Preachers of LA: Pastor Jay Haizlip, The issue of Christians getting Tattoos

In Preachers of LA: Season 1, Episode 6 – Staying True to You, Pastor Jay Haizlip had us thinking about a long time controversial issue – tattoos and Christians. Certainly, off the bat I agree its an old mindset. Nonetheless, I want to be biblical and correct. Wayne Chaney‘s wife, Myesha, had a very pressing view; you don’t want to offend and affect your church ministry. This issue does not affect Pastor Haizlip because majority of his congregation have tattooes and that his the social sphere of which he is from.

But as it relates to Pastor Chaney, his congregation is a bit more traditional; in the coming months how are they gonna reflect on the fact that their lead pastor wanted to get a tattoo? Will this affect his ministry? his believers? What does the bible say about tattoos and Christians getting them? Does He really not care about what is on the outside as Pastor Haizlip teaches and believes? To answer some of these questions, many of us will have to do some bible study, fasting and praying to search out the answer God will give us; for ourselves.

What the Bible Says about Tattoos

1. Leviticus 19:28 (Amplified) which says, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”
2. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
3. Tattooing Has Witchcraft “Roots” –
   And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 1 Kings 18:28
   Ye are the sons of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead. Deuteronomy 14:1

According to Rapture Ready:

Historically, the origin of the tattoo is associated with paganism, demonism, Baal worship, shamanism, mysticism, heathenism, cannibalism and many other pagan beliefs.  The tattoo has NEVER been connected with Bible believing Christians.  But today in the 21^st century, the trends are reverting from paganism practices to include the modern Christian and the new “Christian” tattoo shop.  Satan is the god of this world and his agenda is to deceive many Christians, especially in the last days.  But the fact remains that the tattoo has its roots in beliefs and practices that are demonic and pagan.  Many pro-tattoo books indicate that tattooing is a magical rite and the tattooist is respected as a priest or shaman; it is connected to a religious ceremony and performed by priests or priestesses; it is intended to put the human soul in harmony with supernatural forces; at other times dancing accompanies the tattooing ritual to exorcise demons.  In other words, it is connected with the spirit world and a tattoo is really much more than simply a body decoration.

Today’s popular tattooing craze is “tribal tattoos”, which are pure paganism. These designs bear serious symbolic mystical and occult meanings. They are strongly connected with channels into spiritual and demonic possession. Many pro-tattoo artists and historians can attest to this by saying things like, “tattoos have a power and magic all their own”, “there is in addition to the opening of numerous inlets for evil to enter”, “allowing his clients’ demons to help guide the needle”.

Reasons not to get a tattoo

Tattooing is:

• The Mark of Blood – In the New Testament, there was a man named Legion who was possessed by demons in Mark 5:1-9 who went about cutting himself with stones. (vs. 5)  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 Cup of Devils – Today’s popular tattooing craze is “tribal tattoos”, which are pure paganism.  These designs bear serious symbolic mystical and occult meanings.  They are strongly connected with channels into spiritual and demonic possession.  Many pro-tattoo artists and historians can attest to this by saying things like, “tattoos have a power and magic all their own”, “there is in addition to the opening of numerous inlets for evil to enter”, “allowing his clients’ demons to help guide the needle”.
  
• The Mark of Death – “Death and darkness have always been a classic tattoo theme – skulls, snakes, demons” (The Body Art Book, pg. 56); Henry Ferguson in The Art of the Tattoo, states “probably the most popular tattooed image of today, the all-pervasive grinning skull!”;
• The Mark of Rebellion – The Bible condemns all rebellion throughout its pages and declares that rebellion is as bad as witchcraft. (1 Sam. 15:23) It is clear that the tattoo has always been an indication of a spirit of rebellion and deviancy on its wearers.
• Disease and Death – It is a well-known fact that tattooing runs a risk of acquiring any number of deadly diseases, including Hepatitis C and AIDS.  The reason is the needle used to tattoo punctures the skin 3,000 times a minute.  In an hour, that would be 180,000 times that puncture wounds provide a potential path to a deadly disease.

At the end of the day, the Word of God will guide us in these things.

1 Cor. 10:21 says, “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.”

Jesus was obedient unto death – even the death of the Cross! (Phil. 2:8)  He prayed, “not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42-44)  If there was the slightest chance that Jesus was a rebel, then He would have sinned against God, and we would all be lost!

This is the ultimate example of how we should follow suit as Christians.

Reference:

• The Bible
• http://www.raptureready.com/featured/schaefer/tattoo.html

Related articles

• Preachers of LA: Watch the Preachers featured in Preachers of LA (revthechristianlife.wordpress.com)
• Preachers of LA: Season 1, Episode 2 – Acceptance (revthechristianlife.wordpress.com)