tattoos and piercings

I know this may come off as a rant, but I needed to vent. It seems that I am one of the few people left in America under 40 who doesn't have a tattoo or piercing! It's sad to see how prevalent this is among Christians. It is an extremely widespread practice and is nearly ubiquitous now. When I take the bus to our local supermarket I pass 4 tattoo/piercing places! That is 4 businesses in a 7 minute bus ride. And the trend used to be for women to get a small tattoo on their wrist or their ankle, now the trend seems to be to get huge garish disgusting tattoos that cover their entire arm or leg! Another trend is to get numerous medium sized tattoos on the arms, legs and chest. And I see these guys with tattoos on their neck and even face!!! NO ONE WILL HIRE YOU MORONS! People say that tattoos fade and distort over time and that's true, but I think the vast majority of the tattoos I see are simply hideous and revolting even now. And what's with all the young women with pierced navels! It's the new "tramp stamp" (tattoo on lower back just above the bum) I guess! I wish parents would train up their children in the ways of the Lord and not allow them to succumb so easily to this foolishness. I wish I could take a bus ride or walk down the street without seeing MULTIPLE people with tattoos. Sigh.

Even though we as Christians are no longer under the Law it is a good idea to see what Scripture has to say about tattoos and body piercings.

“Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.” - Leviticus 19:28

Tattoos and body piercings were pagan practices.

We should ask ourselves if we are doing something which honors God. I think you'll find that nearly all tattoos and body piercings are NOT honoring God. Remember: 

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31

Further, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit so that is another reason we should keep them pure and undefiled by such pagan practices.  

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” -  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

By the way, in a study performed by Rovardo & Colleen, 2010 women with body piercings were found to be more likely than women without to have premarital sex.

Nearly half of 26-40-year-olds (40%) and 36% of 18-25-year-olds have tattoos, and 22% of 26-40-year-olds and 30% of 18-25-year-olds have at least one body piercing, according to the Pew Research Center.

Finally I want to implore you, the reader, to think very carefully and to use discernment and prayer before getting a tattoo or body piercing. Ask yourself if what you are doing is honoring God or is it a manifestation of ego or narcissism. Once you get a tattoo it is permanent for all practical purposes. It is possible to remove tattoos using laser treatment, but it is very expensive and from what I've heard also very painful.