Piercings and Tattoos

Are Piercings and Tattoos Wrong?

When you get a tattoo with what are you associating?

When you get tattoos with what are you associating?

Not too many years ago in our society, one would not have expected to publicly encounter many individuals with odd body piercings or an assortment of tattoos. The few tattoos that one saw were either related to military service or biker gang association. Such, however, is not the case today. Just about anywhere you go now, you will encounter someone with a plethora of tattoos and/or body piercings. It’s quite faddish, in fact. The question naturally arises in the mind of the conscientious Christian as to what God’s word says on the subject. Is it wrong? Is it bad judgment? Is it a good thing? What do the scriptures say?

Under the Old Covenant, there was at least one type of body piercing that God approved. This was in the case where a master and slave had such a good relationship that the slave desired to give his entire life and the life of his family to his master. Under the Old Law, slaves were supposed to be set free during the Year of Jubilee (See Leviticus 25). However, the slave who did not want to be set free was to have his ear pierced to signify his desire to remain with his master ( Deuteronomy 15:17).

The Old Covenant wasn’t so generous, however, when it came to tattoos. Leviticus 19:28 states, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.” Most scholars believe that this prohibition was given as a mark of separation of the Israelites from the nations around them who practiced various forms of idolatry and which tattooing was related to their idolatrous practices. Israel was to be holy to the Lord ( Leviticus 20:7) and maintain their separation from heathen practices ( Exodus 33:16, Leviticus 20:24).

Needless to say, we are not under the same restrictions of the Old Covenant today ( Acts 15:10, Galatians 5:1). Hence, our pattern for living comes from the example of Christ and also from the teachings of the apostles in the New Testament. While we have no direct prohibition for either piercings or tattoos within the New Testament, we have some principles that would regulate such conduct. Let’s examine a few of those things.

First, there is the principle of modest behavior. In 1 Timothy 2:9 as well as 1 Peter 3:3 the apostles teach us that flamboyant or gaudy attire does not become the modest Christian woman. Multiple body piercings, elaborate tattoos, and any other such kind of showy personal expressions would fall under this category of immodesty. The Christian is not to call attention to self for the sole reason of promoting self. Often body piercings and tattoos are obtained just for this reason. The attitude of humility would preclude such in the life of the Christian ( Philippians 2:3).

Second, there is the principle of separation. God’s desire for the Israelites to be separate from the nations around them extends to Christians today as well. Paul tells the church at Corinth, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” ( 2 Corinthians 6:17). The Christian is not to engage in worldly activites as such is indicative of loving the world ( 1 John 2:15-17). James says that friendship with the world is enmity with God ( James 4:4). Inasmuch as tattoos and piercings represent worldliness we ought to have nothing to do with them.

Third, there is the principle of sound speech. Titus 2:8 says that the Christian’s speech ought to be irreproachable. Tattoos and body piercings speak volumes. Many tattoos represent things that the Christian repudiates such as warmongering, fornication, addiction, and bondage. Piercings may also have sexual connotations and Like the improper use of the tongue, the Christian who employs tattoos and piercings may be sending mixed messages. James (3:11) says, “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” Hypocrisy, in any form, is sinful ( James 3:17).

Finally, there is the principle of purpose. In everything we do as Christians, our purposes must be pure and holy; all must be done to God’s glory ( 1 Corinthians 10:31). Those who obtain piercings and tattoos must ask themselves what their motives are for so desiring such. Does one desire to rebel against parents? Such is a sinful motive ( Ephesians 6:1). Does one desire to show one’s sexual promiscuity? Again, a sinful motive ( 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7). Does one desire to use their body art to support anarchy or rebellion? Let not be seen in the life of the Christian ( Jude 1:8-10).

While there may not be anything inherently sinful in having one’s body pierced or having a tattoo engraved upon one’s skin, there are so many things that one need take into consideration to avoid evil, one would be better off not to obtain them. Moreover we certainly would not want to place a stumbling block before our brother ( Romans 14:21) and as there are so many other ways that a Christian may honorably express himself, there seems nary a reason to be tattooed or pierced. On this subject then, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” ( Romans 14:19).

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Daily Christian Walk

Daily Christian Walk

Walking daily in the Lord will keep you fit!

Walking daily in the Lord will keep you fit!

1.  Daily Prayer: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplica-tion with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6). “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).

2.  Daily Bible Study: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (Jn. 5:39). “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

3.  Daily Evangelism: “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5:42). “And Saul was con-senting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apos-tles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, enter-ing into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:1-4)

4.  Daily Exhortation: “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13). “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word com-municate unto him that teacheth in all good things” (Gal. 6:1-6)

5.  Daily Ministration: “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the He-brews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of hon-est report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:1-7). “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10)

6.  Daily Cross-Bearing: “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Lk. 9:23). “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:37).

7.  Daily Results: “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47) “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt. 28:19-20)

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Beside the Enemy

Sitting Beside the Enemy

Traveling most weekends for Christian evidence seminars means I frequently find myself on airplanes. Planes are unique environments in that for several hours you are often sitting in very close proximity to complete strangers. Some individuals are “non-talkers” and will use the time to catch-up on work, sleep, or listen to media. Other individuals are “talkers,” and will talk to whomever they find themselves sitting beside.

What do you do when sitting next to an enemy of Christ?

What do you do when sitting next to an enemy of Christ?

My favorite seat on the plane is right beside the window. With a window seat I can lean my head against the window and drift off to sleep, or I can stare out at God’s incredible creation and meditate or think—and I don’t have to worry about getting up if someone beside me needs to go to the bathroom.

On one Sunday afternoon, I settled into a window seat exhausted, anxiously awaiting the reunion with my family. It had been a very uplifting weekend seminar, but my voice was shot and I could barely keep my eyes open. A lady in her early forties sat down in my row in the aisle seat and we exchanged pleasantries. A few minutes later a very boisterous man in his late fifties or early sixties sat down in between us. I greeted him kindly, but returned to my window for some much needed rest. Little did I know I would not sleep a wink on this flight, because it was on this flight I found myself sitting beside the enemy.

Before the plane ever took off the ground the woman held up several “free drink” coupons and asked if either of us wanted one—excited about the prospect of getting “a good buzz on.” That was my first red flag. After declining I resumed my slumped over position and settled in to rest. My two seatmates, realizing that I was going to rest, began chatting amongst themselves about where they were going and what they did for a living. The woman explained that she was flying into Nashville for a teacher’s convention and that she was responsible for developing common core curriculum and tests in Tennessee. The man introduced himself as a trial lawyer from middle Tennessee. When he heard she was in education he began to share two court cases he had tried “against these overly religious people.”

He began to talk about these “crazy parents” who were praying for students at a Wilson county school, and how his client had hired him to get them to stop. I could not believe my ears—this was a court case that I often presented in my weekend seminars on the attacks of atheism in America. The guy sitting beside me was the actual lawyer who sued the school system to shut down a group of praying parents. This lawyer talked with pride about how he had stopped “those religious people from praying” at this particular elementary school.

By this time my mind was racing. Should I continue to listen or interrupt and defend the parents? Should I ask him questions about why he took the case? Before I could interject he continued on discussing how his firm had also sued Lipscomb University for building a library using some type of bond program. Again he complained about how there should be a separation of church and state. He sadly acknowledge that they had been unsuccessful in stopping the construction of the library—but he let this lady know he felt religion was a big problem in the school system. By this point I was dumbfounded—and my blood pressure was beginning to rise.

The woman picked up the conversation and shared that she was responsible for writing test questions for the new common core curriculum. She echoed his frustration and said that part of her biggest challenge was figuring out how to get evolution into the curriculum without having people complain. The lawyer warned the lady that she was flying into Nashville, Tennessee, and there would be a large percentage of people who disagreed with evolution.

By this time I was astonished and fully awake. (In fact, at this point I literally took out my mini-iPad to take notes). It was like God was literally placing me behind enemy lines to see first-hand how “the enemy” thinks. My only frustration was that I didn’t get the entire encounter on video.

The man asked the woman about her family and she mentioned she had a couple of young children. The lawyer shared that he had two boys, both of which had gone to law school to follow in his footsteps. He talked with pride about his sons passing the bar. It was very obvious from the man’s conversation that his children had inherited his love for material wealth and stuff. I listened to a man brag about raising children who craved luxury vacations and wanted bigger houses. This man reminded me of Solomon who tried to find pleasure in anything the world could offer (Ecclesiastes 2). His entire existence revolved around materialism and worldliness.

It was at this point that the conversation took a disturbingly sad turn. The woman lamented that her job often took her away from her children. The lawyer began to offer this woman parenting advice. He repeatedly told the woman not to sacrifice her own career for her children. They discussed at length how many hours they were putting in and how much time they were away from their children. The lawyer admonished the woman not to give up her life for her kids—but rather to use her busy life as an example to them. (And yes, I wrote down his words on my iPad so I would be sure and get them correct later.)

At some point the conversation turned more toward her work with common core. Again, I could not shake the irony of listening to someone boast with pride about her job of developing common core—an educational program that I often speak out against. She complained openly about parents and she even complained about many of the teachers who were against the program.

It was about this point that the plane started its initial descent into Nashville—and I was certain that I warped into the twilight zone. The lawyer asked the woman if test scores were still declining. She replied, “Yes.” She went on to share with him that test scores had been steadily declining for decades. They both began to talk about how much young people had changed, and speculate on what was causing the demise of both schools and society.

I sat there convinced I must be in some weird dream. Surely these individuals who only minutes earlier were talking about not sacrificing their careers for their children could see? Surely these two college-educated individuals remembered how just minutes earlier they had ridiculed religious people who did not believe in evolution. Surely these two individuals recognized that by removing God and the Bible from society there would be consequences.

Why were children’s scores going down and why were we watching demise in the moral fabric of our society. The bottom line was these two individuals were actively working to ensure it happened. And yet, they could not see past the blinders of materialism and worldliness.

As we landed I watched two married individuals exchange phone numbers and talk about the possibility of getting together while she was in Nashville.

As I collected my things to get off the plane I reflected on the words of Paul:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things (Romans 1:18-23).

It was then that I realized the battle has been around since Christ walked the earth.
The conversation that God allowed me to hear on that airplane was similar to conversations that have taken place for hundreds of years. Sure some details were different, but the summary was the same.

I silently offered up a prayer of thanksgiving to God for giving me this unique opportunity and I prayed for these two individuals. Yes, I was sitting beside “the enemy” on the plane, but I realized as I stepped off the plane, that this enemy is lost and desperately needs the Gospel.

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Holding Hope

Holding Hope

My two favorite professional sports franchises which I have followed since childhood (The Boston Red Sox and the Dallas Cowboys), both had absolutely horrible and abysmal seasons in 2015, enduring as dead last “cellar-dwellers” buried deep in the bowels of their respective divisions. But oh what hope all their fans will hold once again next year as their new seasons begin! Why? Because that’s what sports fans do every year! They gleefully anticipate “winning it all” with the advent of a new season, a fresh start, and their team happily embedded in first place before the first game ever begins!

Oh how wonderful it would be if life were only like that, we think… A fresh start every day; a clean slate every morning; a new chance to begin again and be better than we were the day before! But God’s people need to do far more than simply think it! They need to understand and internalize the fact that “in Christ” they already possess it (Rom. 8:1-39), and then allow themselves to experience and enjoy it, instead of lamenting how they only wish they had it – because they already do!

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him (Lam. 3:21-25).

 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You (Ps. 143:8).

 But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy (Ps. 59:16-17).

Every morning we who are “in Christ” awake to live and start over again with a blood-washed, sparkling clean slate and another unfettered chance to try to triumph – a gift from almighty God; a magnificent gift from an all-loving Father, in which we are freed from the shackles of yesterdays’ sins and set free (Jn. 8:31-32; Ro. 8:1-2; 1 Jn. 1:5-9) to take another run at Christ-like holiness (Hebs. 12:12-16; 1 Ptr. 1:13-19) and the eternal and untainted trophy which awaits the faithful and true (2 Tim. 4:7-8).

These imminently-empowering scriptures should perhaps pierce us even more powerfully at this time of year, as we contemplate the irrevocable onslaught of not only another new day, but also of another whole new year – Lord willing that we should all live that long! So tell me God, just what exactly are you planning to do with this great new gift from Him which is about to arrive at your house – Lord willing – in a few days, known as 2016? Will you show God how much you truly appreciate it – and Him as well for being willing to give you such a great gift and one which no one else can? Will you spend more time next year gratefully devoted to attending Bible classes, worship services, gospel meetings, and fellowship and service events than you ever have before? Will you make the choice now, to be more determined than ever to privately study your bible; forgive those who trespass against you; think before you speak; and living what you learn? Will you be more committed in the new year to teaching others – either in or out of church – about the Lord and His great love and compassion for the lost and perishing? Will you be willing to sincerely sacrifice, give more than your money, and actually “get your hands dirty” both for, and with, your brethren, so that the world may know that we truly are His disciples (Jn. 13:1-35)? Will you love, serve, protect, promote and support His precious bride/body/church in all circumstances and despite whatever the personal cost or consequences, just as you were called, cleansed, pardoned and purchased to do (Eph. 2:1-10; Titus 2:6-14)?

Or… dare you even consider treating His precious gift of time, as if it were nothing more than merely trash? Please take a few, precious, God-given minutes right now to read and review Philippians 3 & Ephesians 5, wherein Paul reminds us that it’s supposed to be the other way around. Everything else is supposed to be considered as trash when compared to knowing and serving Christ. Precious, God-given time must not be wasted pursuing earthly things instead of serving Him.

As we all prepare to enter into 2016, may we each truly take to heart and thought, such Scriptures as Matt. 6:33; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 9:23-26; 1 Cor. 6:19-20…

 

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Sabbath Questions – Part 3

Sabbath Questions

(This is the final part of a 3-part article regarding whether Christians should observe the Old Testament Sabbath holy day.)

Questions That Come Up

We have seen that there is nothing in the New Testament to suggest that the Sabbath was made part of the new covenant of Jesus Christ.  This is a new idea to many, something that they’ve never heard of or considered.  Thus, it is natural that questions might be raised in reaction to this teaching.

For example, if the Sabbath is something God does not require of anyone under Christianity, some wonder why he said that the Sabbath was a sign between him and the Jews “forever”(Ex. 31:16-17).  This is a legitimate question, and the answer can be found by making a word study on the term “forever.”   The Hebrew word is olam, which literally is defined as a “long duration, long time, (or) long completed time.”  Keeping this definition in mind, we see that this Hebrew word could in some casesbe translated “forever” (i.e., eternity), but the context determines the proper definition.  This same word is used to describe the amount of time circumcision (Gen. 17:13) and the Passover (Ex. 29:42) would be commanded by God for the Jews to observe; however, we know that the New Testament did away with those rites and holy days (Gal. 4:9-11; Col. 2:16-17).  Obviously, olam does not mean “forever” in their cases, but rather “for a long time,” or “for a long, completed time.”  In like manner, olammeans the same thing for the Sabbath Day.

Some would also ask, “Well, if God no longer requires Christians to observe the Sabbath Day, is there a day which God told us to set aside in the New Testament?”  This is also a legitimate question, for we are commanded to not go beyond what is written in God’s Word (1 Cor. 4:6; Rev. 22:18-19).  In the New Testament, the law which we are under, there are only two mentions of a day that has special significance for the Christian: the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2), the day on which Christian disciples came together to break bread in communion (cf. 1 Cor. 10:16-17), give of their means, hear a message from God’s Word, and sing and pray together.  John wrote of “the Lord’s Day”(Rev. 1:10), and extra-biblical historical writings confirm that Christians used that term to describe the first day of the week.  In fact, history in the form of various encyclopedias and history books record that the early Christians set aside the first day of the week as a day of worship.  Below are extra-biblical testimonies from apostolic contemporaries confirming the first day of the week as the day of worship for Christians:

“We keep the eighth day (Sunday) with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead.”  (Epistle of Barnabas, 100 A.D.)

“And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits…But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world, and Jesus Christ our Savior on the same day rose from the dead.”  (Justin Martyr, 150 A.D.)

Gradually, many Christians began to view the Lord’s Day, Sunday, as the “Christian” Sabbath, the Christian “day of rest.”  During the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries A.D., there was much controversy over whether Christians should keep the Sabbath on Sunday.  Some tried to make both the Sabbath (Saturday) and the Lord’s Day (Sunday) holy days.  Others, especially the Puritans, began to call the Lord’s Day (Sunday) “the Christian Sabbath.”  Today, many Catholics and Protestants routinely refer to Sunday as “the Sabbath.”

This brings us to one more question which many have.  Is Sunday the “Christian Sabbath”?  Again, we must go to what the Bible says, where we find that we are to call Bible things by Bible names…the definition of speaking “as oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11).  We have seen previously that the word Sabbath originally meant “to rest from labor” in the languages in which the Bible was written.  We also saw that the Old Testament applied this word to the seventh day of the week, but the New Testament did not apply this word to any day.  It needs to be said that the New Testament never commands the first day of the week to be a day of rest.  It is commanded to be a day of worship, but not a day of rest from working.  Since this is true…why call it that?  Why call Sunday “the Sabbath,” a word that literally means to rest, when God never called it that?

Basically, there are three views of the Sabbath.  The Seventh-Day Adventists believe that Saturday is the Sabbath today and should be kept by Christians.  While they are correct to say that God called the seventh day a “Sabbath” (a day of rest), they are incorrect to say that God wants Christians to observe the Sabbath like the Jews did.  Next to them are the majority of Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches, who believe that Sunday is the Sabbath and should be kept by Christians.  They are correct to teach that Christians should assemble to worship on Sundays, but incorrect to call Sunday “the Sabbath.”  Finally, there is the biblical view which states from the Old Testament that Saturday was the Sabbath, the day of rest, and proclaims from the New Testament that Christians are not obligated to keep it.

“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.”

Interestingly, the New Testament does speak of a “rest”(Heb. 4:9).  Some English translations of this verse use theterm “Sabbath rest”in this verse, because it comes from the Greek derivative of the Hebrew word which is translated “Sabbath.” When we remember that in the original language the word “Sabbath”literally is defined as “to rest from labors” rather than referring to day, we see that the Hebrew writer is not talking about a weekly rest on the seventh day of every week instituted for Israel through Moses.  The context (Heb. 4:1-11) shows that he’s talking about a heavenly rest which Jesus provides, a rest which requires diligence on our part to enter.  If we truly want to enter that “Sabbath,” that rest from labor which is in heaven for all eternity, then we need to heed Peter’s words:

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!  But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.”  (2 Pet. 3:9-14)

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