Tattoos – Making their mark
It seems everywhere you go Tattoo parlours are springing up on our streets. Is this the latest fashion craze, or something more??
Tattoo’s have long been an integral part of the many fashion and music subcultures.As late as the early 1900’s, the tattoo was so far “out of bounds” of normal, civilized society, the tattooed was mainly as an attraction in the circus “freak show”.
By 1897 tattooing had reached the United States, where it immediately became a circus sideshow attraction.”
(Laura Reybold, Everything you need to know about the dangers of tattooing and body percing, p. 17)
“The popularity of tattooing during the latter part of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century owed much to the circus.”
(Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 135)
One of Australia’s favourite “Christian” music sensations, Guy Sebastian, who has just released a new EP “Don’t worry, be happy”, continues to have success in the secular music charts.In 2008, Guy said that the Lord was everything to him.
But in 2009 Guy got himself a tattoo.It was inappropriate tattoo, a Phoenix bird, which has all sorts of Masonic implications.
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The red Phoenix on Guy’s upper arm covers his shoulder, down towards his elbow, with the bird emblazoned in full colour.
The Bible condemns the branding, or marking of our body:
“You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD” – Leviticus 19:28.
You can spot the INFLUENCE our society and the “church” have embraced—Satanic values in so many ways, but the visible evidence of multiple body piercings and tattoos are the strongest of all.
A tattoo is the latest fashion statement within the teen and youth culture driven by sports stars, celebrities, and pop stars. Not a day goes by without seeing someone on the sports field, or on the street who has significant tattooing beyond a name of a spouse or child.
Few people understand the use Satan makes of piercing and tattoos to control the person!
Todd Bentley (evangelist/preacher Lakeland Revival, FL) is another example of a high profile “Christian” who adorns all sorts ‘demon-strative’markings! Joel Houston, worship leader with Hillsong United, like Guy Sebastian, has a tattoo on his upper arm. Christian leaders should know better than to follow the world’s ways, and fashion, and therefore are poor examples to the present generation.
As they say….”a picture is worth a thousand words” (see below)
This above picture is the fresh faced Todd before his Tattoos. He supposedly decided to be more ‘himself’ by getting the tattoos.
The tattoos were paid for after his “conversion”……
Notice above the skull embedded in the rose on Todd Bentley’s neck.
Alex Mizuno, another individual versed in Japanese tradition and writing styles, who produces Japanese documentaries, revealed that there is a Japanese word “Emma Daioh” which means “Emma, the Great King”, which is used very commonly in his culture. This God is sometimes simply called “Emma-sama (sama is added for respect)” or “Emma.” Buddhists recognize Emma-sama as Yama, who rules the spirits of the dead in Naraku (hell). He said Todd’s erred tattoo was in favor of the latter translation. The tongues of flame accenting the Kanji symbols also support his position depicting the god of Naraku.
Todd, to my surprise, has had visitations from an ‘angel’ called Emma?
He got these witchcraft oriented tattoos after preaching for some time. He says that an Angel called Emma O is a “female angel” that he was introduced to by another evangelist, Bob Jones. (No female angels are shown in the Bible).
Bentley claims that Bob Jones told him that Emma O was the angel that was
leading the recent revivals in Canada and Brownsville, Florida.
Bob also told him that this same angel was the healing angel that walked the aisles when the late William Branham was evangelizing. Bob asked Bentley if he wanted
Emma O to join his ministry. Bentley agreed and was ministering and EMMA -O walked in.
Bentley claimed that the “Lord” told him that EMMA- O HAD JUST ENTERED THE MEETING.
Bentley says, “Twice Bob Jones asked me about this angel that was in Kansas City in 1980: ‘Todd, have you ever seen the angel by the name of Emma’?” He asked me as if he expected that this angel was appearing to me. Surprised, I asked, “Bob, who is Emma?” He told me that Emma was the angel that helped birth and start the whole prophetic movement in Kansas City through the Kansas City Prophets in the 1980s.
She was a mothering-type angel that helped nurture the prophetic as it broke out. Within a few weeks of Bob asking me about Emma, I was in a service in Beulah, North Dakota. In the middle of the service I was in conversation with Ivan and another person when in walks Emma.
She was a mothering-type angel that helped nurture the prophetic as it broke out. Within a few weeks of Bob asking me about Emma, I was in a service in Beulah, North Dakota. In the middle of the service I was in conversation with Ivan and another person when in walks Emma.
As I stared at the angel with open eyes, the “Lord” said, “Here’s Emma.” I’m not kidding. She floated a couple of inches off the floor.
It was almost like Kathryn Khulman in those old videos when she wore a white dress and looked like she was gliding across the platform. Emma appeared beautiful and young-about 22 years old-but she was old at the same time. She seemed to carry the wisdom, virtue and grace of Proverbs 31 on her life.”
Another look at the same photo….
This is a demon god on his shin. The hexagram on his right arm..and the all seeing eye of Horus. This man has gone for every inch of body to covered in art and dark symbols, that would never be sanctioned by our Lord Jesus Christ!
This is to say nothing of his;
- Divorce and remarriage
- His association with William Branham
- His strange theatrics
- False testimonies
- Angelic Visitations
A. W Tozer wrote;
Many tender-minded Christians fear to sin against love by daring to inquire into anything that comes wearing the cloak of Christianity and breathing the name of Jesus.
They dare not examine the credentials of the latest prophet to hit their town lest they be guilty of rejecting something which may be of God. They timidly remember how the Pharisees refused to accept Christ when He came, and they do not want to be caught in the same snare, so they either reserve judgment or shut their eyes and accept everything without question.
This is supposed to indicate a high degree of spirituality. But in sober fact it indicates no such thing. It may indeed be evidence of the absence of the Holy Spirit. Gullibility is not synonymous with spirituality. Faith is not a mental habit leading its possessor to open his mouth and swallow everything that has about it the color of the supernatural. Faith keeps its heart open to whatever is of God, and rejects everything that is not of God, however wonderful it may be. Try the spirits is a command of the Holy Spirit to the Church. We may sin as certainly by approving the spurious as by rejecting the genuine. And the current habit of refusing to take sides is not the way to avoid the question. To appraise things with a heart of love and then to act on the results is an obligation resting upon every Christian in the world. And the more, as we see the day, approaching.”
These facts are not about cheap religious point scoring or elitism, but a desire to warn, instruct, and reprove, the body of Christ.
The Mark of Disgrace:
Steve Gilbert, in the very popular, pro-tattoo book, Tattoo History: A Source Book, documents that even the word “tattoo” means “. . . a mark of disgrace or reproach”.
“The Latin word for ‘tattoo’ was stigma and the original meaning is reflected in modern dictionaries. Among the definitions of ‘stigma’ listed by Webster are a ‘prick with a pointed instrument,’ . . .’ a distinguishing mark cut into the flesh of a slave or a criminal,’ and ‘a mark of disgrace or reproach.”
(Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 15)
In fact, for most of it’s history the tattoo was used to mark the criminal, adulterers, traitors, deserters, the deviant and outcast. The tattoo was a dreaded mark of reproach and disgrace.
“Adultery, also, was punished in this way [tattooed] in some parts of Britain, and ‘bad characters’ were marked ‘BC’. . . In 1717, branding was abolished in the Army, and replaced with tattooing. .. with the letter ‘D’ deserter’”
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 162)
But now without question there is a resurgence of the hidden art, and tattoos are the latest status symbol.Tattoos started being accepted and practiced within the life and culture of rock stars back in the sixties. There was a time that no lady would think of having a dragon or a flower tattooed on her body. Motorcycle gangs, rock stars and city gangs started the wider practice as we see it today where civil people and even professed evangelical Christians are going to the tattoo parlors to receive their mark of the world.
When a thing becomes a popular fad in the world then Christians should be very careful not to follow the multitude. But the licentious grace taught today ignores the apostles’ teachings and declares that we must imitate the world so we may win the more, even using the Apostle Paul as their example, to justify their compromise. – cf. 1 Cor 19:22
The reasoning is that by being no different from the world we can more easily attract them to salvation and faith. This is the careless and stupid theology purported today! The world is attracted when the church stands in stark contrast to their immoral lifestyle, and not because we conform to their ways.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of you mind (thinking differently than we did when we were in the world), that ye may prove what that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” – Rom 12:2
Yet to know the moral quality of a practice as to whether it is right for a Christian or not, the first thing is to study that thing in the Bible, and trace it back to it’s origin. Where did this recent craze of tattooing have its start? Who made tattoos popular? Who made tattoos look “cool?” The answer: Hard Rock stars on stage with their body’s tattooed with hundreds and thousands of screaming fans ready to imitate their admired idols. This belongs to the world and it’s not our business as Christians to force the world to obey God’s Word, but rather to teach and inform the church. Our business as a Christian ministry is to inform Christians to live a holy and separated life and stay true to the Lord in these perilous times.
A tattoo is a mark that identifies you with the world, and those who defy the teaching of the Bible.
Yet we have Christians in places of leadership, and prominence being the ones leading the charge in promoting the idea of the tattoo being acceptable.
Todd Bentley, Guy Sebastian, and Joel Houston, ‘Christian’ celebrities, have made their tattoos the latest overt and shameful sign of this endless downgrade and ongoing apostasy.
Israel, like the church was living among heathen who worshiped false gods and held practices that honored their gods. God forbid Israel from any and all of the practices of the heathen so that the children of Israel would not become corrupted by them and turn to false gods.
God didn’t want His people to have anything in common with the heathen they were near. The church should have very little in common with the world because that becomes a temptation for us to conform to the world, and ultimately destroy the peculiar holy nature of the church.
The Leviticus Prohibition
So why the taboo of Tattoos?
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. – Leviticus 19:28
What does it say? – “Ye shall not. . .print any marks upon you. . .”
A lot of people when confronted with Leviticus 19:28, seem to think that’s not for today. That’s the Old Testament, that’s not relevant to us today!
If we take the time to read the verses around verse 28, we get the overall context:
Leviticus 19:26-32
” Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.
29 Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.
30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.
31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.
By the way, have you ever read, and thought about Leviticus 19:29?
“Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore….”
This is the only place in the Bible that God directly forbids someone to prostitute their daughter. And since, it’s ONLY in the Old Testament Levitical Law it can’t be an ok by the Lord for a parent to cause their daughter to be a prostitute.
There are many other ‘moral laws’ that are ONLY forbidden in the Old Testament, such as the human sacrifice of children. No where in the New Testament is it mentioned or forbidden.
“And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.” – Leviticus 18:21
Did you know that “bestiality” was ONLY forbidden in the Old Testament Levitical Law? It is mentioned only twice, once in Leviticus 18:23 and again in Leviticus 20:15-16. Does that mean a Holy God NOW – under the New Testament, somehow approves of bestiality?
Here’s one of the verses again in context – Leviticus 18:20-24
“20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour’s wife, to defile thyself with her. 21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord. 22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you.”
Don’t do these things – why? Because they bring cursing, not blessing. God’s judgement eventually falls on such people.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary at the beginning of Leviticus 19 explains that most of Leviticus 19 (such as verse 28) are moral commandments that applies not only for Israel but for the New Testament Christian today.
“Some ceremonial precepts there are in this chapter, but most of them are moral. . . Most of these precepts are binding on us, for they are expositions of most of the ten commandments.”
(Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Leviticus 19:28)
“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD”
Notice also, the phrase “for the dead” is ONLY referencing the “cuttings in your flesh”. The condemnation of “nor print ANY marks upon you” is not qualified by the phrase “for the dead”. Also, if you’ll notice the verse clearly says “ANY marks” period.
Unger’s Bible Dictionary under the definition for “Mark” includes the following reference;
“In Lev. 19:28 we find two prohibitions of an unnatural disfigurement of the body: ‘Ye shall not make any cutting in your flesh for the dead, nor any print any marks upon you.’ The latter (Heb. qa aqa, incision) refers to tattooing, and has no reference to idolatrous usages, but was intended to inculcate upon the Israelietes a proper reverence for God’s creation.”
(Merrill F. Unger, Unger’s Bible Dictionary, 1974 ed., p. 696)
Notice that Unger teaches that tattoos were forbidden without any reference to pagan, heathen, or idolatrous usages. In other words, the tattoo itself, regardless the reason, was forbidden.
Wycliffe’s Bible Encyclopedia under the definition for TATTOOING says:
“While ‘cuttings in the flesh’ have reference here to mourning customs [for the dead], the tattooing does not appear to pertain to such practice.”
(Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, 1975 ed., p. 1664)
The New American Commentary on Leviticus 19:28 writes the condemnation was for, “cutting the body either for the dead or with tattoo marks.” (Mark F. Rooker, The New American Commentary on Leviticus, 2000 ed., p. 262) Explicitly recognizing the tattoo was not “for the dead.”
Tattoos and Worship
“Ye worship ye know not what. . .” -John 4:22
Throughout history the tattoo bears the mark of paganism, demonism, Baal worship, shamanism, mysticism, heathenism, cannibalism and just about every other pagan belief known. The tattoo has NEVER been associated with Bible Believing Christians. And whenever and wherever, in history Christianity appears – tattoos disappear. The only exception is — 20th century, lukewarm, carnal, disobedient, Laodicean Christians.
The birth of the tattoo has always born the fruits of pagan religion and mysticism. Without exception, research after research, study after study, book after book, the roots of the tattoo never wavers. The following documentation is just a small (very small) drop of the ocean of research documenting the pagan and demonic source of the tattoo.
Please note. . . The following is from pro-tattoo books simply documenting the obvious spiritual and religious link to the tattoo. These are not Christian writers trying to paint a negative portrait of the tattoo. No matter how much the carnal, rebellious, Christian desires to justify their perverse reasoning for “marking” themselves with the forbidden demonic tattoo, the facts are loud and clear – the foundation, origin, meaning and purposes of the tattoo is pagan demonism, shamanism, Baal worship, and occult mysticism.
A tattooist in many cultures is also a shaman, magick-man, priest or priestess. According to the dictionary a shaman is a “intermediary between the natural and supernatural worlds, using magic to cure illness, foretell the future, control spiritual forces, etc.”
“Tattooing is often a magical rite in the more traditional cultures, and the tattooist is respected as a priest or shaman.”
(Michelle Delio, Tattoo: The Exotic Art of Skin Decoration, p. 73)
“In Fiji, Fromosa, New Zealand and in certain of the North American Indian tribes, tattooing was regard as a religious ceremony, and performed by priests or priestesses.”
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 64)
“The actual tattooing process, which involved complex ritual and taboos, could only be done by priests and was associated with beliefs which were secrets known only to members of the priestly caste. . . Hambly concluded that historically tattooing had originated in connection with ancient rites of scarification and bloodletting which were associated with religious practices intended to put the human soul in harmony with supernatural forces and ensure continuity between this life and the next.”
(Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 158)
The tattooist, shaman or the occult priest many times uses the tattoo as a POINT OF CONTACT, or inlets into the spiritual world. Just like the practice of Acupuncture is more than just healing through needles, so the tattoo is much more than just a body decoration. It’s more than just a layer of ink cut into the skin. In fact, the tattoo in every culture, in every country, up until the 20th century, was a vehicle for pagan spiritual and religious invocations. Even today, in many countries (including the United States), the tattoo is believed to be a bridge into the supernatural world.
Famous witch and author Laurie Cabot writes of the tattoo:
“The origins of tattooing came from ancient magical practices. . . ”
(Laurie Cabot, Power of the Witch, cited in Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated by Dr. Cathy Burns, p. 301)
“Tattooing is about personalizing the body, making it a true home and fit temple for the spirit that dwells inside it. . . Tattooing therefore, is a way of keeping the spiritual and material needs of my body in balance.”
(Michelle Delio, Tattoo: The Exotic Art of Skin Decoration, p. 8)
Among today’s latest tattoo craze is “tribal tattoos”, which are pure paganism. Tribal tattoos are designs that bear serious symbolic mystical and occult meanings. Tribal tattoos, especially, are possible channels into spiritual and demonic possession.
(Michelle Delio, Tattoo: The Exotic Art of Skin Decoration, p. 13)
“The reasons why puncturing the skin should be regarded with some degree of awe are not far to seek, for in the first place, there is the drawing of blood, which to the savage world over is full of significance as a rejuvenating and immortalizing factor. There is in addition to the opening of numerous inlets for evil to enter. . .”
(Hambly Wilfrid D. 1925. The History of Tattooing and its Significance, p. 233, cited in Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 162)
Rolling Stone magazine describes famous tattoo artist Paul Booth during his tattoo as, “. . . allowing his clients’ demons to help guide the needle.” (Rolling Stone magazine, March 28, 2002, p. 40)
Remember Todd Bentley’s tattoo on his neck?
“”Skulls imprinted on skin abound, and depictions of the Grim Reaper are commonly seen. . . These images, indelibly marked on the skin, reflect uncertainty about the future, and sublimate the pervasive fear of the unknown. Possibly, at the same time, to wear a death’s figure on one’s body may be an invocation of whatever undefinable forces of nature and the cosmos that exist, in an attempt to protect the wearer from such a fate.”
(Henry Ferguson and Lynn Procter, The Art of the Tattoo, p. 76)
Ronald Scutt, in his exhaustive book, Art, Sex and Symbol covers a great deal about the history and culture of tattoos. Scutt documents that most of the time tattoos are connected to spiritual, religious and mystical purposes. The following documentation is from Scutt’s book:
“[Tattooing] “In association with sun-worship, megalithic building, ear-piercing, serpent worship, . . .”
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 22)
“These marks [tatoos] are believed to be associated with the worship of the sun-goddess Neith”
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 24)
“Yet the worship of the sun-god Baal had involved the marking of the hands [tattoos] with the divine token in a mystic attempt to acquire strength.”
(Ronald Scutt, Art, Sex and Symbol, 1974, p. 64)
Dr. Hambly, probably the greatest tattooist historian and researcher, writes over and over, that tattoos are based on pagan spiritual and religious rituals. Any serious and honest study of the origin and foundation of the tattoo will clearly expose a demonic and supernatural intent of tattoos.
I have made reference to Lev 19:28, but because the previous verse refers to getting a haircut or trimming a beard, so these too must be wrong and a sin as well.
Next – Part 2 The Forbidden Haircut.
THE “FORBIDDEN” HAIRCUT
One of the silliest and childish arguments to justify the Christian tattoo is the: do you get a haircut or trim your beard? “God condemned getting a haircut or trimming your beard in the verse before forbidding the tattoo. The tattoo is the same as getting a haircut.”
Believe it or not . . . this is a widely used argument.
Leviticus 19:26-28 is a clear condemnation of pagan, witchcraft and heathen practices. Look at the context. Verse 26 is plainly referring to “enchantment [spells or witchcraft] nor observe times [astrology]. . . Verse 28 is the pagan, demonic practice of bloodletting [cuttings in your flesh] and tattooing. Why would the Lord stick in the middle a verse that “condemns simply getting a haircut”? Of course, He wouldn’t. . . And He didn’t. . .
Let’s read it again – Leviticus 19:26-28:
26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
The condemnation found in verse 27 of “rounding the corners of your head” or “mar the corners of thy beard” was the forbidding of a common pagan practice that cut the hair as worship and honor of the hosts of heaven.
The phrase “for a dead person” actually should be understood to apply to each of the three prohibitions and to the prohibition that follows regarding tattooing the flesh! Just as in the preceding two passages in the Torah, this one also is clearly speaking to the specific practices done by the pagans when they mourn for their dead. These practices of cutting the flesh and cutting the hair on the head for the dead are always prohibited for Yahweh’s people, whether priests or otherwise.
Nowhere in the Torah are the sons of Israel ever told that they must never cut their hair or trim their beards. What the sons of Israel are told to do is to refrain from participating in the ritual mourning practices of the pagans.
There is one case in Scripture when a man is commanded not to cut his hair or beard. This is the Nazirite vow (. ). In this instance, one who takes this vow is to do so for a predetermined length of time, after which, he may again shave and drink of the fruit of the vine. But this is the only time when the Scripture commands one to refrain from cutting the hair or the beard (apart from the case of mourning for the dead).
Here’s how Matthew Henry’s and Coffman’s Commentaries reflect on the “forbidden haircut”
“These that worshipped the hosts of heaven, in honour of them, cut their hair so as that their heads might resemble the celestial globe; but, as the custom was foolish itself, so, being done with respect to their false gods, it was idolatrous.” (Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, Leviticus 19:27)
“Herodotus tells of the use of this type of haircut, forming what is called a tonsure, as the practice of pagan religious cults of ancient times who did so honoring one of their gods.”
(Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, Leviticus 19:27)
The fact is. . . Up until a few years ago, virtually everyone, including the most liberal Christian, KNEW the tattoo was clearly forbidden by the Word of God. And throughout history, the tattoo has ALWAYS been condemned by Bible Believing Christians. Always. Every historical resource ever written on tattoos clearly confirms this fact.
“Just as occurred in other cultures with tattoo traditions, when these pagan tribes were ‘converted’ to the Christian religion, their spiritual and cultural rites (which included tattooing, piercing and scarification) were outlawed. . .”
(Jean-Chris Miller, The Body Art Book : A Complete, Illustrated Guide to Tattoos, Piercings, and Other Body Modifications, p.9)
“Whenever missionaries encountered tattooing they eradicated it.”
(Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 101)
“While these and other body modifications continued to be practiced underground as a way for non-Christian people to identify each other, God forbid you got caught and your mark was revealed.”
(Jean-Chris Miller, The Body Art Book : A Complete, Illustrated Guide to Tattoos, Piercings, and Other Body Modifications, p.11)
Up until a few years, virtually every commentary written understood Leviticus 19:28 as an open condemnation of the tattoo. The Christian acceptance of a tattoo was not even considered for serious discussion.
Jameison-Faussett-Brown Commentary and Explanatory on the Whole Bible writes under Leviticus 19:28
“nor print any marks upon you–by tattooing, imprinting figures of flowers, leaves, stars, and other fanciful devices on various parts of their person. The impression was made sometimes by means of a hot iron, sometimes by ink or paint, as is done by the Arab females of the present day and the different castes of the Hindus. It it probable that a strong propensity to adopt such marks in honor of some idol gave occasion to the prohibition in this verse; and they were wisely forbidden, for they were signs of apostasy; and, when once made, they were insuperable obstacles to a return.”
(Jameison-Faussett-Brown Commentary and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Leviticus 19:28)
James M. Freeman in his excellent book, The New Manners & Customs of the Bible, says of Leviticus 19:28:
Tattooing Forbidden
“Both cutting and tattooing were done by the heathens, and so God forbade His people from doing so in imitation of them.”
(James M. Freeman, The New Manners & Customs of the Bible, 1998 edition, p. 157)
Coffman’s Commentary on the Old and New Testament under Leviticus 19:18 says:
“The cutting of one’s flesh also characterized pagan worship as attested by the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel in the contest with Elijah. Tattooing was also a device of paganism. . . Christians generally disapprove of tattooing, despite the fact of the widespread use of it by many even today. In the light of what God says here, and in view of the history of it, it seems strange that anyone would pay someone else to tattoo him.”
(Coffman’s Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, Leviticus 19:28)
Charles R. Erdman in his commentary writes:
“The custom of tattooing was forbidden, while among all the nations of antiquity it was common.” (Charles R. Erdman, The Book of Leviticus, 1951 ed., p.93)
But Naves famous Topical Bible puts it best. Under the topic “Tattooing”, Nave’s simply and bluntly writes: “TATTOOING, forbidden, Lev. 19;28” (Nave’s Topical Bible, p. 1312)
With the unbiased documentation and Bible we’ve given (and we could supply much, much more) there is no question to the pagan and devil-worshipping source of the tattoo. Every tattoo historian I’ve read, traces the root of the tattoo to religious paganism.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 is another warning against the tattoo. Notice the warning against the “fellowship” and concord with Christ and Belial (the devil). Verse 16 is very interesting. . . As it relates to your body – the temple of the living God.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 reads:
14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”
I realize in writing this, a lot of Christians (or so-called Christians?) could care less what God says. They’re going do what they want to do – despite heaven or hell. But there are many Christians who want to serve God more than anything – with ever fibre of their soul. And it was for those “good and faithful servants” of the Lord Jesus Christ that this was written for.
The Tattoo’s Greatest Enemy
In the pages of history, whenever and wherever “tattooing” pagan tribes were converted to Christianity, without exception, one of their first pagan practices to “pass away” [ 2 Corinthians 5:17] – was the tattoo. Why? Because, unlike today’s disobedient carnal “tattooed” Christians (or so-called?), the converted pagan KNEW the tattoo was against the Word of God. The Holy Spirit quickly “told” the converted pagan – no tattoo.
“Just as occurred in other cultures with tattoo traditions, when these pagan tribes were ‘converted’ to the Christian religion, their spiritual and cultural rites (which included tattooing, piercing and scarification) were outlawed. . .”
(Jean-Chris Miller, The Body Art Book : A Complete, Illustrated Guide to Tattoos, Piercings, and Other Body Modifications, p.9)
Amazing. . . When the Lord Jesus Christ enters in – the tattoo goes out.
“Whenever missionaries encountered tattooing they eradicated it.”
(Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 101)
“While these and other body modifications continued to be practiced underground as a way for non-Christian people to identify each other, God forbid you got caught and your mark was revealed.”
(Jean-Chris Miller, The Body Art Book : A Complete, Illustrated Guide to Tattoos, Piercings, and Other Body Modifications, p.73)
Some contemporary tattooing and body piercing is done with pagan symbols and pagan intentions. If you do a web search for – tattoos + paganism – you will see ample verification of this. This does not mean that all contemporary tattoos have pagan meanings. What it does mean, at the very least, is that Christians should definitely not get tattoos that have pagan or occult meaning or associations. It also means that the Christian person should check out the significance of any tattoo design offered to them, except those whose meanings are obviously clear. Note that even some geometric patterns have pagan or occult meanings. Don’t assume something has no spiritual meaning just because it looks harmless.
Similarly, it is obviously wrong for a Christian to wear a tattoo that is obscene, immoral or sexually suggestive, or that promotes or displays anything that is detestable to God.
A booming testimony to the author of the tattoo is recorded by Steve Gilbert:
“When Cortez and his conquistadors arrived on the coast of Mexico in 1519, they were horrified to discover that natives not only worshipped devils in the form of statues and idols, but also had somehow managed to imprint indelible images of these idols on their skin. The Spaniards, who had never heard of tattooing, recognized it at once as the work of Satan.”
(Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 99)
Even though, these Spaniards “had never heard of tattooing” – they “recognized it at ONCE as the work of Satan”.
And some of today’s carnal, rebellious and disobedient Christians (or so-called Christians?) gibber-gabber nonsense about “marking themselves for Jesus”. . .
Tattoos and our Civilized Society
Somebody says, “Sure that was back in the dark ages. That was in heathen lands. Today that has all changed. Nobody seems to connect any kind of ritualistic or pagan spiritual rituals to a tattoo.”
Yet, the following is clear,
“These tattoos act as protective and empowering talismans for the wearer. There are even some body artists who perform ritual tattoos, piercing, brandings and cuttings. They may suggest you consult your astrological chart to pick the right time to get your body art. They will burn incense, light candles, . . .”
(Jean-Chris Miller, The Body Art Book : A Complete, Illustrated Guide to Tattoos, Piercings, and Other Body Modifications, p. 29)
“I know what some are thinking. . . Sure, in the past tattoos were linked to criminals, depravity, and immoral behavior, and idol worship – but not today.
Today, the tattoo is worn by celebrities, athletes, politicians and business people. It’s adorned in high fashion mags and sports mags. There’s absolutely no data to even remotely suggest tattoos are linked to criminal or immoral behavior. No sir. Today’s tattoo is high-fashion and cool!!
A very comprehensive study and analysis of tattoos, was recently published in April, 2001. The study was performed by Dr. Timothy Roberts, a pediatrician at the University of Rochester Children’s Hospital. The detailed analysis was taken from a study of 6072 young people, ages 11 to 21. It was done all over the United States, with different ethnic groups, from all economic and social backgrounds. In other words, very thorough and reliable data models were constructed for the study. In fact, this study is probably the most comprehensive and conclusive analysis of tattoos ever conducted.
According to the study, today’s tattooed young people:
“Tattooing in adolescents was significantly associated with sexual intercourse, substance use, violence and school problems in bivariate analyses and in logistic regressions adjusting for sociodemographic factors and peer substance use.”
(Timothy A. Roberts, M.D. and Sheryl A. Ryan, M.D., Tattooing and High-Risk Behavior in Adolescents, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Strong Children’s Research Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY)
Dr. Roberts, writes in the “conclusion” of the study that tattoos “have strong associations with high-risk behaviors in adolescents”
(Timothy A. Roberts, M.D. and Sheryl A. Ryan, M.D., Tattooing and High-Risk Behavior in Adolescents, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Strong Children’s Research Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY)
It is worth mentioning, Dr. Roberts, himself has a tattoo. After evaluating the data, Dr. Roberts says, “A tattoo is a sign that doctors, parents, teachers ought to be asking about the teenager’s behaviour.”
Heavily tattooed, Sonny of the “Rastafarianism-Christianity” punk-rap-metal rock band P.O.D. claims Jesus Christ was the first rebel — and the “first punk rocker”!
“We believe that Jesus was the first rebel. He was the first punk rocker going against all the rest of it” – Sonny, P.O.D.
Tattoos in Hollywood
We need to remember that what we feel okay with at one stage of our life, say, when we are twenty, we may not feel so okay with when we are thirty five. It is painful and costly to have tattoos removed. It is sometimes embarrassing in later life to find not only that one no longer really wants them, but also that because of a changed body shape they are no longer good to look at.
Film stars such as Megan Fox, the Transformers actress, who helped to make them fashionable are now leading a backlash against “body art”.
Megan Fox recently received a tribal design tattoo on her arm.
Megan Fox regrets letting a stoned tattooist put a tribal design on her arm, because it turned into nothing but a messy mark. Fox is now taking steps to get the tattoo removed and insists she’ll take more care when she picks skin artists in the future.
The Transformers star says, “The guy was smoking weed while he tattooed me and he didn’t do it correctly. Now it’s nothing and I’m gonna get it removed. I was told he was a really amazing tattoo artist but he wasn’t on his game that night. He was distracted.”
Fox is also undergoing painful treatment to remove a portrait of Marilyn Monroe from her arm. The 25-year-old actress told an Italian magazine last week that the Monroe portrait was being erased because it got in the way of her work. “It’s too negative,” she said.
Statistics suggest Fox is far from alone. According to a Harris poll, the number of tattooed Americans, which was below 10 per cent until 1990, soared to 16 per cent in 2003 but fell back to 14 per cent in 2008.
Since then the number of US tattoo parlours has fallen by 10 per cent and laser removal treatments are booming, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
“Not everyone is erasing them entirely – just off the hands, arms and faces, which might get in the way of the next job,” the academy said last week.
While elaborate designs may still be popular in jails, Silicon Valley and other youth-oriented centres of enterprise, elsewhere they are being removed.
“Starbucks may have accepted them but other retailers are turning away jobseekers because their tattoos may unsettle older shoppers,” said the Texas Chamber of Commerce.
Body art may also unsettle jurors: last year John Ditullio, once a leading member of Florida’s neo-nazi movement, asked a judge to employ a make-up artist to cover the swastika on his neck during his murder trail. He was still found guilty.
Police officers in Phoenix, Arizona, have been ordered to cover up all tattoos. “We are professional and don’t want to give anyone a reason to mistrust us,” said the Phoenix force, which has also banned pierced tongues.
Names of loved ones have always been most vulnerable to change. When Johnny Depp broke up with fellow actor Winona Ryder, he changed the inked name to “Wino Forever’.
Actress Angelina Jolie has done a similar thing removing some of tattoos.
Eva Longoria, the Desperate Housewives actress, is undergoing laser treatment to erase the number nine from the back of her neck – it represented her former husband’s number in the San Antonio Spurs basketball team.
The young may also be growing tired of tattoos: Kelly Osbourne, the daughter of rock star Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon, said she got tattooed as “a way of self-harming to upset my mum and dad”.
Aged 26, she no longer feels the need to rebel and is having many of them erased.
TV Celebrity Kim Kardashian sums it up, “Tattoos on a classy girl is like putting bumper stickers on a Bentley.”
http://www.christian-witness-ministries.com/index.php
Endnotes:
http://www.av1611.org/tattoos/rebel.html
Tattoos-away.com: History of Tattoos
Vanishing tattoo.com: Histroy of Tattoos
iloveindia.com: History of Tattoos
http://www.biblebelievers.com/watkins_tattoos/bible.html
http://www.actsion.com/latest.htm#Tattoos
Smithsonian.com: History of Tattoos
(www.infoplease.com/ipd/A0648969.html)
http://www.godswordforyou.com/answers/282
http://www.bibleinsight.com/sabbaths.html
http://www.bibletruth.cc/4dead.htm
(http://www.shoutweb.com/interviews/pod0700.phtml)
http://www.meganfox.com/megan-fox-tattoos/
http://weirdnews.about.com/od/celebrityescapades/ss/Angelina-Jolie-Tattoos_8.htm
Coercion Code - "Dark Times are upon us" 