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Question
Is piercing and tatoos a sin?
Hi Cindy,
There is no biblical prohibition to piercing and tattoos so in my opinion it is a matter of personal preference.
Culturally Christians have tended to view them negatively and one may expect to occasionally encounter disapproval from some Believers, especially depending on what the tattoos depict.
Obviously tattoos and jewelry would need to not be of prohibited or unchristian things (demon heads etc). Many Christians have crosses, doves and similar tattooed images on their persons.
There are verses that warn against immodest cultural trappings etc. and those seeking a closer walk with God typically avoid them as a matter of personal choice. To say they are a "sin" would require scriptural prohibitions and there are none.
Hope this helps,
~ John of AllFaith
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Answers by Expert:
John of AllFaith
Expertise
Baptists hold certain unique understandings as well as the "fundamentals of the faith" held by most other denominations. Harmonious with the essential Baptist doctrine known as the Priesthood of all Believers, some Baptists are very conservative (such as Jerry Falwell and Fred Phelps) while others are quite liberal (such as Jesse Jackson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr). For help understanding Baptist and other biblical issues, drop me a line. I can also shed light on questions that are often considered "sensitive." Ask me anything and I'll do my best to share what I know.
Experience
I have a lot of experience in this area. I've studied the Holy Scriptures for over 40 years. I hold a Missionary Baptist ordination as well as one from Calvary Chapel. I was a missionary in Central America for a while, an avid street minister and have preached in many churches, on the radio and so on. I also have an MA Religious Studies from JFK University as well as other pieces of paper. The only ordination that really matters comes from God of course.
While I am no longer a Baptist I can answer any question anyone is likely to have from a Baptist perspective.
My personal beliefs are now more accurately described as Messianic or Noahide Nazarene. If you are interested in this perspective just ask.
Organizations
My current beliefs are best described as Noahide Nazarene. These beliefs can be considered at my web site: http://allfaith.com/Religions/Noahide
Education/Credentials
Education/Credentials
Three Christian ordinations (Baptist, Calvary Chapel and from an independent Christian Church), an MA in Religious Studies, an ordination in Ministry and Spiritual Counseling from the Interfaith Seminaries, 41 plus years of sincere seeking and 13 years answering questions and posting studies online.
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