“The Bible, Preachers of L.A. and tattoos”
By Pastor Rasheed Z Baaith
“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:28)
“Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:37)
“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 – Jesus speaking to His disciples)
It is not my intention to put myself in the position of commenting on all the nonsense prattled on the Preachers of LA television program. Yet at the same time I feel compelled to challenge erroneous and misleading Biblical theology whenever the program is used as a platform for such.
The recent discussion about tattoos on the program is an example.
The Bible is clear in the law given in the book of Leviticus that markings on the body are not permitted. That means that the God Christians claim they follow has prohibited the placing of tattoos on the body He gave us. The fact God has proscribed such may not please many of us or that many of us disagree with the restriction does not change what the Bible reads. Nor did the coming of Christ. Christ said as much Himself; He said He did not come “to destroy the law” but to fulfill it.
There is this constant tension in today’s Body of Christ regarding Old Testament Law, how it relates to the so called modern church and if we are to adhere to Old Testament laws, or if the coming of Jesus made those laws of none affect. I say we look at the source (Jesus), and what Christ said about Himself and the law is clear. For a preacher or anyone else for that matter to support a theological position opposed to clear mandate from God, whether it is about tattoos or anything else, is a spiritual profanity. Sacrilege in other words.
There is this great desire in the church of today to appear both contemporary and accepting. The desire is so great that many in the church are ignoring the moral, social and theological standards God has ordained for us believers in His Bible. There is an “anything you do is ok with God” pseudo theology at work today in the Church. As a result, those whom the Church is supposed to help understand the Holiness of God, does not help.
Those whom the church is supposed to guide into transformation, is not just allowing but encouraging to remain as they came.
We love to tell folks to “come as you are” but the Bible speaks of us becoming new in Christ. Come as you are does not mean stay as you are.
But perhaps even worse is the deliberate mis-interpretation of Scripture by these preachers. The use of the Word of God to deceive people cannot be excused. The Scripture in question is Revelation 19:16, which reads:
“And he (Jesus) hath on his (Jesus) vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Preachers of LA would have you believe this writing is a tattoo. This, if true, would mean if Jesus has a tattoo so can you.
Some simple research would have given them the information that during the time of Christ, people of importance and authority often wore a banner over their clothes (vesture). This is not the description of a tattoo on the Body of Christ but an emphasis on the absolute sovereignty of Christ being declared. Few Biblical scholars believe otherwise.
It’s even harder to believe that preachers would believe that Jesus Christ would have a tattoo that initiates on His clothes and continues onto His thigh. It’s as if they believe Christ is some Hip Hop artist or a ball player.
Therein may well be the problem. Too many of us, including some preachers, forget that while Christ was fully human, He also was fully Divine. The nature of the Divine is manifest Holiness, not exaggerated self-promotion. Just think about it.
