Pic of False Prophet/Profit Todd Bentley Tattoos
Tattoos in today's society are quite popular. One in 10 Americans have tattoos, and one - third of 25 to 30 year old in America have tattoos (here). Church folks are even getting tattoos because of the influence of today’s culture. We will explore the truth about tattoos, how they originated, what they symbolize, the biblical perspective on tattoos, and the possible health risks.
Leviticus 19:28 says, "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord." The act of tattooing includes tribal markings dedicated to a particular person’s tribal deity. The tattoo was originally a sign of alliance and worship to an idol god. Therefore, tattooing originates from pagan demonism, idol worship, and the magical arts of the occult world.
Tattooing-Magic and Demons
A perfect example of tattooing and the act of passing down magical powers to a disciple or descendant is television series, "Smallville." In the episode, "Spell", the character Lana Lang has a spell book from one of her ancestors. She becomes possessed by the spirit of her ancestor (really a demon spirit), and assumes the magical powers of her ancestor. It seems Hollywood's entertainment industry is well versed in the knowledge of the occult and its promotion. They know the reality of the occult spirit world and tattooing.
A pastor once told me a story of a woman who was at one of his church services. The woman ended up responding to the altar call after the sermon stating that she wanted the "baptism of the Holy Spirit." She was having a hard time receiving the Baptism when he noticed that her tongue was pierced. He told me that the Holy Spirit spoke to him and to tell the woman to remove her tongue ring. She did and guess what? She received the Holy Spirit! Several days later, the woman brought five thousand dollars worth of body piercing and tattooing equipment to the church. When she spoke to the pastor she told hm that she was into Satanism. She confessed that she and her friends would pray satanic prayers over their body piercing and tattooing equipment to invoke demon spirits on the people getting the tattoos. She asked the pastor to dispose of the equipment which he did with extreme pleasure.
United States History on Tattoos
Concerning the history of the United States, tattoos have always signified rebellion in a society with criminals, adulterers, traitors, and the deviant. Many prisoners and criminal gangs have used and continue to use tattoos to indicate criminal behavior, prison sentences, and organizational affiliation. In the beginning of the late 1990’s the lower back tattoos became popular with young woman. It’s intent was to emphasis sexual attractiveness. However, some consider this type of tattoo as sign of promiscuity and indication of the "raunch" culture. Hence, the nicknames "tramp stamp" (a.k.a "slut) and "dirty girl" tattoo.
In parts of Britain adultery was punished by tattooing. In the army deserters were tattooed with the letter "D".
Yes indeed the popularity of tattooing in American society has grown by leaps and bounds. However, corporate American doesn't look to favorably on tattoos. In in poll done by Careerbuilders found the following:
Over 42 percent of managers said their opinion of someone would be lowered by that person's visible body art. (Personally, I think that the actual figure is much higher.)
Three out of four respondents believe that visible tattoos are unprofessional.
Employers aren't legally bound if they tell someone not to reveal tattoos at the workplace, or to keep tattoos covered up isn't illegal. In survey done by vault.com employers and employees were asked the question about body piercing and tattoos in the workplace. Sixty percent of the employers were less than likely than to hire someone with body piercings and tats, because on how the company image maybe tarnished. An individual may see it as self-expression, but an employer sees it as rebellious, bringing attention to yourself, and not a team player(here).
Health Consequences on Getting Tattoos
Tattoo parlors are not held to the same health regulations as a health care practitioner office. Many of the parlors cater to customers that are somewhat deviant and already carrying some type of disease.
Tattooing opens your body up to infections, diseases, and scarring, which can have a devastating effect to a person’s overall health. Tattoos can also cause person to have chronic skin disorders such as sarcoid, keloid scarring, allergic dermatitis, psoriasis, benign and malignant tumors. In some cases people suffer an allergic reaction from the tattoo ink(here).
1990s sex symbol and Baywatch television star Pamela Anderson, is the prime example of the health dangers of tattooing, after contracting hepatitis C(serious liver disease), she got disease by sharing a tattoo needle with her ex-husband rock star Tommie Lee.
If you are someone who received a tattoo in ignorance before you became saved or after getting saved, I am not saying that you are not saved, you did out of ignorance. However, we are trying to teach the youth and babes in Christ in today’s church not get caught up in the culture of the world. Our purpose is to enlighten and educated the church in the way of holiness (Leviticus 10:10-11).
Some may say will Endtimeshofar, that is Old Testament scripture, were not under the "law or the Old Testament," were under the New Testament and grace. Your outdated and out of touch of what is going on in today times, even in the Book of Revelation(Revelation 19:16) Jesus has a tattoo on his thigh that says He is the "Lord of lords and Kings of kings." This is false teaching to any one who teaches this is heresy, Jesus would never have a tattoo, because He is Jewish number one, and number two He came to fulfill the Torah(Law) and not destroy the Torah(Law), three He would be in direct violation of Torah(here). Even with that being said, someone that got tattoos before getting saved shouldn't continue to get tattoos(this is called repentance), or even some young person thinking about getting a tattoo because it is culturally relevant needs to take not just look at Leviticus 19:28 scripture into account, but Exodus 20:4 put a graven image on your body whether or not it is a Christian tattoo it violates the Word of God. Again our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. So why would you want to violate "the Word" and your body?
Let us not learn the way of the heathen (Jeremiah 10:2), but fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). We’re in Babylon, but Babylon is not in our hearts (1 John 2: 15-16).
