Of Piercings and Tattoos

“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.

"Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead."  Deuteronomy 14:1

¹⁸ In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, ¹⁹ The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, ²⁰ The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, ²¹ The rings, and nose jewels, ²² The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins... Isaiah 3:18-22

In the Bible, piercings and tatoos were practiced in pagan rites and rituals.  Tattooing and the cutting of skin were related to mourning for the dead.  The pagan worshipers disfigured their bodies to appease the anger of their gods and find help for the deceased.

Some people argue that piercings and tattoos and Christianity in culture (specifically Western culture) send rebellious negative messages and non-Christian messages.

"But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

The Bible clearly states throughout the entirety of the scripture that God looks at the heart. Each person is to examine why they are getting a tattoo or piercing and what’s the message.  In the modern world, tattoos and piercings are symbols of rebellion and gang culture.  Rebellion can be from their families or from society.  

I hope you think deeply about it before having a piercing and tattoo.