Here is some proof that emerging culture people can go to heaven when they die. I am listening to Gordon Robertson tell us about the CBN media center and the future of new media. He just showed us a really cool movie from the Media Center. Here it is on Google Video. Its called “Are You Going? Its one minute and 3.5 Megs. Theres a guy with lots of piercings who gets into heaven. Apparently, Gordon’s dad who started the station, is not too impressed with it. But i sure like it and i think Gordon does also.
What does the Bible say about nose rings. Check out Ezekiel 16 and Genesis 24 and see for yourself.
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ezekiel 16 and genesis 24 are some of the reasons i GOT a nose ring in the first place. thanks for the link!
I am suspect of Gordon Robertson because anytime i have seen him on the 700 Club when surfing channels he is so much like hid dad, that i shudder when that wishful day of retirement comes for P.Ro. I’ll have a look and see.
It’s good but i don’t like the anhel with wings playing the hard and the guy took out all his piercings, most of which need a special tool to do so. At least they are trying to reach the pierced and tattooed generation and demonstrating that God welcomes them without changing out of the piercings and tattoos. i do applaud them for this effort! i still don’t like being associated with them from my grad school days, especially in light of P.Ro’s not so n ice comments of late!
Common Andrew! Do you really think that Genesis and Ezekial is giving a moral justification? I suppose if the entire culture was wearing nose rings, it COULD be fine, but the fact that the majority are offended by it should cause us to steer clear. I’ve got a huge tatoo on my arm from my rebel days but I certainly don’t reveal it to everyone. The last thing I want is for some child to go out, get a tatoo and then get sucked deeper into the rebel culture.
I dealt with this constantly when I was a prison chaplain. When the guys got out they refused to change their “culture” and so who did they end up attracting? Yep, other thugs, and so they ended right back in the pin.
Certainly, changing your outward appearance will not sanctify you in itself. But, because we are not Gnostics, we recognize that culture does have an effect on our spiritual well-being.
A nose ring will make you feel a certain way just as a suit will. THey will both bring you into a specific state of mind as well as a specific group of people.
I think there arre two extremes that we need to avoid: ties and nose/ear rings. Also, for women, heavy makeup and lots of gold were for the prostitutes and likewise are also in our time. But the other extreme is flat hair, prarie dresses, and the refusal to evevn use lotion.
That’s the rhythm of the church though: always overcorrecting. One day we’ll get it down, Christ tells us that we will!
Thanks for your blog! Although I do not agree with much of what you do, I like much of your style.
Mike, how can you speak for the “majority of culture” and know they are offended by tattoos and piercings? Piercings and tattoos are very acceptable today and many more people are getting inked. I am a woman who has piercings and inked and i do not attract bad people, maybe sinners, but everyone is a sinner, including you and me! Tell me, what specifice state of mind am i in wearing my piercings and sporting my tatts?
Dear Existential Punk:
In America the older people outnumber the younger and you wont see them in the tatoo parlor. The American military wont even accept men with too many tatoos. The older people, inculding the babyboomers are the superiors in the military.
You tatooing yourself like you do says something about you. Why did you get it? What was your motive? It’s certainly not commanded in the Scriptures or the entire 2000 years of the church. So by what authority do you do this? Is it from your desire to be stimulated by something other than what the gospel and the church has given you? It also has not a thing to do with nature. It’s also forbiden in the Scripture for GOD”S PEOPLE to tatoo themselve’s (Leviticus 19:28). The verse after this says that we should not prostitute our daughters. It’s clear that the context is that of morality. The verses befor it speak of the foriegn cults and how they should not parrtake of the blood drinking and the shaving of the head. Likewise, why would we want to be like the cults of our day? Tatoos have always been part of the satanic and rebelious sub-cultures. I just don’t understand why any Christian would want one.
hey mike
the conversation is not about tattoos right now. there are other sites where you could discuss the history and usage of ink.
as for piercings among American christians, are you arguing that a piercing in an ear lobe is more righteous than a piercing in a non-lobal area of the ear? . .
or earrings altogether, anywhere on the body, are wrong for the American christian population?
i think you are saying the latter which would put you in a minority position – which is not bad in itself – but can be disruptive if it is pushed on other countries with different cultural mores/dress customs or even subcultures in USA which – like EP is highlighting – may see things differently . . . as did Rebecca in Gen 24 with her nose piercing.
Well, it does seem more obnoxious. And the justification from the OT is very weak since the church was in its infancy back then. Paul is clear in the NT (1 Timothy 2:9)that women should not adorn themselves with gold. I think the empahasis here is “adorn.” Not that women cannot have jewelry at all, but that they should not make it the center of atraction. Clearly you must admitt that a nose ring becomes the center of attraction. I mean, it is in the middle of the face. This also leads to the very next “stage of adornment” which seems to be the belly ring. It simply draws attention to women’s private parts.
Also, Andrew, the video that you presented did involve tatoos. So it seemed apporpriate to mention them.
is it? ok, mike. fair enough to talk about it then.
ummm… did you guys read the whole chapter in Ezekial? Such as the part where she’s called a prostitute and stripped in front of her lovers before being stoned and hacked to bits with swords? Yeah it’s pretty sweet that she gets a nose ring before all of that, but you look a bit silly bringing up this chapter in defense of piercings.
I have to agree with Mike. Tattoos–like it or not (and I’m betting most who have them DO like it)–GARNER ATTENTION to oneself. Christians are not suppoesd to be engaging in activity that brings attention to ourselves; we are to point to Christ and His holiness.
We like to cry out the word “liberty,” but “humility?” We’re strangely quiet on that one.
I have a nose ring. The verse in Ezekiel talks about how God gave the woman all these things then she chose to become a prositute. Nose rings are a symbol of becoming a servant, and Christ teaches us to be servants to one another. Also, Leviticus tells us not to mark ourselves for the DEAD. It says nothing about glorifying God with your tattoos.
we have to get to the realization that it is all about God and His love for us. The church has judged people with nose rings/peircings/ and tattoos for so long that they have come to a point were they forget their own sin and think their better than them. If God didnt say he hates pericings and tatoos the why should we. Stop twisting up the bible , do research and remeber its about reaching souls for Christ.
I have a nose ring, and a personal relationship with Christ. Yes you can have both.
Mike, Tattoos and piercings was never a part of satanic and rebellious sub-cultures. They date back to the very beginning of mankind. Basically you’re saying that even a priest of god that has tattoos and a piercing of sorts is ungodly. Thou shalt not judge and yet you judge why is that? I am no Christian and yet I know your scriptures. Tattoos and piercings have many meanings and are not adorned by only one group of people but many. And as far as it being immoral it does not matter. simply for the fact that god said and I quote yet again some of your scriptures For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God- Romans 3:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.- Romans 6:23and the Bible also says There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death- Proverbs 14:12 another one is But your iniquities have separated you from your God;Your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear- Isaiah 59:2 For Christ died for sins once for all,the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you before God-1 Peter 3:18 Now the bible also says Who so ever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.-Romans 10:13 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast-Ephesians 2:8-9 Basically it means that anyone who calls upon the lord whether he or she is full of metal nad ink or loves the same sex shall be saved as your Lord and God does not discriminate unlike his children he does not turn away whores and homosexuals. So why should he turn away or frown upon piercings and tattoos. I am a bisexual with tattoos and piercings and I once accepted your lord and god your Holy Father as my savior but soon turned away from the faith because his own children have forgotten his way and judge and indeed discriminate and I may be going to hell but I’ll see his children there as well. Because they have gone against they’re Holy Father’s commandments as another script clearly states may he who hath no sin cast the first stone. So piercings or not and Ink or not if you ask the lord for forgiveness and ask him into your hearts shall be saved Hopefully one day the old ways and teachings will be practiced truthfully once more then maybe I can once again turn back to religion and believe in what they teach as they no longer follow the practices that Jesus once followed and tried to instill those teachings that we have forgotten so long ago.