Moved to OT forum. By all means, continue there.. it's just now getting interesting....

Phantazm

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Leviticus 19:28

You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the LORD

What do you think?

I am NOT a bible-reader, but I must ask, Isn't the part of the OLD Covenant??? Don't we live under the new one??! Food for thought!

Boy.. this should be REALLY interesting. Here are my thoughts... (If I had a Bible in my office I'd post some quotes.. I will when I get home)...

And just a quick note... I want this thread to stay on topic please.. I think this may potentially have a lot to offer

Christianity in General
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1) Belive In Jesus Christ as Savior
2) Live As Best You Can
3) Do What's Right

I could expand on this quite a bit.. but as I said above, let's stay on topic.

The best exapmle of a true Christian I know is heavily pierced and tattooed.

Has about 2" stretched lobes, several facial piercings, and who knows what else?

My point... his heart is as big as Texas.. even bigger. He is an ordained (sp?) minister, and the way he lives his life sets a FANTASTIC example for others in my opinion. He literally, feeds the hungry, clothes the homeless, etc...

Wonderful man. Going to hell because his 2" ear lobes? I think not.. not for me to judge, but I sincerely doubt that God will judge us on appearances, but rather, our actions.

As usual.. just my 2 cents.. and I'll add more when I go home....

Religion is a question mark for me but Phantazm you already have Christianity wrong.
1.)Have no other God
2.)Love thy neighbor as thy self
3.)All the other stuff
Not to be picky but if you look at the bible #2 seems to be pretty God damn important, most people overlook it however. I talked to a pastor once, she said stretched lobes and a few piercings should have no effect on what kind of a christian you want to be.

I'm not quite sure what your post means... Adding to mine?
Agree 100% here. but again, not sure if your #1 corresponds (sp?) with my #1. At any rate.. I agree 100% with your #1.

Again.. agree 100%
10 Commandments I assume?
I too have talked to a pastor (not the same one I mentioned earlier), and she tends to agree 100% with you, as do I.

Interesting food for thought. And I ask how am I "wrong" as you put it. What about the statements I made are inaccurate?

Just wondering.. I like debates..on just about anything.. not confrontation (sp? again), but simply to share opinions

That said... lets keep it going.. I truly do think this will turn into a VERY interesting thread with MANY viewpoints.

1) That is one translation. Many others do not have the words "tattoo marks" in them. Or they place them before "for the dead" along with the cuttings.

2) Yes, that is OT (Old Testament, not Off Topic). If anyone is going to take any of us to task for having tattoos, ask them if the keep Kosher? Do they grow their hair and beard? No cutting it? Do they send their women out of the household to live away during the days when they are "unclean"? haeven forbid, they don't eayt pork, or put cheese on their salami sandwich, do they? Or are we to be made to feel bad because someone wants to selectively pick and choose which portions of the OT non-Jews can ignore, and which portions they can try to ram down our throats to suit their own prejudices?

3) The whole subject don't mean squat to those of us who choose to live our lives with a morality and spirituality which have nothing to do with words in that, or any other book.

Great post!!!

Hi! I am new here, I hope you don't mind me jumping in here. This happens to be a subject that I have discussed with a Biblical scholar. According to him, these laws were not put in place for the general public. They were for Levitican monks, who at the time were being lured away from God to cults of the dead. In this same passage of Leviticus, it also states that a man must make no baldness upon his head, nor trim a corner from his beard. They must also not eat food prepared with the food meant for a divorced woman, nor could they eat food prepared by a divorced woman. They could not wear blended fiber clothing, or eat shellfish. So, if these laws were meant for everyone, anyone that has ever had a haircut, shave, shrimp for dinner, worn a poly/cotton blended t-shirt, or eaten at a table with a divorced woman is in the same boat as someone tattooed, branded or intentionally scarred themselves. This particular scholar had a lovely tattoo of a cross with roses and a banner. The banner said "God". I had this same discussion in a chat room with a rabbi. He said that was all correct. We also discussed the myth that someone that is Jewish and tattooed cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetary according to their tradition. The only reason a Jew could not be buried in consecrated ground is if they commit suicide.

What do I think about it? I think old testament laws were changed ofter Jesus came to earth in human form. If what you are inplying is that pierced and tattooed people are evil, and will not go to heaven, the you are highly confused, and ignoring ALL other parts of the Bible. If you are saying that I will go to hell for being pierced (old testament law) then you will probably go to hell for not sacrificing lambs and other animals in the name of God to cleanse you of your sin (also old testament law, no longer in effect after He died for our sins because He was the ultimate sacrifice). John 3:16 does not have a sentance fallowing it that says "unless pierced". Even if it were a sin, (Which I believe it isn't),in Romans, it says, "For if we confess our sin, He is faithfull and just to forgive us our sin, and cleanse up from all unrighteousness"...which is a basic fundamental truth in the Bible...right next to "whosoever believes in Him shall not parish, but have everlasting life" If you feel that you are sinning or are going to go to hell for body modifications, then by all means, feel free to take yours out, and way to go for being committed to your personal beliefs. If I felt that way, I would take mine out too, but while I am a Christian, I have found nothing in the Bible that has yet given me any reason not to continue in my piercing ways, and I am looking foward to getting more in the near future.

What do I think about it? I think old testament laws were changed ofter Jesus came to earth in human form. If what you are inplying is that pierced and tattooed people are evil, and will not go to heaven, the you are highly confused, and ignoring ALL other parts of the Bible. If you are saying that I will go to hell for being pierced (old testament law) then you will probably go to hell for not sacrificing lambs and other animals in the name of God to cleanse you of your sin (also old testament law, no longer in effect after He died for our sins because He was the ultimate sacrifice). John 3:16 does not have a sentance fallowing it that says "unless pierced". Even if it were a sin, (Which I believe it isn't),in Romans, it says, "For if we confess our sin, He is faithfull and just to forgive us our sin, and cleanse up from all unrighteousness"...which is a basic fundamental truth in the Bible...right next to "whosoever believes in Him shall not parish, but have everlasting life" If you feel that you are sinning or are going to go to hell for body modifications, then by all means, feel free to take yours out, and way to go for being committed to your personal beliefs. If I felt that way, I would take mine out too, but while I am a Christian, I have found nothing in the Bible that has yet given me any reason not to continue in my piercing ways, and I am looking foward to getting more in the near future.