Tattoos and Christian Liberty

Pastor Jim McClarty responds to a frequently asked question -- "Should Christians get tattoos?" The answer takes us into the area of Christian liberty and what we can learn about God's character by reading His word.

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• Jim
• McClarty
• Grace
• Christian
• Assembly
• Sovereign
• Calvinism
• Reformed
• Theology
• Tattoos
• liberty
• piercing
• body
• art

[all4Hisgloryalone]

LOVE Jim McClarty, but this is his first fail of his new channel. People need 2 actually read Leviticus 19. what about verse 28? don't shave your beard! It is clear from context of 19 that although it has instructions universal because they are taught 2 be held by all men through out scripture, the audience is specific& there are some instructions specific 2 the people this is addressed to( About offerings, farming, hair cuts,& and yes tattoos)The phrase ".For the dead" is key here.( continued)

[SalvationByGraceOrg]

@all4Hisgloryalone -- Actually, if you scroll down through the comments you'll see that I replied to your concern (at some length!). I appreciate your supportive words and I knew when I made this video that people would have other opinions. That's why I stated repeatedly that this is my opinion, based on my understanding of the character and nature of God. I do not consider tattoos a test of faith. Thanks again. Jim Mc.

[SkiesVibrant]

Thank you Pastor McClarty. I do so enjoy your teachings and pass them on to friends. Whenever I'm not sure about what the Bible is saying, your website is the first I go to for guidance and clarity.

Alleluia, God is faithful.

[enslaved2God]

Thank you Pastor McClarty. I have great respect for you, even if we disagree on an issue. So it seems that according to your view here no woman should wear earrings. Is that true?

[HermitintheRain]

@xenoranger79 being tattooed or not being tattooed as a means to connect with people is a fallacy of false cause. the lost aren't brought to Christ by the means of men making adjustments in themselves to 'fit-in' with whosoever the gospel is being presented. the lost are being brought to Christ by the peculiar work of the Holy Spirit through the faithful proclamation of the gospel.

[HermitintheRain]

@xenoranger79 Paul never changed who he was: he was who he was whether he preached the gospel in Ephesus, Rome, Athens, Thessalonica or wherever the Spirit lead him. how did he become all things to all men? by first becoming the bond-slave of the Lord Jesus Christ, which made him a servant to all whom he preached the gospel, which is how he became all things to all men. this had nothing to do with the clothes he wore, or the manner of his speech, etc; had to do with being Christ's slave to all.

[HermitintheRain]

@xenoranger79 Jesus when he answered that to love God and to love our neighbors were the two great commandments answered so because in them is the sum of all the commandments of God. the issue with the Jews in Galatians was that they were going about insisting upon grace + works (being circumcised, dietary practices, sabbath keeping, etc) as the means to salvation. Peter, nor Paul were ever contradicting the Lord's warning in Matt 5 of those teaching others it was ok to break the commandments.

[SalvationByGraceOrg]

@all4Hisgloryalone - No worries. Anytime a comment starts with "LOVE Jim McClarty ..." I know I'm hearing from a friend. And we Christian folk certainly ought to be able to discuss and disagree about these secondary issues in a gracious, intelligent manner. I appreciate the feedback. No harm, no foul. :-)

[all4Hisgloryalone]

@SalvationByGraceOrg Love you a lot in Christ Jim. You are one of my Favorite teachers and your teaching has deeply effected me, my understanding and evangelism. Sorry if the "Fail" comment came off wrong. I should have said i disagree thats all. Sorry Jim

[all4Hisgloryalone]

@SalvationByGraceOrg " But, I think we're missing a bet if we neglect the lesson inherent in that passage, which is that God has the right 2 tell his people how 2 conduct themselves & what they can & cannot do with their bodies. And that was my point." totally agree with this Jim thank you & God bless you. My only point is that in this immediate context this Specific instruction was limited 2 the specific audience, while as you rightfully stated in above quote God has right 2 prohibit anything.

[all4Hisgloryalone]

the people were being instructed not to partake in "Making any cuts in the body FOR THE DEAD, nor making any tattoo marks on yourselves....." Now the structure of the verse shows that both instructions are tied to the phrase "FOR THE DEAD". Many of the instructions of clothes, hair cuts, tatoos, etc in old testament were to either instruct to abstain from pagan ceremony or, 4 the most part 2 make the Jewish people of God recognizable from the paganism around them by contrast ie. haircuts ,etc.