Hey, well, you might be asking the wrong guy as I sport an eyebrow ring. No, I would simply say that there is nothing wrong with a tattoo or a piercing, just as I would say there is nothing wrong with coloring your hair. I would, though, add a caveat--a person must check their attitude about the whole experience. For me, the basic reason I wanted a piercing was for the cosmetic appeal and secondly, for the pure experience of it. I knew it would not kill me and I would liken it to the thrill of skydiving or bungee jumping. No real purpose there either, but the thrill and the experience. However, if a person wants a tat or a piercing and in reality they are attempting to express a rebellious attitude, then we've got an issue. Again, not an issue with the thing itself. As Paul said, all things are lawful for the Christian. However, many people equate piercing or tattoos with a rebellious attitude--they might be right for many people. And we clearly know that a rebellious attitude is not looked at kindly by God. So, I'd tell someone to check their spirit. And then, if they feel like its cool and they've got no attitude problems going on, go for it. But get ready for the judgments from within the body and from the establishment. You can't get a tattoo and then walk around with a chip on your shoulder when those within the establishment deny you a certain job or position or honor. It's just the way it goes.

>From another reader;

I agree completely with your sentiments on tattoos. However, I think it may be wise to address Leviticus 19:28 where it prohibits them. There is an entire portion of the church that would strongly disagree, who will want more then what was presented in your reply.

Well I could go through Leviticus verse by verse and try to discern which ones are still valid for today and which ones aren't. You are right that the verse is in there, but in the same chapter is a dietary law. How come that one would not be followed but the others would be? I'll admit that that very issue is the challenge of not being a "Fundamentalist" and just trying to keep them all. And I know you are not trying to say it should hold, but others would, but by not addressing it, I'm just admitting that I don't think it applies. And I don't really have a good reason except for the same reasons that we don't have women wearing head coverings (and that is a NT rule). I have already made it clear that we are taking the same approach to the Bible as most everyone else (even Fundamentalist if they are honest)--we try to discern those things that are general rules for all time and the things that are cultural. Not a great answer, but just like women in ministry, we don't have a great answer in relation to the "well the Bible says" group. My only answer is to try to open their eyes to their own pick and choose approach in other areas.

>From another reader:

I saw the question about tattoos. I kind of understand what you're saying, but what about 1 Cor. 6:19-20 -- Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

I know that it's immediately following his talk about sexual immorality... but still, isn't it kind of a principal? Not that tattoos (or eyebrow rings) defile our body necessarily... but putting ink in your skin is not natural and can't be that healthful. Even if nothing more than to be separate from the world in that way... I know are called to be in the world, among the lost, living His light... but we're supposed to transform them, not be conformed by them...???
The bigger concern against tattoos might actually be the statement of Lev 19:28 where there is an even stronger, straightforward prohibition. What do we do with that?

I'm not a fundamentalist, so already, I admit that as Christians, I approach the Bible as a dynamic, not static book. Meaning, we, all the time, are interpreting on the fly, what the Bible means to us today. For the most part, we all seem to have a solid grasp on the basics, or maybe better stated the intangibles (no killing, no adultery, no lying, etc...).On the periphery though, there exists some interesting questions. I for one come down on the side of liberty and that means, at least this much, that you have the liberty to decide that tattoos are way not good for you and you will then, live that way, and probably try to influence others to also live that way. At the same time, I think that liberty allows another of my friends, who is very tattooed and very much a Christian, to decide that tattoos are a great way to express himself and probably a way to try and influence others to try that too (Lord knows he's suggested it to me several times). Paul raises this very issue in Corinthians and Romans and in both places, he gives us a framework, but no legality (at least not in my opinion). Simply put, it's a delicate balance between doing what you want to do, doing all that you do to God's glory (and as such, allowing him to stop you from doing something, even if its something you want to do), not doing stuff out of deference for others, watching what you do in relation to your witness, not letting your freedom hurt others and not letting your prohibitions become law to anyone else (meaning, in absence of a God given law). Whew--that is a tough thing for anyone to filter out. You and I both know that in many cases, no matter what you do, someone will have a problem with it. Wear blue jeans to church? Watch TV? R-rated movies? PG-13 movies? Tattoos? Piercings? Multiple ear piercings for girls? Bare midriffs? Tight blue jeans? Cable? Secular Radio? Hats on inside? In the end, in today's culture, you just about have to quit living to avoid offending others.

So, for me, I deal with that complicated formula asking first if what I am doing will stop me from giving God glory? And only I am able to answer that, for again, if I ask others, then I'll just get their opinion--and trust me, on my eyebrow ring, I've certainly been given others opinions and it ranges the gamut that you would expect. Those on the one side will tell me that there is no way that I am able to give God glory while the others will disagree with that sentiment. In the end, only I can know my heart and attitude (well, even there, no one but God knows our heart, but we know our hearts better than outsiders). If I can pass that test, then, while I do consider "am I tripping up others," if what we are talking about is merely cultural then the concern for others and what they might think gets factored in at a low setting. For instance, "do not drink" is very important among SOME Christians here in America, okay with others, but in Europe, drinking beer and wine is an extremely accepted idea--so it's a cultural thing., Does that make sense? I'm trying to say that I worry most about what God thinks and my standing with Him. I think that is exactly how Jesus lived. And as for what others think, even the religious, I try to do as I see Jesus living, really giving it only passing thoughts. I do think about it, perhaps more than Jesus did, but I won't let that fear stop me from doing something that I have determined won't hurt my relationship with God.

Honestly, the fundamentalist's view is a lot easier to deal with. That is why the laws like "Real Christians don't dance" were just easier. It's black and white, clear as crystal. The only problem is that it really does not address the real issues and it only makes Christians seem totally out of sync with our culture, the very culture we are trying to connect with. And I doubt you want to wear a head covering to church or go back to not eating certain foods. All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient or good. Well, that's pretty vague isn't it? And I think it's meant to be, to allow for culture to play its role (to a certain degree) and to allow you and me to apply our own sense of where can we meet God and how do we glorify him in what we are doing. For me, I might not listen to any secular radio because of how I think it impacts me; for you it might not be any big deal. You just might be more mature than I. I should not, if riding with you in a car, give you a big deal about it. I should not bring up the fact that many non-Christians might wonder about your witness for listening to secular radio or the fact that you might be causing some Christian to stumble. At the same time, you should not blow off my weakness and, if you know about my stance, you might actually just turn off the radio and talk to me. Or you might not, exercising your liberty, just keep it on, but turn it down. See, its all a complicated dance of give and take with community being the key issue.

Finally, the very difficult transform/conform issue. First off, we are not to transform anyone. God does that and the reference in Romans 12 that you are suggesting states just that--you are transformed by God, through His renewing of your spirit and mind. You are completely correct, though, that we are not to be conformed, but what is conformation? Do you wear blue jeans? If so, then, in one sense, you have been conformed. Do you listen to popular music, even Christian music? Conformed. Eat at McDonalds? Papa Johns Pizza? Conformed. See, the issue that I think Paul is talking about is not a surface issue (I think he stands with Jesus here who clearly said we are not to concern ourselves with any outward appearance issues--clothes, food, etc...), but the heart attitude. Like I have said elsewhere, if a person goes extreme in any area (hair coloring, types of clothes, tats, piercings, etc...) and the reality is that they have a rebellious spirit about it, then that is when they are out of bounds with God. It is the heart, the spirit, that concerns God.