Tell me something, was your youth leader experienced in Biblical Exegisis? Because it doesn't take a whole lot of didactic interpretative skills to recognize that the context of this passage has to do with paying homage to the dead and engaging in Pagan rituals and signs to honor them. Does your youth leader also understand the concept of being a bond slave and how Paul called himself a bondslave to Christ? Is he aware that a defining mark of a bond slave was either a nose ring or tattoo and that was the bond slave's outward sign of devotion to his master? I'd say the Bible speaks rather positively in certain contexts about tattooing and body piercing, but the operative word here is, in fact, context and it's something that most fundies like your lovable little youth leader don't like to consider because they might have to do something radical like...think as opposed to doing something easy like regurgitating someone else's opinion based on a few words of scripture taken out of context.

----- Original Message -----

Sent: Monday, June 17, 2002 5:38 PM

Subject: Re: Tatoos a sin?

Interesting topic here so being a Christian I thought I'd add my own 10 cents!

Basically The Bible is very clear on this topic in Leviticus 19:28 where it says "Never cut your bodies in mourning for the dead or mark your skin with tattoos, for I am the Lord". Seems to be a pretty clear message to me.

And a bit of a warning. I don't mean to sound nasty or judgemental but you should be careful when you start rationalising things as this is a clear sign, that my experienced youth leader gave me, as sin getting a foothold over you and you will probably eventually not even question the sin.