Minister of Education Reports        

Body Piercing and Tattooing        

            When I was young, it was not uncommon for young men to go away to military service and get a tattoo. Usually the event occurred after an evening of foolishness and in response to a dare. Many a fellow bears marks upon his body he wishes he never made, but finds himself stuck with them for life. In those days only the basest and crudest sort of woman would even consider having a tattoo made upon her skin. But we find that now people are placing marks in their skin even before they get out of High School. Not only that, they are actually being encouraged to involve themselves in these foolish acts by parents.

            The Word of God speaks against committing such acts:

“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:28 The issue was so important to God that He would disqualify any man from service in the Aaronic priesthood who shaved his head, rounded his beard, or made cuttings in his flesh. (Lev. 21:5.)

            In ancient times scarring the body was a means of performing pagan invocations. Strangely enough even in those days it was also a means by which an enemy would mark with dishonor a defeated foe. The practice of dishonoring an enemy by disfiguring his body continues to be performed in the Middle East even to this day. It is my belief that Satan continues to use this ancient practice in order to bring a shame upon the mankind which God first created unblemished in His image.

            It is a fact that among backwards peoples, where trees and animals are worshipped as gods, tattooing and scarification are com- mon. The farther men get from God the more their paganism increase.

            Some people will not receive this message with appreciation. They will feel outraged and rebellious and say that I am quoting the Old Testament. But many commentary sources, not just this preacher, connect the passages on physical defilement in the New Testament with the very passages I have quoted in this report.

            No doubt the youth of today will point to some of the practices of adults to justify their body mutilating behavior. People who would never think of having their navel or tongue pierced, or getting a tattoo have been piercing their bodies for years. No doubt, the Devil will capitalize on this. Mothers, taking their little girl to have her ears pierced should consider what they may be setting in motion for the future. Will this practice open the door for more outrageous practices in a child’s mind when they live in a society that is going farther and farther away from God?