members are divided the temple is damaged.
Paul also speaks of God's people as his temple in his letter to the Ephesians. He writes, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit" (2:19-22). The parallels to the first passage examined in this post are clear.
Nothing in scripture that mentions the temple ad it being damaged is concerned with mere physical bodies or mere physical activities such as tattooing one's body. If one wants to honor the temple of God then they ought to edify the saints and the community of saints and flee from sexual immorality so that they may honor God with all of who they are and have unity with the Sprit. To do otherwise would be to defile God's temple. Therefore, the argument that the human body is God's temple and we must honor it by not tattooing the body misuses the temple language used by Paul and the gospel authors. Besides, who really believes painting the walls defiles a house? The Sistine Chapel looks a lot better with Michelangelo's work on the ceiling in my opinion.
If there is a valid argument against Christians having tattoos it certainly is not this argument.
Do you think there is a valid argument against tattoos? If so, what argument is it? Do you have tattoos? If so, what are they, and why did you get them?
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- From: TheGreatBout@xanga
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Comments (65)
@LKJSlain@xanga - I like your answer and quote. Not all things allowed are good...
@RobertLeeRE@xanga - thank you. I don't always know that I'm right, but I hope God sees where I'm TRYING to come from. haha.
@LKJSlain@xanga - I have found your comments are usually right on and can feel God's presence when I read your comments. You are a terrific addition to the assembly filling a role no one else is filling.
Firstly It does actually say in the bible do not get tattoed (it seems most want to ignore that), Why would God say this you think? Probably because back then (3000 years ago) people would tattoo their face , their whole body and thus defile themselves to the point of looking like the demons inside them. Nothing has changed...
I have some tattoes, they were before I was saved. They are silly skulls and flames (all that wonderful dark stuff that people so want drawn on their bodies in blood) They depict inner pain and a human not happy with how they look on the inside or out. They are a form of self harm (like the man Jesus came to hitting himself with rocks, who was full of demons)
They are culture not scripture. Being a sheep that simply conforms with what Hollywood does rather than following Christ. If you can imagine Christ getting tattoed (and yes it existed back then also), then perhaps you do not know him at all. The last thing the Lord (someone I lvoe and am close to and obdient towards) wants from me as a Pastor is to get more immature tattoes.
If God wanted you with pictures scarred into your flesh, He would have you born with such. It just shows insecurity and attention seeking. It is not what God wants and any that think it is what a Holy God wants are kidding themselves to please their own selfish sinful nature
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I think your (author's) exegesis and reference to scripture is most accurate, and everyone else is injecting a lot of their own cultural/personal/religious attitudes toward their views on tattoos.
Exegesis is important in matters like this because we are trying to capture the author's intent in a matter. You can cut and paste a scripture and make up a completely incorrect belief from referencing that one scripture. In tight matters like this, good exegesis is super important! It's necessary to read at least the WHOLE chapter (preferrably the entire book though) to better grasp the intent of the author.
Seems like everyone else is cutting/pasting single Bible verses to support their personals views rather than reading with an open mind and allowing the Word to mold their views!
Personally though, I think tattoos are pointless. If the motivation to get a tattoo is to be a reminder, then that image/memory/reminder is probably not important enough to be remembered on its own.
The heart is what matters anyway
Flesh is flesh, spirit is spirit. God doesn't judge by the things man looks at (appearance), but looks at the heart (1 Sam 16:7)
Jesus!
@RobertLeeRE@xanga - That's an impressively long message you sent me in answer to my question. My two initial small response are: I assumed when you said that Paul said there is a New Covenant (thereby making the OT somewhat defunct), that you had a verse or three to pass on. I may have missed them but I didn't see any in my rapid perusal of your message ; the second response is that at first glance, you've replied by suggesting I do a lengthy bible study. Those days are long gone and I only use the bible for reference when making a point, as with any other literature. I suspect your message won't require much more of a response that what I place here but I'll get to it soon.
@Lovegrove@xanga -
The reason I did not want it posted here is it has nothing to do with this post, also there is a possibilty some could be offended of the discussion, and its detailed response. Your disregard for the feelings of others is duly noted. So be it. They are LETTERS, also known as the Epistles. Reading them does not take long at all, and scanning them NO TIME at all. You have eyes and a brain, USE THEM. And the information I gave you is the right information. For your information---anywhere you turn to in those those Pauline Epistles, it will answer your general question, it is all over. I am sorry you feel I am your reference book and not your friend who just put a lot of work and effort in helping you. I ALSO am sorry you chose to print my letter to you of which was meant not to be posted, PRIVATE MESSAGE here posted here.
@RobertLeeRE@xanga -
.......... “The reason I did not want it posted here is it has nothing to do with this post, also there is a possibilty some could be offended of the discussion, and its detailed response. Your disregard for the feelings of others is duly noted. So be it.”
Yes, so be it. And I've noted this is the second time you'v been pissed for trite reasons. If it is nothing to do with the post, why did you deign to send me a long message full of stuff we were not talking about? In passing, I know about cults from personal experience.
And what feelings, yours or those you imagine would cry if they read your take on Armstrong? I doubt if you’re taken that seriously by many people.
Your self-righteous, pompous response above is unmerited, seeing as you in no way made it clear that you thought people might find your response offensive. I certainly did not. Also, thinking you wrote a possibly offensive comment, you made no attempt to apologise to me beforehand for sending me possibly offensive material. Do you search out ways to get pissed off or what?
I asked you a simple question and in such a framework that it was obvious I thought you would have a
reference at your fingertips, seeing as you had just said something that implied you did.
You are in no way a reference book, seeing as I get the impression the only book you read is the bible; and you’re not my friend after a few comment exchanges. I take friendship more seriously than that. You want to be my friend? Are you some sort of teenage girl trying to get in a gossip circle or what?
Geez, why is it always Christians that come across as half crazy.
@Lovegrove@xanga - I am not pissed. I just know that some get their panties in a bunch when people start talking about something that has nothing to do with the original post. I think that is enough nonsense said.
I've been kind of contemplating getting one, just for the sake of showing my devotion and love for Jesus. This scripture kind of has influenced my decision:
Place me like a seal over your heart,like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.Song of Solomon 8:6Here's an interpretation of that passage, also:"Set me as a seal upon thine heart - It was customary in the Levant and other places to make impressions of various kinds upon the arms, the breast, and other parts. I have seen these often: some slight punctures are made, and the place rubbed over with a sort of blue powder that, getting between the cuticle and cutis, is never discharged; it continues in all its distinctness throughout life. If the bride alludes to any thing of this kind, which is very probable, the interpretation is easy. Let me be thus depicted upon thine arm, which being constantly before thy eyes, thou wilt never forget me; and let me be thus depicted upon thy breast, the emblem of the share I have in thy heart and affections. Do this as a proof of the love I bear to thee, which is such as nothing but death can destroy; and do it to prevent any jealousy I might feel, which is as cruel as the grave, and as deadly as fiery arrows or poisoned darts shot into the body."
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I agree. any purposeful disfiguration or change to one's body, apart from a healthy need, is changing God's creation. He tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, therefore why are we marking ourselves with tattoos, slicing of the arms, breast implants, tummy tucks etc. for who's glory is all this for. Leviticus tells us not to mark or cut our bodies. When we were in the world, we did not know who we were, but now our eyes are open and we know that we are created in His image, therefore we will bring glory to Him and not ourselves. What we do to this body we do it to Him, for We too have been crucified with Christ- or have we?
@RobertLeeRE@xanga -@crucified - That is exactly it. When we, as followers of Christ, tattoo our bodies it is disrespectfull to the creator who made us. Like my long lost passed away Grandma used to always say "If God had intended us to have a tattoo we would have been born that way." She always said this many different ways. "If God intended us to smoke ciggarettes we would have been born with a smoke stack on our head!" I am not trying to make fun of the scripture but we Christians need to quit copying the world and start leading the world! How are you to witness to others if you show no control of your own evil desires? To tattoo is to defile one's self. It is not from God and if we say othewise we are kidding ourselves. You know some people like to shoot the messenger, so be it. If I get shot for standing up for truth so be it. It is not me your shooting at but God Himself. I also agree with the rest of what you say.
This is all Materialism, Atheism, all Hollywood nonsense that is being passed to the world as watered down Christian truth. Abraham was called to leave Babylon (Ur) and be a seperate people. All Christians are called to leave and become a seperate people. The unsaved are to look at us and see a seperate people, not see the same thing. The acceptance of this as Christianity is watered down nonsense. This is not truth. This American culture being passed off as Christianity is nothing more then Death being repackaged and passed off as enlightened Christianity.
If Christianity goes mainstream and accepts this nonsense it will be the death of Christianity and Islam which would never consider this will takeover the world.
But I suspect that many of you so-called Christans are really nothing more than sheep in wolve's clothing. Your not real believers. If you were you would actuall in faith accept God's words breathed through the prophets. But instead your constantly re packaging God's words and changing God's words. The nonsense has been going on since the fall of creation in Eden.
As for others that really do not know. Quit acting like sheep without a Pastor that goes to and fro. You have a Pastor called the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ. Quit following what seems right and the things you hear. You cannot follow God if you haven't become a student of His words breathed through the prophets. Read the love letter. Be his church. Tattoos are not something to be proud of rather they represent sin and ignorance.
And as for ANY Preacher that claims tattoos are okay they are False Prophets and should step down for they are incapable of determining the actual truth of the scriptures....
God Bless,
Brother RobertLeeRE
@TiredSoVeryTired@xanga - Does not God see all? he would know if you had a tattoo and isn't it not how you present yourself in public but what you do in private? what nobody sees means the most, right? and also to your comment of how christians are not under the old testament law, would an all-knowing God really change his mind about tattoos? or anything for that matter?
@jett - Meh, I don't care... God lets children die of cancer... maybe He should have to answer to me? My tattoos harm no one.