1 Corinthians 10:31,33 (NKJV) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God…. just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved
As Christians, we are in the world but not of the world. Therefore, we need to be mindful that there is a subtle pressure for us to conform to the world rather than to be transformed by God.
Many influencers and celebrities convey lifestyles, values, beliefs, and attitudes that differ from those of Christians. Pop culture is highly influential, and how these celebrities look and speak impacts us. For example, many of them talk about the significance of their tattoos, which have become a form of art and expression today.
Leviticus 19:28 (NKJV) You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.
What does the Bible say about tattoos? Tattooing was associated with pagan rituals, mourning, and religious rites, and this is still true today. Tattooing in the days of the Old Testament was prohibited by the Lord because He didn’t want the Israelites to be associated with the heathens and idol worship. The Jews were the chosen people and set apart people for the Lord.
People in different parts of Asia, especially those belonging to secret societies or triads, like to tattoo their logos on their bodies because they have pledged blood allegiance to these groups. Others might have tattooed their bodies out of a rebellious attitude towards their parents. These reasons show that a rebellious attitude is often why tattooing is associated with triad groups and people who have gone wayward in their lives.
As a church, we ought to welcome unbelievers with tattoos. They have the right to call on the name of Jesus to be saved, and we should not judge them but welcome them to be part of the body of believers. However, if you are a believer contemplating getting a tattoo, the opening passage teaches us that whatever we do, we do it all to the glory of God.The Bible also teaches us that our bodies are the temple of God, in which the Holy Spirit resides, and we have been bought at a price (2 Corinthians 6:19-20). Not everything lawful is beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23-24), and tattooing your body does not glorify God.
To avoid stumbling the youth or children, we are encouraged not to tattoo our bodies. The tattooing process hurts our skin, and the dye hinders making skin diagnoses. Our bodies don’t belong to us but to God, who purchased them with the blood of Jesus Christ. We can glorify God in many ways, and the best way is to live a redeemed lifestyle to be the salt and light of the world.
Sermon Series: Not All Things Are Beneficial
一切都为上帝的荣耀
哥林多前书 10:31,33 所以，你们或吃或喝，无论做什么，都要为荣耀上帝而行。 就好像我凡事都叫众人喜欢，不求自己的益处，只求众人的益处，叫他们得救。
作为基督徒，我们处在这个世界，却不属于这个世界。因此，我们需要警惕世界对我们的潜移默化的影响，促使我们效法它，而非被神所更新和改变。
许多网红和名人所传递的生活方式、价值观、信念和态度与基督徒的信仰有所不同。流行文化的影响力巨大，这些名人的外貌与言行常常对我们产生影响。例如，他们中的许多人谈论纹身的重要性，而如今纹身已成为一种艺术和自我表达的形式。
利未记 19:28 不可为死人用刀划身，也不可在身上刺花纹。我是耶和华。
圣经对纹身的看法是什么？纹身在当时通常与异教仪式、哀悼和宗教仪式有关，这种情况在今天依然存在。在旧约时代，主禁止以色列人纹身，因为祂不希望他们与异教徒及偶像崇拜联系在一起。以色列人是被拣选和分别为圣的族类，属于耶和华的子民。
在亚洲的一些地区，尤其是某些秘密社团或黑社会组织，成员常常在身上刺上团伙的标志，以此表达对组织的血誓效忠。还有一些人纹身是出于对父母的叛逆态度。这些原因显示，叛逆的态度往往是纹身与黑社会和误入歧途的人联系在一起的原因。
作为教会，我们应该接纳有纹身的非信徒。他们有权呼求主耶稣的名得救，我们不应对他们妄加评判，而是欢迎他们成为基督身体的一部分。然而，对于已经信主的弟兄姊妹来说，如果你正在考虑纹身，开篇的经文提醒我们，无论做什么，都要为荣耀神而做。圣经还教导我们，我们的身体是神的殿，圣灵住在其中，我们是被主的宝血买赎的（哥林多后书 6:19-20）。并且，“凡事都可行，但不都有益处”（哥林多前书 10:23-24），因此，纹身并不能荣耀神。
为了避免使青年人或孩子跌倒，我们被鼓励不要在身体上纹身。纹身的过程会伤害皮肤，染料还会影响皮肤疾病的诊断。此外，我们的身体不是属于自己的，而是属于那位用宝血买赎我们的耶稣基督。我们可以通过许多方式荣耀神，而最好的方式是活出蒙救赎的生命见证，做世上的盐和光。
讲章系列：凡事不都有益处
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