Thanks for your willingness to tackle tough relevant issues such as whether Christians should get tattoos. Our kids (and even adults) need to hear that the Bible provides insights into making these choices even if it doesn’t directly speak to each issue.
Interestingly, unlike some other issues (such as television, movies, speeding) the Bible does actually mention tattoos in the passage in Leviticus, as you mentioned.
As I have taught my sons, we need to ask the question why did God include these kind of passages in scripture. What was His intent?
As you indicated, there is a lot in Leviticus. However, it is more than just directives on worship, it was intended to assist the people of Israel to set up their new society, especially as they entered the promised land in Canaan. Some of what they were taught was intended to provide law and order in their society. Some of what they were taught was intended to provide direction on how they were to live their religious lives in relation to God. Much of what was written was intended to demonstrate the importance of being holy and separate from the Canaanites in the land where they were to live. God emphasized this issue over and over and over. That was the message about two kinds of seeds or cloth. It was a moral teaching not strictly a religious teaching,
I appreciate the passage in Romans that directs us to not be conformed to the pattern of this world. I think that is the major message our youth need to hear regarding tattoos. The question of whether we get tattoos or not will be more easily answered if we fully grasp the principle of holiness.
I would encourage you to continue to emphasize that with your congregation. To me, that is the essential principle that God was teaching Israel through the directives in Leviticus. Even though many of those directives may no longer have the same application for us today, the principle applies exactly the same today as then.
As North America continues to shift away from a “Christian-like” culture, Christians find themselves increasingly living in a non-Christian and even an anti-Christian society. Therefore the principles that God was teaching Israel as they entered Canaan are increasingly relevant to us today. Unfortunately, in many cases I’ve seen amongst Christians we are increasingly influenced by our culture. Perhaps, if we fully grasped the principle of holiness and separation, the question of tattoos would be much less relevant to Christians today.
Thanks again for being willing to tackle tough questions. As you pointed out at the end of your second video, as Christian leaders, rather than defending the reasons why tatoos might be acceptable, a better approach would be to provide advice on how to make these challenging decisions. There are many other equally complicated cultural choices we must make every day.
Thanks for your willingness to tackle tough relevant issues such as whether Christians should get tattoos. Our kids (and even adults) need to hear that the Bible provides insights into making these choices even if it doesn’t directly speak to each issue.
Interestingly, unlike some other issues (such as television, movies, speeding) the Bible does actually mention tattoos in the passage in Leviticus, as you mentioned.
As I have taught my sons, we need to ask the question why did God include these kind of passages in scripture. What was His intent?
As you indicated, there is a lot in Leviticus. However, it is more than just directives on worship, it was intended to assist the people of Israel to set up their new society, especially as they entered the promised land in Canaan. Some of what they were taught was intended to provide law and order in their society. Some of what they were taught was intended to provide direction on how they were to live their religious lives in relation to God. Much of what was written was intended to demonstrate the importance of being holy and separate from the Canaanites in the land where they were to live. God emphasized this issue over and over and over. That was the message about two kinds of seeds or cloth. It was a moral teaching not strictly a religious teaching,
I appreciate the passage in Romans that directs us to not be conformed to the pattern of this world. I think that is the major message our youth need to hear regarding tattoos. The question of whether we get tattoos or not will be more easily answered if we fully grasp the principle of holiness.
I would encourage you to continue to emphasize that with your congregation. To me, that is the essential principle that God was teaching Israel through the directives in Leviticus. Even though many of those directives may no longer have the same application for us today, the principle applies exactly the same today as then.
As North America continues to shift away from a “Christian-like” culture, Christians find themselves increasingly living in a non-Christian and even an anti-Christian society. Therefore the principles that God was teaching Israel as they entered Canaan are increasingly relevant to us today. Unfortunately, in many cases I’ve seen amongst Christians we are increasingly influenced by our culture. Perhaps, if we fully grasped the principle of holiness and separation, the question of tattoos would be much less relevant to Christians today.
Thanks again for being willing to tackle tough questions. As you pointed out at the end of your second video, as Christian leaders, rather than defending the reasons why tatoos might be acceptable, a better approach would be to provide advice on how to make these challenging decisions. There are many other equally complicated cultural choices we must make every day.