Why God said, "Leviticus 19:28"

[YYZ Skinhead]

I watch a lot of National Geographic documentaries and they have aired several that feature "body modification". Many Palaeo-Pagans, tribal people who still practice their stone-age religious rituals (as opposed to modern Neo-Pagans like Wiccans), still practice scarification, piercing, full-face and full-body tattooing, et cetera. I think that was why God forbade the Israelites from doing these things: it was a Pagan religious ritual then and it still is. Remember the priests of Baal slicing themselves up? The same thing is done now by tribal people in South America, Asia, Africa and New Zealand. Modern Westerners do the same thing but they take it to the extreme.

CAUTION: If tattoos and piercings gross you out, don't click on these links!!

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/reco...ssion.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Davidson
http://www.cuttingedge.org/NEWS/n1814.cfm (Take the text on this site with a big lick of salt.)

For years I wanted to get a tattoo, more specifically I wanted to get a tattoo machine and ink and tattoo myself. I had read Leviticus 19:28 and thought it only forbade marking yourself for the dead. I finally figured out that ritual bloodletting was a Pagan religious practice. After seeing those National Geographic shows it made complete sense. I would suggest to the myriad Christians who are "tattooing themselves for Jesus": read the verse, watch those documentaries, and then re-read the verse, along with 1 Kings 18:28.

(Yeah, I said "tattooing themselves for Jesus": http://www.seekgod.ca/number.htm
http://www.seekgod.ca/marks.htm )

[heb13-13]

I spent 4 years in the Navy and in the depths of depravity and drunkenness with my "buddies", mostly in the far east (great tatooers), and somehow, I still resisted their "egging me on" to get a tattoo.

Tatoos just did not fascinate me. I see today where many are trying to have them removed, now. I could careless what people do to their skin. I think in many ways the outward is just an expression of what is taking place inside us. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks and the tatoo pen, writes.

[Strefanash]

one sad story: a young workmate of mine, about 20 years old and a zealous christian, got himself tattooed with "LIVING SACRIFICE"

poor foolish boy. . . . .

another reason God is against it is that he is against self inflicted pain, as paul said: severe treatment of the body is of no value.

he is against what we call sacrifice. giving tilll it hurts means giving beyond your peace which means giving beyond your faith or love. and if you neglect your family in the name of said giving you have sinned greatly as it says in titus :

and if the motive is to buy God's favour by doing or enduring something uncomfortable he is not interested. even as in I Cor 13: if i give my body to be burned but have no love it is worthless.

so much for many martyrdoms: reading about Mary Tudors (1553-1558) persections recently they were hate fests and many of the martyrs did it out of pride or fear

[sheep wrecked]

(10-18-2009 12:26 AM)Strefanash Wrote:  one sad story: a young workmate of mine, about 20 years old and a zealous christian, got himself tattooed with "LIVING SACRIFICE"

poor foolish boy. . . . .

another reason God is against it is that he is against self inflicted pain, as paul said: severe treatment of the body is of no value.

he is against what we call sacrifice. giving tilll it hurts means giving beyond your peace which means giving beyond your faith or love. and if you neglect your family in the name of said giving you have sinned greatly as it says in titus :

and if the motive is to buy God's favour by doing or enduring something uncomfortable he is not interested. even as in I Cor 13: if i give my body to be burned but have no love it is worthless.

so much for many martyrdoms: reading about Mary Tudors (1553-1558) persections recently they were hate fests and many of the martyrs did it out of pride or fear

I am not sure why the tatoo of "living sacrifice" is viewed as "foolish". Can you clarify?

Paul beat his own body to bring it under subjection.

1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body [G5299], and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

G5299
ὑπωπιάζω
hupōpiazō
Thayer Definition:
1) to beat black and blue, to smite so as to cause bruises and livid spots
1a) like a boxer one buffets his body, handle it roughly, discipline by hardships
2) metaphorically
2a) to give one intolerable annoyance
2a1) beat one out, wear one out
2b) by entreaties
3) that part of the face that is under the eyes

[DavidC99]

"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." ~ 1 Corinthians 9:27

Paul wasn't abusing himself and making himself black and blue. Sounds kind of Catholic, actually.... But back to reality, what's the context? He didn't want to be a castaway, having preached to others but not following through himself. Subjecting himself to physical hardship for the sake of the Gospel has nothing to do with active abuse.

But what does this have to do with tattoos and physical abuse?

[Strefanash]

(10-18-2009 02:50 PM)sheep wrecked Wrote:  

(10-18-2009 12:26 AM)Strefanash Wrote:  one sad story: a young workmate of mine, about 20 years old and a zealous christian, got himself tattooed with "LIVING SACRIFICE"

poor foolish boy. . . . .

another reason God is against it is that he is against self inflicted pain, as paul said: severe treatment of the body is of no value.

he is against what we call sacrifice. giving tilll it hurts means giving beyond your peace which means giving beyond your faith or love. and if you neglect your family in the name of said giving you have sinned greatly as it says in titus :

and if the motive is to buy God's favour by doing or enduring something uncomfortable he is not interested. even as in I Cor 13: if i give my body to be burned but have no love it is worthless.

so much for many martyrdoms: reading about Mary Tudors (1553-1558) persections recently they were hate fests and many of the martyrs did it out of pride or fear

[color=#006400][b]I am not sure why the tatoo of "living sacrifice" is viewed as "foolish". Can you clarify?

It is to me a stupid stunt. if one has the fruit of the spirit this is all the proof that one is a living sacrifice that is necessary, no placard tattooed to one's skin is relelvant. and if one has not got the fruit of the spirit then the tatto "living sacrifice" is a lie, for without the fruit no one is a living sacrifice.

so such a device is either unnecessary, or an outright lie

[sheep wrecked]

(10-20-2009 09:25 PM)Strefanash Wrote:  sheep: I am not sure why the tatoo of "living sacrifice" is viewed as "foolish". Can you clarify?



It is to me a stupid stunt. if one has the fruit of the spirit this is all the proof that one is a living sacrifice that is necessary, no placard tattooed to one's skin is relelvant. and if one has not got the fruit of the spirit then the tatto "living sacrifice" is a lie, for without the fruit no one is a living sacrifice.

so such a device is either unnecessary, or an outright lie

From what I understand, tattoos are a form of expression often signifying a reminder of something or someone like an experience or a quote or a worthwhile cause. Do you really think this person is lying when they say they want to be reminded to be a living sacrifice?

Many people, including believers, use "devices" to declare their faith and their intents towards God. I don't think that really reflects on their fruit one way or the other.

For instance, we have a rather large framed colorful poster print that contains all the names of Jesus that are found in Scripture hanging on the wall near where people enter our home. In a way, it is simply a declaration to new visitors, but to us, a beautiful reminder of how much the Lord means to us. I find it comforting at times. The fruit that we live out will be the same, regardless of the print. We have it just cause we like it

[Rose of Shushan]

Sheepwrecked what you just wrote

Quote:From what I understand, tattoos are a form of expression often signifying a reminder of something or someone like an experience or a quote or a worthwhile cause.

reminded me of this verse

Isa 49:15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Isa 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.