TATTOOS
Body Art – Form of
expression - Should a Christian get a tattoo?
First Word
·
Tattoo - A mark made by pricking and
inserting pigment under the skin. – An artificially inflicted sign on the body
in the form of incision, tattoo, stamp, special sign or brand.
·
Wikipedia - Many
tattoos serve as rites of passage, marks of status and rank, tribal
identification, symbols of religious and spiritual devotion, decorations
for bravery, sexual lures and marks of fertility, pledges of love, magical
amulets and talismans for protection.
·
Forced tattoo were
marks or tattoos placed as punishment
on outcasts, slaves and convicts. - The
Nazis introduced the practice of tattooing identification numbers on the
Jews at Auschwitz in 1941 in order to register them and finally identify
the remains of those that had died in the concentration camp.
Bad Boys
·
The first time I saw a tattoo was when I was in high
school; the “BAD BOYS” took their knife and cut a symbol of a cross with
quotation marks around it on the web of their hand between their thumb and
index finger, then took a ballpoint pen and put blue ink in it… “t” … First Class - This was the
symbol of their Gang.
·
Now grant you this was in the mid 50’s and the
badness was sitting on a wall smoking a cigarette and passing around a single hot
beer and making hooting sounds at the girls. – They were super bad when they
put a potato in the exhaust pipe of a teacher’s car, or hoisted a commode up on
the flag pole, or when all five of them drug a teachers VW Beatle around
sideways in its parking space. – They were tough and had the TATTOO to prove
it.
Background
·
Very early in the Bible we find references
to the “heathen”; those that did not recognize the one God of Israel.
They would make cuts in their flesh and rub colored clay in it to make it stand
out. – This Tattoo was a “sign of a covenant” with others to protect
them against their enemy, much like the gangs today. – When you mess with me
you mess with all of us in the covenant gang.
·
Tattoos were associated with pagan cults who
tattooed themselves when they mourned for their dead. – Archeologist have found
tattoos on preserved skin dating back to 6000 BC.
·
In order to SET APART the chosen people of Israel, the
moral and ceremonial laws instructed them to do everything possible to NOT look
the same as the heathen - cutting or tattooing themselves was therefore
forbidden. A Christian should not look
the same as the Worldly Heathen.
·
I’ll say it another way; Tattoos
represent the ways of the heathen world; those NOT chosen by God to be a
people Holy to Him.
·
The Second Council of Nicaea in 787 AD, banned all body markings as a pagan
practice.
Leviticus 19:28 – Tattoo NOT
28 DO NOT cut your bodies for the dead, and DO NOT mark your skin with tattoos. I am the LORD.
28 DO NOT cut your bodies for the dead, and DO NOT mark your skin with tattoos. I am the LORD.
(NLT)
Jeremiah 16:6 – Cut NOT
6 Both great and small shall die in this land; they shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them; (ASV)
6 Both great and small shall die in this land; they shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them; (ASV)
Deuteronomy 14:1-2 – Christians are CHOSEN out of
the world
1 You are the children of the LORD your God. Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead,
2 for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession. (NIV2011)
1 You are the children of the LORD your God. Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead,
2 for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession. (NIV2011)
Leviticus 21:5-6 – Christians are SET APART as
holy to God
5 The priests must not shave their heads or trim their beards or cut their bodies.
6They must be set apart as holy to their God and must never bring shame on the name of God. They must be holy. (NLT)
5 The priests must not shave their heads or trim their beards or cut their bodies.
6They must be set apart as holy to their God and must never bring shame on the name of God. They must be holy. (NLT)
Tattoo of the Beast
·
We
find in the end times that men will not be able to buy or sell without the
tattoo mark of the beast. - This mark is used to control the person and clearly
identifies that this person is a
worshiper of the “image” of the Antichrist.
It is a mark of allegiance and loyalty to the world leader.
·
This
is a perversion of the Mark of God
that is placed on the 144,000 Jews who testify of Christ. - NYOBS 07.141 - MARK OF
THE BEAST
·
NOTE; if you receive the mark
of the beast, you cannot reverse your
decision.
·
I
don’t know what this sounds like to you, but to me, it says that if you were
tattooed with the mark of the beast,
you have refused the Holy Spirit. You
have entered into the “Unpardonable Sin”. Repentance is too late; there is no
choice on “smoking” or “non-smoking”.
Revelation 13:16 – The Mark; the Tattoo of the
Beast
16 He (the beast) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, (NKJV)
16 He (the beast) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, (NKJV)
Rev 14:9-11 - The Tattoo of the beast is an Unpardonable Sin
9 If anyone worships the
beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand,
10 he, too, will drink
of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured FULL STRENGTH into the cup
of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence
of the holy angels and of the Lamb.
11 And the smoke of
their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for
those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the
mark of his name."
Exception
- Good
News,
when we become believers, we are forever
marked with the seal of God.
- Seals are placed by
the owner as his mark of ownership.
It’s the mark of God’s approval, a deposit of what is to come.
- There is another mark
that is the exception to the rule that occurs in the Tribulation
period when God places His mark
on 144,000 EVANGILIST so that the Heathen world will take notice. – There
will be no doubt as to whether they are a servant of the most high
God or a servant of the worldly
Beast.
- This is not just any
mark; it’s the NEW name of God tattooed on their foreheads.
Revelation 7:3-4 – God
seals; a tattoo on 144,000 EVANGELIST
3 (angels) saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: (NKJV)
3 (angels) saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."
4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: (NKJV)
Revelation 14:1 – GOD’S NAME is tattooed on their
foreheads.
1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.
1 Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.
(NKJV)
Eph 1:13 – Christians are marked with the SEAL of Christ
13 And you also were
included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised
Holy Spirit, NIV
Eph 4:30 – Christians are sealed for the day of REDEMPTION
30 And do not grieve the
Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
NIV
2 Cor 1:21-22 – Christians have the tattoo of God’s OWNERSHIP.
21 Now it is God who makes
both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,
22 set his seal of
ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit,
guaranteeing what is to come NIV
John 6:27 - Christians have the seal of God’s APPROVAL
27 Do not work for food
that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man
will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
NIV
2 Cor 5:5 – Christians have the GUARANTEE of what is to come
5 Now it is God who has
made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit,
guaranteeing what is to come. NIV
God’s
Tattoo
·
Note: The Tattoo
of protection; the mark of ownership IS PLACED BY GOD,
not by man.
Genesis 4:15 – God’s Tattoo of PROTECTION
15 But the LORD said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. (NIV2011)
15 But the LORD said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. (NIV2011)
1 Kings 20:41 – The Prophet was marked on his
forehead
41 Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. (NIV2011)
41 Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. (NIV2011)
End Times
·
In the last days God will Tattoo the redeemed Christian
with His mark on their forehead which is the NEW name of God.
Ezekiel 9:4 – End times a tattoo on those who seek
God’s will
4 and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it." (NKJV)
4 and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it." (NKJV)
Revelation 3:11-12 – God will Tattoo His NEW name
on us.
11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My NEW name. (NKJV)
11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My NEW name. (NKJV)
Revelation 22:4 – Christians with “God’s Tattoo”
will see His face
4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. (NKJV)
4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. (NKJV)
Tattoo’s Today
·
The
tattoo today has undergone a dramatic redefinition and has shifted
from a form of defiance to an acceptable form of expression. – It’s
called Body Art –
·
Health
risks including infection and allergic reactions
have been associated with Tattooing. Infections can be transmitted through the
use of unsterilized equipment or contaminated ink. These infections include surface
infections of the skin, fungal infections, some forms of hepatitis,
herpes, simplex
virus, HIV, staph, tetanus, and tuberculosis.
·
Interestingly 72
percent of those polled with face, neck, hands, or fingers tattoos have spent
more than three days in JAIL, compared to just 6 percent of the non-tattooed
population.
·
A Tattoo shows “Ownership” of your
body – Scripture teaches that Tattoos on God’s chosen people bring shame to the
name of God. – It’s in the Book -
·
Image of God - Christians should make
every effort to NOT look like the rest of the world; like those that have
rejected Christ. We are SET APART and should
strive to conform ourselves to the image of God’s only begotten Son; Jesus the
Christ.
·
We are known by our fruit – Does your SPEECH and
SONGS glorify God or glorify the world? – Out of the abundance of the heart,
the mouth SINGS. – Are you a Believer or just a Make-Believer going through the
motions with just a form of Godliness? – 2 Tim 3:1-5
·
Is a person damned if they
have a tattoo?
– Absolutely not – Our salvation is NOT based on whether or not we have a
tattoo; it’s based on our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our personal Savior
plus nothing else. – The New Covenant of Jesus Christ has set us FREE from the 630
Laws of Moses.
·
Thinking about a tattoo; forget it. - Got a Tattoo; don’t get anymore
– Should you try to have a tattoo removed? – It only matters to you; God
looks on the heart not the color of your skin. - Tattoos under the New Covenant are NOT A SIN, but we would do well
to honor God by not getting any. – Life is certainly choice driven -
·
I
saw a young lady at the beach with a tattoo of
a yellow butterfly outlined in brown in the small of her back. It was striking and kept my attention. – I
really, really liked it. – After this study, I realized that that’s how life is – I am drawn
to what is just opposite of God’s will – The Apostle Paul said it best; “For what I am doing, I
do not understand; for I am NOT practicing what I would
like to do, but I am doing the very thing I shouldn’t.”
·
The Real Question is; are you as Believer or a Make-Believer? – Where is your HEART?
Romans 8:29 – Be CONFORMED to the image of God’s Son
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (NIV2011)
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (NIV2011)
Acts 13:39 – The NEW
COVENANT sets us free from the Law
39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the Law of Moses.
39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the Law of Moses.
Romans 10:10 – It’s with
the HEART that one believes
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (NKJV)
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (NKJV)
Acts 15:8 – God knows the HEART
8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. (NIV2011)
8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. (NIV2011)
Luke 6:45 - The mouth SINGS what the HEART is
full of
45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (NIV2011)
45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (NIV2011)
Matthew 12:34 – Your
speech discovers what’s in your HEART
34 For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (NKJV)
34 For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (NKJV)
Jeremiah 17:10 – God looks on the HEART; examines
the mind
10 I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct. (NIV2011)
10 I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct. (NIV2011)
Matthew 7:20 – You will be known by your FRUIT
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (NIV2011)
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (NIV2011)
Leviticus 21:5-6 – Tattoos BRING SHAME on the name
of God
5 The priests must not shave their heads or trim their beards or cut their bodies.
6They must be set apart as holy to their God and must never bring shame on the name of God. They must be holy. (NLT)
5 The priests must not shave their heads or trim their beards or cut their bodies.
6They must be set apart as holy to their God and must never bring shame on the name of God. They must be holy. (NLT)
Matthew 7:23 – Make Believer - I NEVER KNEW YOU
23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ (NLT)
23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ (NLT)
READ PAUL’S CONFESSION
Romans 7:15-25 – HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HIMSELF - HIS ACTIONS
15 I don’t really understand
myself,
for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I
hate.
16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.
17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.
19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
22 I love God’s law with all my heart.
23 But there is another power within me that is at WAR with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good.
17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.
19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.
22 I love God’s law with all my heart.
23 But there is another power within me that is at WAR with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.
24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?
25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
In the multitude of counselors,
there is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:14
I
am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical
information, and scripture verses.
Because of them I can stand on their shoulders and see further that I
otherwise ever could have.
Harper’s Bible Dictionary – Harper & Row
Illustrated Bible
Dictionary; The - Tyndale
Illustrated Bible
Dictionary - Nelson
Nave’s Topical Bible; NIV
– Zondervan
Nave’s Topical Bible; NIV-
Nelson
New International
Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas
Tenney
Seven Deadly Sins – British Broadcasting Network
Who’s Who and Where’s
Where in the Bible – Stephen M. Miller
Wikipedia
Zondervan Pictorial
Encyclopedia of the Bible; The - Tenney
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