Teens -- Body Piercings and Tattoos
A Question from Christian parents. Our teenage daughter wants to get a tattoo, a tong,lip or other body piercing. We don't want her to permanently mark her body and she says a tattoo is just art. Do we have any scriptural grounds for handling this?
The verse Christian parents quote to their children concerning tattoos is Leviticus 19:28, "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord" (NKJV). In the Old Testament, God gave His people a command not to tattoo their bodies.
In the New Testament, Jesus made this command, as well as other issues of the law, a matter of the heart. He told us that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are to glorify God in our temples. 1 Corinthians 10:31 puts it this way: "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
The question then becomes; does a tattoo, or a body piercing glorify God ? As Paul says, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable" (1 Cor. 6:12, NASB).
To answer the point about tattoo or body pearcing as art, help your teen think through this. If tattoo is art, then your body must be the canvas. To paint on the body canvas, you must own it.
The truth is, our bodies are not our own.
They have been bought with a price -- the blood of Jesus (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
So a saved person would have to find scripture supporting her permanently painting on God's canvas. I don't believe there are any.
Obviously these laws of God can't be applied to those with lawless hearts. Therefore, to criticize those who are unsaved and tattoo is foolish. But Christian kids need to consider their motivation for wanting body piercings or tattoos. If their motivation is to conform to the world, then it's wrong to do.
For those who are radically saved and new in Christ, the motivation may be to witness to those who are lost.
The bottom line is they have to judge their heart against the Word. God knows your teen's heart and motive, so encourage her to be honest. Don't alienate your teen on this issue. Tell her your love is unconditional no matter how she looks. But also teach your teen the Word and encourage her to seek to please God in all she does, especially when that something is permanent.
Do Your Homework on Tattoos and Piercing
Recently, I read a newsletter from a leading children's hospital in which a pediatrician passed along some helpful information to parents concerning teen tattoos and piercing. Here is a summary of Dr. Bolduc's remarks. He practices with Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters Medical Group in Newport News, Virginia. My intention here is to help parents who may be dealing with a teen who wants to tattoo or body pierce or who has recently done either. Parents and teens need to be informed. I am not endorsing these procedures, but want you to know what's involved.
Risks associated with body piercing or getting a tattoo: * Tattoos can put your child at risk for contracting diseases such as HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis.
* Tattoos can bring on skin infections such as impetigo, dermatitis and possibly an allergic reaction to the tattoo pigment.
§ Risks associated with piercing involve: chronic infections, prolonged bleeding, scarring, hepatitis B and C, tetanus, HIV, skin allergies, abscesses or boils, irreversible holes, chipped or broken teeth, choking and speech impediment.
§ * Piercing a tongue can breed bacteria. 