Leviticus 19 “Can we tattoo?”

Leviticus 19:1-2, 26, 28 and 31: 1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. … 26 Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. Do not practice divination or seek omens Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord. … 31 Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.”

Israel was not allowed to have tattoos because a)It displaced God (as the only True God) in the life of the Israelite worshipper – God was dishonored, God was displeased. b)It probably stumbled other Israelites when they see a fellow Israelite with tattoo marks. Close friends and relatives would also be saddened that this person had fallen into the sin of idolatry. c)This person had left the protection of God over the people of Israel, and opened himself vulnerable to other sins, as well as the spiritual (demonic) forces behind the other gods of the Egyptians and Canaanites. He had been ensnared and endangered.

3 questions we can ask with regards to whether we can tattoo: a)Does it affect (dishonor, displease, displace) God in my life ? b) Does it affect (stumble, sadden) others ? c) Does it affect (endanger, ensnare) me ?

a)Does it affect (dishonor, displease, displace) God in my life ? b) Does it affect (stumble, sadden) others ? c) Does it affect (endanger, ensnare) me ?

a)Does it affect (dishonor, displease, displace) God in my life ? b)Does it affect (stumble, sadden) others ? c) Does it affect (endanger, ensnare) me ?

a)Does it affect (dishonor, displease, displace) God in my life ? b) Does it affect (stumble, sadden) others ? c) Does it affect (endanger, ensnare) me ?

In our global village, pluralistic world today, there are many cultural practices which are commercially available but they are still linked very strongly with active religious traditions.

How can we be a faithful Christian in a non-Christian world ?

Pop culture Tattoo, Body Piercing, Yoga, Martial Arts, Dressing, Clubbing, Dancing with provocative moves, Hypnotism to unlock the power of the mind, Harry Potter, Games (computer/board) which are too violent or have links with the occult, etc Religious culture Tattoo, Yoga, Martial Arts, (non-Christian) Funeral rites, (non-Christian) Wedding rituals, etc

Pop culture Tattoo, Body Piercing, Yoga, Martial Arts, Dressing, Clubbing, Dancing with provocative moves, Hypnotism to unlock the power of the mind, Harry Potter, Games (computer/board) which are too violent or have links with the occult, etc Religious culture Tattoo, Yoga, Martial Arts, (non-Christian) Funeral rites, (non-Christian) Wedding rituals, etc

Yoga is a group of ancient spiritual Hindu practices originating in India. It has been defined as referring to “disciplines of asceticism and meditation which are thought to lead to spiritual experience and profound understanding into the nature of existence and divinity, and to attaining enlightenment.”

The Hatha yoga is made up of the syllable ha, meaning “moon” and tha meaning “sun”. The “moon” impulse begins in the heart and ascends to the brain. The “sun” impulse starts at the solar plexus and heads downwards to the anus. Hatha yoga tries to harness these 2 sets of currents and by making them unite to still both body and mind. The person would then be free to concentrate upon one’s true “self”. Yoga has been defined as referring to “disciplines of asceticism and meditation which are thought to lead to spiritual experience and profound understanding into the nature of existence and divinity, and to attaining enlightenment.”

The breathing exercises are all designed to create the uniting of these 2 currents. What should then happen is that the concentration of energy is pushed down to the base of the spine, the sushumna. If the yoga practitioner manages to push energy through the sushumna, then he/she would have achieved a significant breakthrough in the goal of attaining enlightenment / finding the spark of god in himself/herself. This, then, is the reason for the physical exercises of yoga. Any benefits to physical fitness or emotional tranquility are merely secondary.

Pop culture Tattoo, Body Piercing, Yoga, Martial Arts, Dressing, Clubbing, Dancing with provocative moves, Hypnotism to unlock the power of the mind, Harry Potter, Games (computer/board) which are too violent or have links with the occult, etc Religious culture Tattoo, Yoga, Martial Arts, (non-Christian) Funeral rites, (non-Christian) Wedding rituals, etc

1. Raise Alarm Bells 2. Research on the practice 3. wRestle with God 4. Receive God’s peace as the Holy Spirit leads you to a conviction

1. Raise Alarm Bells ― Are there links with New Age or Occultic practices ? ― Are there questionable ethical or moral issues/outcomes/practices ? ― Are there links with Existing Active (non- Christian) Religions ?

1. Raise Alarm Bells 2. Research on the practice 3. wRestle with God 4. Receive God’s peace as the Holy Spirit leads you to a conviction

2. Research on the Pop/Religious Culture activity ―Does it affect (dishonor, displease, displace) God in my life ? ― Does it affect (stumble, sadden) others ? ― Does it affect (endanger, ensnare) me ?

When we willfully submit ourselves under the authority of another spiritual power – a non-God, non-Christian spiritual power, we have intentionally walked out of God’s protection, and so we must be prepared to face the consequence of such non-Christian spiritual powers entering our lives and at times oppressing us.

1. Raise Alarm Bells 2. Research on the practice 3.wRestle with God – what you should or could do 4. Receive God’s peace as the Holy Spirit leads you to a conviction

1. Raise Alarm Bells 2. Research on the practice 3. wRestle with God 4. Receive God’s peace as the Holy Spirit leads you to a conviction

Superstitious Spiritually Ignorant / Spiritually Arrogant; DeadlyHarmless Non-God Spiritual Powers

“So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols : we know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth …, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” - 1 Cor 8:4-9

“So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols : we know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth …, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” - 1 Cor 8:4-9 Do not be superstitious about finding demons in food, but for the sakes of those with a weaker faith, it is better not to eat food offered to idols.

Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything ? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy ? Are we stronger than He ?” - 1 Cor 10:19-22

Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything ? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy ? Are we stronger than He ?” - 1 Cor 10:19-22 Don’t be ignorant – there are demonic presence and therefore demonic powers found in the worship of pagans. And don’t be spiritually arrogant – when you partake of the table of demons, you would actually displease the Lord Himself. Don’t be ignorant – there are demonic presence and therefore demonic powers found in the worship of pagans. And don’t be spiritually arrogant – when you partake of the table of demons, you would actually displease the Lord Himself.

Superstitious Spiritually Ignorant / Spiritually Arrogant; DeadlyHarmless Non-God Spiritual Powers

Jesus has come!! God doesn’t want His truth to be kept only within a Single Culture, like in the days of Leviticus and the Old Testament.

We are to go forth to engage other cultures and share God’s love and live God’s will in those cultures. But of course as we go we must be mindful of their potentially strong and negative influences against us too.

Pop culture Tattoo, Body Piercing, Yoga, Martial Arts, Dressing, Clubbing, Dancing with provocative moves, Hypnotism to unlock the power of the mind, Harry Potter, Games (computer/board) which are too violent or have links with the occult, etc Religious culture Tattoo, Yoga, Martial Arts, (non-Christian) Funeral rites, (non-Christian) Wedding rituals, etc Like Jesus, we are to be in the world but not of the world.

Leviticus 19 Verses 1-2, 26, 28, 31