Christian Living

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TAGGING THE TEMPLE OF GOD!


Now that I have your attention, let me explain what I mean by the phrase ‘Tagging the Temple of God’. Tagging is a slang term used today to describe gang members who vandalize or “tag” structures using graffiti to mark their turf or territory. They use pictures, letters and symbols to let others know who they are and what ‘belongs to them’, and that you’d better keep your hands off.

There are many crazes today in our society, one of which is self-expression through the ‘art’ of tattooing ones body. Many people think it’s cool to use ‘their’ body as a canvas, some do it to fit in, others to express a certain sentiment about a loved one or to send a message regarding a belief or value.

What concerns me is the number of ‘Christians’ that are indulging in this form of expression. The reason this concerns me is that there is an admonition against such ‘body art’ in the scriptures. In Leviticus 19:28 we read “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.” Emphasis added. KJV

Let’s look at this verse in a few other translations. “Never cut your bodies in mourning for the dead or mark your skin with tattoos, for I am the Lord.” New Living Translation

“Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.” NIV

The term tattoo in the scriptures comes from the Hebrew word kthobeth pronounced keth-o’-beth, which means “a letter or other mark branded on the skin”. This word has it’s root in the word kathab pronounced kaw-thab’ which in part means “to write”.

This command is directed at the children of God, not the children of the world. Are you a born again believer? Then you are not your own. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV

It is not a matter of self-expression but rather an act of disobedience. Now, some had these tattoos before coming to the Lord and what you do about them is between you and the Lord and should be dialogued through prayer. I can’t give you that answer, perhaps you will choose to hide them or have them removed, or they may serve to enhance your testimony, I don’t really know. What I am certain of, is that, now that you are a Christian you have no business ‘Tagging the temple of God’ from this day forward. The only markings you should ever carry are the scars that are at times required of those who unashamedly serve the living God!
Now, lest you decide that this doesn’t apply to you because it is part of the “law”, let me remind you of one last verse of scripture “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17 KJV

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