say about body piercings?" In this video Ill answer that question
from a biblical perspective. Afterwards, as always, Ill share some helpful
resources, so stick around until the end. Body modification, including piercing, tattooing,
scarring, branding, cutting, and outright mutilation, has been an increasing trend in
recent years. Body piercingthe insertion of jewelry in
various body partshas graduated from the traditional ear lobe piercing to the piercing
of noses, navels, nipples, tongues, eyebrows, cheeks, genitalia, and more.
Many Christians have a piercing or two, and
some have many more than two; no matter what the issue, its good to stop and consider
what the Bible says. Well begin with by acknowledging that the
Bible does not specifically address body piercings as a sin, so dogmatism on the issue is unwarranted. If all body piercing is sinful, as some say,
then even a diamond stud in a girls ear lobe is taboo. Such a stance goes too far, considering that
earrings (and even nose rings) were accessories for Hebrew women: in an extended metaphor,
God reminds Jerusalem of the lavish blessings He had bestowed on the people: I put a
ring on your nose, earrings on your ears (Ezekiel 16:12).
Its unlikely that God would have used earrings
(and nose rings) as a symbol of beauty and blessing if such jewelry were inherently sinful. See also Song of Solomon 1:1011. Also, we should consider what the Old Testament
Law had to say about the related issue of cutting the flesh and marking the body. The command to Israel was Do not cut your
bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves.
I am the LORD (Leviticus 19:28). It seems the common practice among the nations
surrounding Israel was to cut, lance, or somehow scar the body for the dead; that is,
cutting oneself was part of a pagan mourning ritual or possibly a superstitious rite to
aid the spirits of the departed. We see this type of behavior in action in
Elijahs day, as Baal-worshipers slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was
their custom, until their blood flowed (1 Kings 18:28). It is safe to say that, if a certain body
piercing hints at paganism or honors a false philosophy, then it is sinful.
Forming a biblically informed opinion on body
piercings requires us to examine the principles of the Word of God and ask ourselves some
pertinent questions, such as: What is my motivation for getting a body
piercing? Our motives are important in any decision
we make (Proverbs 16:2), especially something as permanent and potentially life-changing
as a body piercing. Am I trying to find identity in a subculture? Body piercing has given rise to a definite
subculture, and many people try to find themselves by joining the bodymod community. While joining a particular cultural group
might help in evangelizing that group, to join simply to find oneself is not biblical. As believers, our identity is in Christ: You
died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3, NLT).
Am I succumbing to peer pressure? Doing anything out of a desire to please ones
peers is spiritually hazardous. We are to follow the Lord Jesus (see John
21:2122). Those who follow peer pressure in getting
a body piercing find themselves in the ironic position of having proclaimed their uniqueness
through conformity. Am I stressing appearance over substance? The Bible clearly emphasizes the inner spiritual
qualities of a person and downplays the outward adornment (1 Peter 3:34).
The majority of our effort should be directed
at increasing in godliness, not grooming a particular look. Am I drawing undue attention to myself? Any item of clothing, accessory, or jewelry
worn simply as a fashion statement runs the risk of feeding pride in that it draws attention
to the wearer. Bringing public focus to certain body parts,
pushing boundaries, or creating a flashy display is not a godly reason for a body piercing,
especially when we have this command in Scripture: All of you, clothe yourselves with humility
(1 Peter 5:5). Will this body piercing be an obstacle
to ministry? Its conceivable that, in some situations,
having a body piercing will aid a believer in his witness to others.
And, if the piercing is decorated with Christian-themed
jewelry, it could be a conversation-starter that leads to spiritual themes. But, for others, certain types of body piercings
may hinder attempts to share the gospel. We are Christs ambassadors, delivering
Gods message to the world (2 Corinthians 5:20). We must consider what message the body piercing
sends and whether it will aid or detract from representing Christ and sharing the gospel.
Where do I draw the line? According to Guinness World Records, the record
for total body piercings is 453 for a male and 462 for a female. Those considering multiple piercings should
be able to answer the question how much is too much? With specificity. At what point does body modification become
extreme? How far can Christians go and still honor
God with your bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20)? Beyond piercings, questions should be asked
about scarification, branding, facial flesh tunnels, skin implants, split tongues, pointed
ears, sharpened teeth, and other things promoted within the modern bodymod community. Of course, we could also ask where we draw
the line on other, more socially acceptable body modifications such as breast implants,
tummy tucks, face lifts, and such.
Some of the same questions about motivation
and appearance need honest answers if we are to do all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians
10:31). An important scriptural principle on issues
the Bible does not specifically address is that, if there is room for doubt whether it
pleases God, then it is best not to engage in that activity. Anything that does not come from faith is
sin (Romans 14:23). Our bodies, as well as our souls, have been
redeemed and belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Since our bodies belong to God and are the
temple of the Holy Spirit, we should make sure it is His will before we modify them
with body piercings. Want to learn more? Subscribe so you dont miss the next video! Visit GotQuestions.Org for more great content. And check out the details section below this
video, there is one book I recommend, along with several related articles. If youd like to learn about Bible Munch,
or if youre interested in Bite-sized devotionals, subscribe to Bible Munch on YouTube, its
linked right here.
Now remember, Got questions? The Bible has answers, and well help you
find them!.
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